Please select your home edition
Edition
Marine Resources 2022 - LEADERBOARD

Formula Kite Youth Europeans and Masters Worlds 2023 - Day 3

by International Kiteboarding Association 26 May 13:30 PDT 22-28 May 2023
Formula Kite Youth Europeans and Masters Worlds 2023 - Day 3 © Robert Hajduk | IKA Media

Julia Damasiewicz promised herself she could do better, and on day 4 in Torregrande, Sardinia, the Polish rider delivered.

With three wins from four races, Damasiewicz rises up to second place overall in the Formula Kite Youth European Championship. She's moving to within striking distance of the event leader, France's Héloïse Pégourié.

The reigning Youth World Champion was pleased and relieved to have rediscovered some of her best form. "I'm really happy about it," said Damasiewicz. "I actually didn't expect expect it to go so good. I gave myself a good talk last night, and now I feel ready to claim more bullets. I actually had a great battle with the French girls today on the water. So big thanks to them. I had fun today on the water with them."

Tug of War

She and her fellow Polish riders also had fun with their French rivals in a battle of Tug of War on Torregrande Beach in front of Eolo Ristobar beach café. In front of a crowd of fellow riders, coaches and supporters the Polish put up a good battle but the heavier French foursome prevailed in the end.

The day started with three French in the top three, although Chloé Revil slipped to fourth after the dramatic rise of Damasiewicz. Like most riders, Revi struggled with kite size selection on such a variable day on the water. "I did the first three races on my 21 [square metre kite] and the last race on my 15. It was always difficult to make the right choice because the wind was very gusty, very shifty." Revil added: "It was shifting 30 to 40 degrees, and at times it was 8 knots then a gust up to 20, so it was a very complicated day."

Huang Tough

It was the first day of gold fleet competition for the boys, a chance to see who would come out on top in a head to head between the two top riders, Riccardo Pianosi and Qibin Huang.

The Italian won the first heat, but the Chinese rider won the next two, placing Huang first overall by a single point. Holding third place is Vojtech Koska from the Czech Republic, while Paul Labordere enjoyed a really solid session to move up to fourth overall. "Some big guys out there, I'm just 76kg, so I can't make too many mistakes because they have the speed," smiled the French rider. "My starts and my consistency were much better so I'm really proud of how I went today."

EJ Edges Closer

In the Kitefoil Open Masters World Championship, Turkey's Ejder 'EJ' Ginyol continues a strong comeback as he tries to close the gap to series leader Billy Guy-Maupas from France. "It was a tough day," said Ginyol. "The competition didn't start very well for me. The first day, my mind was a little bit out of focus because last week I twisted my knee and I was so nervous over the last week. Would I be fit enough? I rested as much as I could. I didn't walk, I didn't train, I didn't do any practice. But then on the first day I made lots of mistakes. Then over the last two days it has gone much better. But Billy is also a very, very strong guy. We're having a good battle. It's so nice to race with him and also the Danish rider James Johnsen [now in third overall]."

In the women's Masters fleet, Thailand's Benyapa Jantawan continues to hold top spot ahead of Monika Zizlavska from the Czech Republic.

The regatta moves into the final two days of competition this weekend, with the dramatic Medal Series set to decide the podium winners on Sunday. Tune in to watch the livestream starting at 1200 hours Central European Time on Saturday, direct from Torregrande Beach.

Results (top 3 after three days): Youth Men

1  CHN Qibin Huang 8p
2  ITA Riccardo Pianosi 9p
3  CZE Vojtech Koska 18p
Youth Women
1  FRA Heloise Pegourie 10p
 POL Julia Damasiewicz 17p
3  FRA Lysa Caval 21p
Masters Men
1 FRA Billy Guy-Maupas 12p
TUR Ejder Ginyol 15p
3 DEN James Johnsen 32p
Masters Women
1 THA Benyapa Jantawan 141p
CZE Monika Zizlavska 161p
3 FRA Claire Morel 172p

Related Articles

Aldridge brings European kitefoil title home
Rounding off a stellar season with victory in Portsmouth Ellie Aldridge said her international rivals have "something to watch out for" as she was crowned European kitefoil champion on home waters. Posted on 25 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth overall
Aldridge and Pianosi take gold for Britain and Italy Ellie Aldridge and Riccardo Pianosi have won the first major senior titles of their Olympic careers at the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, England. Posted on 24 Sep
2023 Caribbean Foiling Championships update
Free equipment transport for competitors Exciting news for competitors travelling from Guadeloupe to the Caribbean Foiling Championships. In a combined effort Compagnie des Iles du Nord (CIN) and Frigodom have teamed up to sponsor the shipping of a 20ft container to and from St Martin. Posted on 24 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth Day 5
Aldridge disentangles her way to the final Ellie Aldridge sailed a blindingly good day to launch herself into pole position at the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, England. Posted on 23 Sep
Clipper Race 2: Hundred Years Cup Scoring Gate
A close battle the points were all to play for right up until the very end The Scoring Gate results are in for Race 2: Hundred Years Cup, and in a close battle the points were all to play for right up until the very end. Posted on 23 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth Day 4
More sushi, less seaweed please Three consecutive Gold Fleet race wins have launched Poema Newland to the top of the women's competition on day four of the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, England. Posted on 22 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth Day 3
Boring and Daring both win the race in frenetic qualifying series After two days of delays from gale-force winds along the south coast of England, a frenetic qualifying series made for a fascinating start to competition at the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, England. Posted on 22 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth Day 2
Olympic Campaigning: Sometimes Less Is More After two days of the Formula Kite European Championships being blown off due to winds gusting regularly over 40 knots, the riders that chose to sit out the event might be feeling like they made the right decision. Posted on 20 Sep
Pahuatini rounds out 2023 Youth Worlds Team
Selection procedures for 2024 Youth Worlds announced Hawaii's own Mani Pahuatini was selected after resume review to represent the United States in the Boy's Formula Kite at the 2023 Youth Worlds, set to race in Búzios, Brazil from December 8-16. Posted on 20 Sep
2023 Formula Kite Europeans in Portsmouth Day 1
Stormy Weather blows Taradin up to London With the wind gusting over 45 knots, so predictably heinous was the weather forecast for day one of the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth that some riders had already scattered from the south coast of England. Posted on 19 Sep
Lloyd Stevenson - SYA3 728x90px BOTTOMNorth Sails Performance 2023 - FOOTERDoyle Sails 2020 - Built for Adventure 728x90 BOTTOM