Burlando and Hoogenraad crowned Big Air Kitesurfing World Champions in Gran Canaria
by GKA Kite World Tour 13 Jul 2024 16:14 BST
9-13 July 2024
Jeremy Burlando (Tenerife, Canary Islands), one of the most complete riders © Svetlana Romantsova
Local riders dominated the podium at the Kite Surf Big Air event in Gran Canaria, with Jeremy Burlando and brothers Lorenzo and Leonardo Casati taking the top three positions.
The podium featured Canary Islander Jeremy Burlando, who emerged victorious after an intense final against his friend Lorenzo Casati, representing Spain, and Lorenzo's brother Leonardo, competing for Italy. Reflecting on the competition, Burlando remarked, 'I'm thrilled to have competed here. I love this spot, and reaching the final with Lorenzo and Leonardo was a hard-fought battle until the end.'
According to competition judges, both Jeremy and Lorenzo have showcased exceptional skill, executing highly technical maneuvers at impressive heights with great control. "Without any doubt, they are among the world's best and have consistently proven themselves by frequently sharing podiums across global competitions, as we've witnessed in this remarkable final," commented Ignacio del Aguila Gonzalez-Outon, world tour judge.
The electrifying final started with the Casati brothers vying for the lead. As the culmination of this final heat of the world tour unfolded, the main contenders were the Casatis, Burlando, and Dutch competitor Stino Mul. Following the initial competition in France, only three riders were in contention for the Big Air Kitesurfing crown: Lorenzo Casati, Jeremy Burlando, and the current world ranking leader, Jamie Overbeek (NED), who failed to progress beyond the semifinals against the Canarian kitesurfers.
Despite Lorenzo Casati's leadership, marked by several highly scored jumps, Burlando achieved the highest score of the competition with a 9.27 for a boogie loop board-off. This maneuver involves the kitesurfer executing a full kite loop while simultaneously removing and replacing their board in mid-air to land. "I'm thrilled that we made it to the final together, especially with my brother," said Lorenzo.
Zara Hoogenraad: The New Queen of Big Air
The women's final was equally thrilling, featuring Britain's Francesca Maini, who posted one of the highest scores of the day to advance to the final against Zara Hoogenraad from the Netherlands. They were joined by Alice Ruggiu (ITA) and Lana Herman (SLO), who reached the final after defeating Germany's Alessa Sophia Mensch in the semifinals.
The exciting final began with Great Britain leading, as often seen in qualifiers whenever Francesca Maini hit the water. Maini initially dominated the heat with a kite loop forward roll, scoring 7.1 points, the highest score up to that point, with about three jumps remaining.
However, the lead in the heat alternated between Maini and Hoogenraad, both landing double loops. Ultimately, the Dutch rider secured victory with a high score of 9.53 points for her double loop. "I can't believe I'm world champion. It was a tough battle, and I tried things I've never done before, which worked out well," said Hoogenraad.
Awards Ceremony
This Saturday, the official awards ceremony will crown the world champions of the Big Air Kitesurfing discipline, as well as the Big Air Wingfoil world champions. The program also includes a beach clean-up and environmental awareness talks. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 17:00, following a gastronomic tasting of local products from the Canary Islands.
The Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite World Championships Gran Canaria 2024 is sponsored by the Tourism and Sports departments of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, in collaboration with the City Council of Santa Lucia de Tirajana and the Government of the Canary Islands. The event is further supported by private entities such as Ahembo with its brand 7up, and Spar Gran Canaria, among others.