2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships in Torregrande, Italy - Day 4

Did I make it to the medal series? Riders check results. - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

It was almost a non-event Saturday as riders pumped tiny foil boards around the glassy sea without kites, but one race was sailed in the men's fleet and nothing has changed on the leaderboard.

The opening series is now finished and Sunday is game day. Nine riders now know their qualifying pathway to the finals, while tenth and lower positions have a one-shot, special opportunity to continue through the series. It will be a brutal day of eliminations to determine our champions.

Baker trying to pump foil while waiting to race - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships - photo © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

Kites were in the water before the end of men's race 13 and racing was cancelled for both fleets.

"It was really light but I like it, where I train in the lakes it's mostly like this," said Cedric Baker of Switzerland who had a clean race. "I didn't have a lot of time to train for this, I had to finish school and get my diploma, but I'm enjoying being back pushing on the race course."

Marija Dolenc (CRO), just made it into the medal series - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships - photo © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

The Golden Ticket

Thanks to a radical new format where tenth place and above in both fleets can win a "Golden Ticket" and a shot at the qualifying series, anyone can win the Youth Europeans on Sunday.

One race, one spot for the men and one for the women to stay alive!

Despite the Golden Ticket opportunity, tenth place was a heartbreaker for Dominika Braunova of the Czech Republic in the women's fleet who ended up one point behind Marija Dolenc.

In the men's fleet, the pain was just as real for Karl Maeder who despite a solid final race ended up three points out of ninth.

Maeder and Pianosi go straight to the finals, Stragiotti needs to fight his way through - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships - photo © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

Many Paths to Victory

Depending on your standings at the end of the opening series, it can be easier or harder to progress.

The top two are super lucky, they punched their ticket to the finals.

The men's top four was crazy close and Max Maeder of Singapore and Riccardo Pianosi of Italy are in the finals.

Lysa Caval of France and Derin Atakan of Türkiye in the women's were launched in first and second, and are also straight into Sunday's four-rider final.

Third and fourth places go direct to the semifinals.

Zoe Boutang starts the medal series in the Semi-Final - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships - photo © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

"To be honest it doesn't matter if I'm third or fourth in this series," said Magda Woyciechowska of Poland who ended Saturday in fourth. "I have to be first or second in my qualifying race and I'll go to the final. That's the plan."

Fourth and fifth places in the opening series go to the quarterfinals. Fifth through seventh have a sail-off in a repechage along with the winner of the Golden Ticket race. The top two in that race round out the quarterfinals.

"It was ok for me but for other people not, because they were swimming in the end," said Vojtech Koska of the Czech Republic who ended Saturday and the men's opening series in fourth, clinching a semifinals spot. "Hopefully there will be wind tomorrow, but I am happy to be racing in the semi finals."

Start of the only race on day 4 - 2024 Formula Kite Youth European Championships - photo © IKA media/Robert Hajduk

A massive day lays ahead for all the riders here at Torregrande. It's finals day and anything can happen.

Wouldn't it be insane if someone swooped in with the Golden Ticket and ended the day with a medal? It's all possible on finals day.

Racing will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.

Results Men:

Results Women: