Youth and Masters' Kitefoil World Championships in Gizzeria - Day 1
by International Kiteboarding Association 28 Jun 2024 06:49 AEST
27-30 June 2024
Calabria Straordinaria © IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
Young and older kitefoilers from across the globe have gathered in Gizzeria for the Youth and Masters' World Championships, taking place from the 27th to the 30th of July.
- Hang Loose Beach is hosting two weeks of spectacular kitefoiling events
- The Youth and Masters' Worlds have attracted a diverse group of talented sailors from around the globe
- Gizzeria delivered glamour conditions on the first day of racing.
- Julio Houze [ITA], Karolina Jankowska [POL], Ejder Ginyol [TUR] and Aija Ambrasa [LAT] are leading their respective fleets after day 1.
The riders will be battling it out on the crystal waters off Hang Loose Beach, one of the fleet's favourite destinations with perfect kitefoiling conditions from around midday; flat, warm water, thermic wind of 11-15 knots and warm hospitality.
"We have been hosting kite racing events since 2011 and we are super happy to host the three more World Championships this year at Hang Loose Beach" says Luca Valentini, owner of Hang Loose.
This year the competition is a month earlier than usual, due to the Olympics. Maybe that's the reason the temperatures are slightly lower compared to the previous years, making the Gizzeria experience a lot more pleasant. "And the wind is always perfect" has been the unanimous comment of all riders coming back from the water.
'Local' Julio Houze won 5 out of 6 races. "I love the spot and I love those conditions. I crashed on the downwind in one race and I lost the win, otherwise it was a perfect day"
Frenchman Sasha Lethuillier, last year's U15 winner, managed to grab the win when Julio crashed, and is runner up in the leaderboard, with last year's bronze medalist Jakub Balewicz in third.
In the girls' fleet, Karolina Jankowska [POL] is posed to defend her title from last year.
Returning to Gizzeria this year is Colombia's up and coming Jean Paul Villegas. At just 12years old, the youngest competitor in the fleet Jean Paul says "Last year I was 3rd in A's YouthFoil Under 15s category. I have trained a lot, I will try to do better this year." And it seems that he is doing a lot better, leading the U15 at the end of the first day.
In the Master's feet, Ejder Ginyol [TUR] and Aija Ambrasa [LAT] dominated the competition, winning all their respective races.
Racing for the Youth and Masters' will continue up to June 30 and will be followed by the Formula Kite Youth World Championship from 3 to 7 July.
Results YouthFoil Boys
1. Julio Houze, ITA - 5p
2. Sasha Lethuillier, FRA - 10p
3. Jakub Balewicz, POL - 13p
Results YouthFoil Girls
1. Karolina Jankowska, POL - 46p
2. Tylia Louber, FRA - 59p
3. Argyro Krotsis, GRE - 72p
Results Masters Men
1. Ejder Ginyol, TUR - 5p
2. Jean Romain Morel, FRA - 10p
3. James Johnsen, DEN - 15p
Results Masters Women
1. Aija Ambrasa, LAT - 55p
2. Monika Zizlavska, CZE - 74p
3. Claire Durand, FRA - 79p
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