GKA Kite-Surf Big Air World Cup winners crowned in Sylt
by GKA Kite World Tour 1 Sep 02:58 AEST
26-31 August 2025
Day five of the GKA Kite World Cup Sylt began before sunrise, with riders called to a 6 a.m. briefing in an effort to make the most of the wind and push through the Kite-Surf competition.
Heats were set at 10 minutes, with each rider allowed seven trick attempts, and their best three scores counting toward the final result. Judges focused exclusively on surfboard freestyle to start the day, demanding style, execution, and variety.
Women's Kite-Surf: big names, rising stars
A total of 12 women registered for the discipline, featuring defending World Champion Capucine Delannoy, Switzerland's Camille Losserand, and fresh faces like Kaya Lehmann and Elena Mutsis making their debut.
The early rounds unfolded under light wind as the sun rose over Sylt. Despite the challenging conditions, riders adapted, showing flashes of brilliance. By the quarterfinals, the level of competition had stepped up significantly. Camille Losserand delivered one of the standout performances of the day, earning 18.47 points, while Delannoy cruised comfortably through her heat with trademark consistency.
Semi-Finals: heavyweights clash
With the field narrowed to four, the semi-finals brought all the big names head-to-head.
The first match-up pitted Charlotte Carpentier against Camille Losserand. Confident in the Sylt conditions, Losserand showed control and power, securing her place in the final with a strong 17.69-point heat score.
The second semi-final featured Sofia Monti against reigning champion Capucine Delannoy. Monti pushed hard with solid tricks, but Delannoy's precision and execution kept her ahead throughout, ensuring another final berth for the French powerhouse.
The Final: a battle in light winds
The stage was set for a showdown between Capucine Delannoy and Camille Losserand. But as the riders hit the water, the wind dropped, making conditions especially difficult. Both riders struggled to land clean tricks, and with only a minute left, each had just two scores on the board.
Delannoy's early 8.2-point trick proved decisive, giving her the edge. Losserand fought until the very end, but couldn't match the World Champion's score despite her best efforts.
After a tense, low-scoring battle, it was Capucine Delannoy who once again stood on top of the podium, reaffirming her dominance in the women's Kite-Surf discipline.
The final women's Kite-Surf results are:
- 1st Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
- 2nd Camille Losserand (SUI)
- 3rd Sofia Monti (ITA)
- 4th Charlotte Carpentier (FRA)
Upsets and breakthroughs in the men's kite-surf discipline at Sylt
As the afternoon unfolded in Sylt, attention shifted to the Men's Kite-Surf discipline. The wind remained light, and the opening rounds focused heavily on surfboard freestyle. Right from Round 3, the drama began, with shock exits from two of the sport's biggest names — Matchu Lopes and Pedro Matos.
The upsets didn't stop there. In the quarterfinals, Airton Cozzolino was knocked out by Theo Demanez, who looked comfortable and composed in the lighter conditions. With the judging criteria adjusted to include both freestyle and wave elements, riders had to adapt quickly.
Leonardo Casati edged past Keanu Merten in a tightly contested heat, while James Carew narrowly defeated Lorenzo Casati to book his semi-final spot. Current World Champion Gabriel Benetton also advanced, eliminating Noah Nicolas to complete the final four.
Semi-Finals: Demanez makes his mark
In Semi-Final 1, Theo Demanez continued his strong form. Despite a solid performance from Leonardo Casati, Demanez's consistency gave him the edge and secured him a place in his first-ever GKA final.
Semi-Final 2 was a heavyweight showdown between World Champion Gabriel Benetton and Australia's James Carew. Benetton came out firing, landing two high-scoring tricks early before backing them up with a strong wave ride. Carew fought hard but couldn't close the gap, as Benetton sealed his place in the final.
The Final: a breakthrough victory
The final match-up saw Gabriel Benetton face off against Theo Demanez. Demanez came out swinging, landing two solid tricks to take an early lead. Benetton hunted for waves to improve his score but struggled to find clean sets in the light conditions.
With just two minutes remaining, the heat was still wide open. Both riders were searching for one last scoring opportunity, but it was Demanez who found the better wave. Combined with his earlier trick scores, it gave him the advantage he needed.
Benetton pushed until the final buzzer, but couldn't close the gap. In the end, Theo Demanez claimed his first-ever GKA event win, capping off an outstanding performance in challenging conditions and marking a career-defining breakthrough on the world stage.
The final men's Kite-Surf results are:
- 1st Theo Demanez (FRA)
- 2nd Gabriel Benetton (BRA)
- 3rd James Carew (AUS)
- 4th Leonardo Casati (ITA)