Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 to be held at Qatar's Fuwairit Kite Beach

by Qatar Tourism 31 Jan 2023 00:37 AEDT 31 January - 4 February 2023
Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup © Qatar Tourism

The Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 will launch this year's Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour in the northeast of Qatar at Fuwairit Kite Beach, from 31 January to 4 February 2023.

The event is free to watch for visitors, who will be treated to an exhilarating display of freestyle kiting, which focuses on big air tricks, loops and jumps. The competition's prize pool ensures that some of the world's best kitesurfers are confirmed to attend, including men's world number one Gianmaria Coccoluto and female world number one Mikaili Sol.

Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, said: "As the Official Tourism Partner of the Global Kitesports Association (GKA) Kite World Tour, Qatar Tourism welcomes GKA's athletes and fans and invites them to enjoy an incredible event held at a state-of-the-art facility. We're thrilled that the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 is coming to Qatar, following the huge success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, as Qatar is quickly becoming a key destination for sports travel. This incredible event will only continue to build on that momentum."

The news follows last year's announcement that Qatar Tourism has become the Official Tourism Partner of the Global Kitesports Association (GKA) Kite World Tour for three years, with Qatar Airways becoming the GKA Kite World Tour's Title Partner and Official Airline.

An easy hour's drive north of Doha, Fuwairit Kite Beach is one of Qatar's most exciting new attractions and an upcoming global kitesurfing hotspot. The resort, which opened to guests in October last year and is designed to reflect the laidback kitesurfing lifestyle, sits on white sands beside a shallow enclosed lagoon that enjoys consistent winds and warm, flat water - perfect conditions for kitesurfing. In addition to hosting large-scale competitions and events, Fuwairit Kite Beach offers accommodation and lessons for every type of visitor year-round, from those who are new to the sport through to seasoned professionals.

The Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 will not be the only time this year that Qatar will host the world's kitesurfing elite; the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Finals 2023 will also be held in Qatar at the end of the year.

GKA Kite World Tour CEO, Dr Jörgen Vogt, said "The GKA Kite World Tour crew are thrilled to be able to open up the 2023 season with a super competitive Freestyle event at a fantastic, new and exciting location such as Fuwairit Kite Beach Resort in Qatar. Kiteboarding fans worldwide, as well as the competitors at the event, will once again see and experience the improving landscape for world class kiteboarding competition that our close partnership with the tour's title partner, Qatar Airways, and tourism partner, Qatar Tourism, continues to deliver."

Other key international sporting events coming up in Qatar in 2023 include the Beach Pro Tour volleyball finals, ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, Qatar MotoGP, and the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix.

For more information on kitesurfing and other top things to do in Qatar, visit here.

For more information about Fuwairit Kite Beach, visit fkb.qa

For more details on the event schedule, participating riders and the Freestyle-Kite scoring system, visit: gkakiteworldtour.com

Related Articles

2025 Formula Kite Europeans preview
A critical moment in the evolution of the sport at Urla, Türkiye The 2025 Formula Kite European Championships are set to bring high-stakes competition and fresh challenges as the world's top riders take to the waters of Urla, Türkiye. Posted on 3 May
Australia's next wave at French Olympic Week
Morris faced light and patchy breeze in the must-win medal showdown French Olympic Week in Hyères delivered everything from the roaring mistral winds that pushed physical limits to the patience-testing light airs that demanded calm and clarity. Posted on 27 Apr
Sail Canada at 2025 French Olympic Week overall
Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance win bronze medal at Sailing Grand Slam Series event Antonia and Georgia Lewin-LaFrance from Chester, N.S., won the bronze medal in 49erFX at the second event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, French Olympic Week, which was held April 21-26 in Hyères, FRA. Posted on 27 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères overall
USA skiffs gold and silver as Italy and China top medal table The final day of the 56th edition of French Olympic Week saw Italy join China at the top of the medal table as they won a medal of every colour across the six Medal Races after China's exploits on Friday. Posted on 26 Apr
Sail Canada at 2025 French Olympic Week Day 5
Two Canadian boats will take part in Saturday's Medal Races Here are the highlights of Sail Canada's National Team on DAY 5 of the 2025 French Olympic Week held April 21-26 in Hyères, FRA, the second event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series. Posted on 25 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 5
Israel deny China triple gold On a day of high pressure - in all senses - and drama in all the Medal series, team power and individual brilliance produced some of the closest board Finals in Hyères history. Posted on 25 Apr
Sail Canada at 2025 French Olympic Week Day 4
Antonia & Georgia Lewin-LaFrance finished 1st and 4th in the 49erFX The highlights of Sail Canada's National Team on day 4 of the 2025 French Olympic Week held April 21-26 in Hyères, FRA, the second event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series. Posted on 24 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 4
Kiteboarders and windsurfers go for Friday gold as shifts play havoc with process On a day in which fortunes shifted as much as the winds, French Olympic Week will have its first Medal Races on Friday as the top 8 men and women kitesurfers and windsurfers battle it out for the podium. Posted on 24 Apr
Sail Canada at 2025 French Olympic Week Day 3
Clara Gravely is currently ranked 7th overall in the ILCA 6 class The highlights of Sail Canada's National Team on DAY 3 of the 2025 French Olympic Week held April 21-26 in Hyères, FRA, the second event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series. Posted on 23 Apr
56th Semaine Olympique Française de Hyères day 3
Epic Mistral baptises the next Olympic generation "Epic", "Crazy", "Nothing like it" and many words too colourful to include in a family press release sprang from the excited Mistral-lashed lips and sometimes stunned faces of those Olympic classes last back to the boat park. Posted on 23 Apr
Sea Sure 2025Switch One DesignPantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Footer