2024 Formula Kite Youth Worlds in Gizzeria, Italy Overall
by Marina Psychogyiou 8 Jul 2024 09:54 AEST
New World Champions - 2024 Formula Kite Youth Worlds © IKA media/ Robert Hajduk
Highlights
- Gian Andrea Stragioti and Catalina Turienzo are the new Formula Kite Youth Word Champions
- New faces on the podium as the class' Olympic debut approaches
The two newly crowned Formula Kite World Champions have been leading the competition since the very beginning, but such is the format in Formula Kite that nothing is decided before the last day.
The first to get 3 wins in the 4-rider final is the winner of the event, and depending on their performance earlier, this task can be easier or harder.
Argentine teenager Catalina Turienzo and defending Youth World Champion Lysa Caval from France were already in the finals, counting two and one points/wins respectively, waiting for their opponents to come through.
Turkish Olympian Derin Atakan won her semi-final relatively easily and got her ticket to the 4-rider final. In the other semi-final, Magdalena Woyciechowska from Poland showed great form winning twice and getting her ticket too. Once in the finals though, Turienzo didn't leave any space to her competition, leading the only race she needed to sail on the last day from start to finish and sealed the deal convincingly bringing joy to the Argentine fans on the beach.
In the men's final, Switzerland's Gian Andrea Stragiotti and Brazilian Lucas Fonseca were joined by Germany's Jan Voester and Czech Vojtech Koska who swept through their respective semi-finals. Voester won the first two races, bringing him on equal points/wins with Stragiotti.
On the third race Voester crashed and was left behind. Fonseca was initially leading but Stragiotti managed to pass him and finish first. There was a brief uncertainly about the win, as Fonseca protested about an incident with Stragiotti, but the protest was invalid and the win was confirmed, giving Stragiotti his first major title in the Formula Kite Class. Voester's wins were rewarded with the silver medal, while Fonseca had to settle with bronze.
The under-19 riders are now off to Lake Garda and the World Sailing Youth Worlds, before the Paris 2024 Olympic debut of kiteboarding.
Overall Results: (top three)
Men
1. Gian Stragiotti SUI
2. Jan Voester GER
3. Lucas Fonseca BRA
Women
1. Catalina Turienzo ARG
2. Lysa Caval FRA
3. Derin Atakan TUR
For more information visit www.kiteclasses.org.