Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 1

2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships in Beihai - Day 2

by International Kiteboarding Association 25 May 2019 08:45 PDT 23-29 May 2019
Day 2 - 2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships in Beihai © IKA

China's Jingle Chen shrugged off her forgettable first foray at the 2019 Formula Kite Asian Championships and threw down the gauntlet to rivals with an almost perfect performance on the regatta's second day to surge convincingly to the head of the order.

The 18-year-old scooped five bullets and a second spot in her day's six races in ideal foiling conditions of breezes that varied from 8kts to 11kts on the flat waters off Guangxi province's Beihai city, south-west China.

Her stellar racing when she barely put a foot wrong and had enough speed to leave the others in the women's fleet trailing was the mirror opposite of her first day's efforts after she was forced to retire from both races, once for following the leaders' wrong track.

"I'm at the front today, so I have to follow my own course and that's good for me," she said. "The wind is much better today, perfect for my 21m kite. I'm getting good starts, which I think has helped a lot."

Day two of the scheduled six at the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) Formula Kite Asianssponsored by Beihai Cityoffered the 26 athletes from 11 nations the ideal opportunity to advance their positions in the high-octane foiling discipline.

Russia's Denis Taradin was among those who rose to the challenge. Like Chen, after some slight misfortune on the championships' opening day, Taradin hit his stride with four bullets in the men's fleet's five races.

Taradin's superior pace on his 21m foil kite around the rhomboid windward-leeward track helped him leap up the standings as the others just behind him traded places in the scrap for the top places.

"I feel I have good speed today," said Taradin. "In the races I won I had 10 or 15 seconds' lead on the others. But when I came in fourth I'd rounded the top mark first, but Mario Calbucci was very close. I crashed a gybe downwind and just couldn't get back up on terms."

Calbucci (ITA) scooped a bullet when Taradin faltered in one race and was able to add a clutch of high-placed finishes that were enough to keep him touch with the Russian in second spot on the leaderboard with all still to play for.

"It's good racing today," said Calbucci. "The wind's not too light and I had good speed. I made mistakes but got some good results, though I hit a jelly fish just before the finish in the day's third race. I ended up fifth, but that's how it goes."

Overnight leader, Turkey's Ejder Ginyol had a slightly more mixed outing and slipped to third overall. But his performance was still good enough to notch up a second and third that kept him in the hunt.

Just behind him New Zealand's Sam Bullock, hunting points to earn a slot at the World Beach Games in San Diego in October, also found his groove and earned two seconds and a third-placed finish.

"I got behind my countryman Lukas [Walton-Kiem] in one race," said Bullock. "I'm not used to that and I pushed really hard. I think I was able to carry that speed into the next races. I definitely went better today."

Top five men after eight races (two discards)

1. Denis Taradin (RUS) 6pts
2. Mario Calbucci (ITA) 13pts
3. Ejder Ginyol (TUR) 16pts
4. Sam Bullock (NZL) 17pts
5. Lukas Walton-Keim (NZL) 23pts

Top five women after eight races (two discards)

1. Jingle Chen (CHN) 7pts
2. Magdalena Woyciechowska (POL) 12pts
3. Julia Damasiewicz (POL) 14pts
4. Natalie Flintrop-Clarke (AUS) 21pts
5. Benyapa Jantawan (THA) 24pts

Full results at formulakite.com

Related Articles

Red Bull Sailing Academy Opens
A new hub for current and future superstars to reach the top of their sport Marina Monfalcone, North Italy, made waves yesterday, as sports superstars gathered to open the Red Bull Sailing Academy, marking the beginning of a new era in the sport. Posted today at 12:53 pm
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 4
It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast It's been a week of steady breeze and near-perfect conditions off the Calabrian coast, and Gizzeria has put on a great show as host of the 2025 IKA Youth European Championships. Posted on 5 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 3
The invincibles stumble during qualifying The men's competition has moved into its decisive phase, with the top 22 riders now forming a gold fleet. After Saturday's racing, only the top ten will qualify for the medal series and today, the pressure began to show, even on the frontrunners. Posted on 4 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 2
Thrills and spills - with the speed came plenty of racing incidents Day 2 of the Youth European Championships in Gizzeria saw fantastic conditions that gave the racing added pace. With the speed came plenty of racing incidents. Posted on 3 Jul
2025 IKA Youth Europeans in Gizzeria day 1
Rising stars shine at Youth Kitefoil Euros kickoff Some of the world's best young kite foilers started racing today in southern Italy aiming to become Youth European champions. Posted on 2 Jul
World Sailing announces split venues for LA28
The boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port World Sailing has said it welcomes the confirmation of sailing venues for the Olympic Games LA28 the boards will be at Long Beach, with the dinghy events at the Port. Posted on 30 Jun
Sail Canada introduces Canadian Sailing Team
21 athletes were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2025-2026 Canadian Sailing Team. Posted on 26 Jun
2025 IKA Youth Europeans Oreview
Italy set to host the future of kitefoiling in Gizzeria, Calabria The Hang Loose Beach Club in Gizzeria, Calabria is once again poised to welcome kitefoiling's rising stars as the IKA Youth European Championships return to southern Italy. Posted on 25 Jun
Registration now open for GKA Youth events
Germany and Spain events will have U14, U16 and U19 divisions Registration is now open for the two upcoming GKA Youth events of the 2025 season. First up is the GKA Youth Big Air Kite World Championship in St. Peter Ording, Germany. Posted on 9 Jun
Whitehead finish 9th at Formula Kite Europeans
A confident return to international competition in Urla, Türkiye Australia's Breiana Whitehead has made a confident return to international competition, finishing ninth overall at the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships in Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 20 May
RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeZhik 2024 December