Champions crowned at season finale in Qatar

by Ian MacKinnon 14 Dec 2024 09:24 EST 10-14 December 2024

Switzerland's Maxime Chabloz landed his first Qatar Airways GKA Freestyle Kite world championship crown at the third and final stop of the season at Qatar's Fuwairit Kite Beach when he finished just ahead of his closest title rival.

Chabloz rescued a final that was starting to slip from his grasp when he landed a massive Backmobe 7. Chabloz's move helped him to second place and the title, just behind 15-year-old Finn Flügel, who took his first world cup win.

"I'm world champion, that's all I can think of right now," said Chabloz. "It's something I've been dreaming about since I discovered kiting. I think I was seven-years' old and I wanted to be the best kiter in the world. It was my biggest dream in life, and it finally happened. It's been such a journey. But the longer the journey, the more sweet the victory."

Brazil's Bruna Kajiya took a convincing win at the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Final Qatar to give her three event wins from three for the season, earning her a fifth world title.

"It feels amazing," said Kajiya. "It's a dream. A couple of years ago I said to a friend 'I feel I could get to five world titles. I feel it in my heart'. To see it coming true, I'm so happy and I'm so motivated to keep going for more because this is the best thing ever."

Arthur Guillebert, Finn Flugel, Karim Mahmoud and Maxime Chabloz - Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Final Qatar - photo © Samuel Cardenas

Order of business

The opening day of the world cup final in Qatar, home of the tour's title sponsors, saw the action begin early with the organisers fearing an unpromising wind forecast for the coming days might hamper the schedule.

The first order of business was the opening women's semi-final. It immediately heralded an upset when world number three, Italy's Francesca Bagnoli, found herself out of the competition, ending any hope of an overall podium finish for the year.

Spain's Claudia León, returning after a year-long injury break, came out fast with a big 6.17 from a possible 10 for a Heart Attack. She advanced to the final, but was just overhauled by her compatriot, Rita Arnaus, who progressed in top spot.

The second semi-final saw Germany's Kaya Lehmann up against Bruna Kajiya. Lehmann did enough to advance to her third successive final this season, but she was no match for the Brazilian.

The decider pitted León against Lehmann, Arnaus and Kajiya. In about 15 knots of breeze blowing over Fuwairit's crystal clear lagoon, the women were on their 11m to 13m kites.

Karim Mahmoud - Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Final Qatar - photo © Samuel Cardenas

A class apart

Lehmann landed a good Double S-bend to Blind late in the heat, but was a little adrift and finished fourth behind León, who also struggled to put a convincing heat together.

Arnaus fared better with a decent heat that gave her the second podium spot in Qatar, and second overall for the season after she, too, had comeback from an 18-month injury break in the summer.

But Kajiya was once again a class apart. In the final a 7.6 for a Combo stretched her lead, while a 6.77 for a Front Blind Mobe at the close sealed the deal and the title in style.

The first men's semi-final saw France's Valentin Garat and Australia's Leo Verrecchia come off worst to end their runs in the competition. France's Arthur Guillebert, ranked number two, was looking as powered as ever and progressed just behind Finn Flügel.

The second semi-final was a cliff-hanger. Italy's Matteo Dorotini put down some big moves, including a 7.2 for a KGB5, but could not live with Maxime Chabloz and Egypt's Karim Mahmoud.

Matteo Dorotini - Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Final Qatar - photo © Samuel Cardenas

Touch and go

For a time it appeared Mahmoud would win the heat and it was touch and go if Chabloz would make it to the final, dashing the title dreams of the tour leader. But with his final trick he landed a Backmobe 7 for 9.33 that saw him cruise through.

The final with Guillebert, Mahmoud, Flügel and Chabloz was a slightly spotty affair in the fading breeze. Mahmoud's earlier form deserted him and he finished fourth behind Guillebert, whose hope of another world title came to nothing.

Even Chabloz seemed to struggle for consistency until he pulled out another 9.43 Backmobe 7 that launched him into second place. He had begun the day on equal points with Guillebert, but ahead on the tie-break rule, so his second place in Qatar gave him the title.

Flügel's run of third place podium finishes was finally banished when he got the win, with a series strong tricks early on doing most of the damage. An 8.33 for a big Combo built his heat and gave him the the day's highest heat total.

"It's the craziest thing ever to win an event," said Flügel. "It's just insane. I couldn't be prouder to stand here with the win in my pocket. I landed my first three tricks and I just felt on fire. I went for another one and took the win. It's the best feeling ever."