2026 GKA Big Air season reaches its unforgettable conclusion on the shores of Mykonos
by Gemma Hamaini 20 Jun 07:58 PDT
16-21 June 2026
A brand new location for the GKA Kite World Tour, the island of Mykonos delivered everything a World Cup event could ask for: strong winds, blue water, adrenaline, and the kind of Greek hospitality that made every athlete, fan, and spectator feel at home from the very first day.
24 men and 12 women descended on the iconic Greek island to battle for the 2026 GKA Big Air World Title, competing for a share of a €70,000 prize purse — the highest ever seen in Big Air competition. €30,000 was contributed by title sponsor Capital.com and the GKA, with a remarkable €40,000 provided by the Mykonos Gang, making this not only a landmark event for the sport, but a powerful statement of what local community support can achieve.
The competition begins
Day one saw Men's and Women's Rounds 1 and 2 completed in the strong forecasted winds, setting the tone for what would become one of the most memorable events in GKA history. The competition truly ignited on day two as the men headed into Round 3, with big names eliminated and the title race heating up fast.
In the quarter-finals, defending World Champion Finn Flügel made a surprise early exit, ending his title defence in dramatic fashion. Giel Vlugt also fell short, unable to overcome the variable wind conditions, while Josue San Ferreira, Leonardo Casati, Lorenzo Casati, Jason van der Spuy, Jeremy Burlando, and Hugo Wigglesworth all advanced to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: the closest heats of the event
The first semi-final produced the tightest heat of the competition. Jason van der Spuy, Hugo Wigglesworth, Shahar Tsabary, and Leonardo Casati all rode with remarkable consistency, landing trick after trick and sitting within fractions of each other on the scoreboard. Leonardo edged into the lead, but it was Tsabary who sealed his final spot in dramatic fashion — tied with Wigglesworth on points going into the final attempt, he landed the decisive trick to advance alongside Leonardo Casati.
The second semi-final was equally intense. Jamie Overbeek rode with authority and confidence, building a lead with Lorenzo Casati close behind. Despite strong performances from Josue San Ferreira and Jeremy Burlando, the positions held through the final attempts, and Overbeek and Lorenzo Casati booked their places in the final.
The Men's Final: a battle for the ages
The men's final was not just a fight for the event win — it was a World Championship decider. Leonardo Casati needed to win and have Jamie Overbeek finish third or lower to claim the title. Lorenzo Casati, Shahar Tsabary, and Jamie Overbeek were equally determined to make their mark.
From the first trick attempt, the intensity was palpable. Lorenzo Casati left the crowd speechless with an opening score of 9.4, while Leonardo rode with the kind of focused brilliance that World Champions are made of. Tsabary was solid throughout, and Overbeek — the event's championship leader coming in — was fighting for every point.
As the heat progressed, the strategy behind the performances added another layer of drama. Lorenzo, with his brother's World Title on the line, found himself in first place. The crowd watched in disbelief, unsure how the situation would unfold. With Tsabary in third and Overbeek in fourth, Leonardo managed to jump into first. On the final attempt, Lorenzo made his decision clear — he took no further risks, protected what mattered most, and the scores stood.
Leonardo Casati is the 2026 GKA Big Air Kite World Champion. A final that will be remembered for a very long time.
Men's event results:
1st: Leonardo Casati (ITA)
2nd: Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
3rd: Shahar Tsabary (ISR)
4th: Jamie Overbeek (NED)
Men's 2026 overall season standings:
1st: Leonardo Casati (ITA)
2nd: Jamie Overbeek (NED)
3rd: Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
The women's division: Mikaili Sol unstoppable
The women's competition was equally spectacular. Twelve of the world's best Big Air athletes arrived in Mykonos ready to push the boundaries of female performance in the discipline, including 10x World Champion Gisela Pulido, competing in her very first Big Air event.
Top seeds Sarah Sadek, Nathalie Lambrecht, Alice Ruggiu, and Mikaili Sol advanced directly to the semi-finals from Round 1. Round 2 saw Eszter Nagy, Alessa Sophia Mensch, Francesca Maini, and Aya Kasabova advance — with Pulido narrowly missing out in a closely fought heat.
The semi-finals raised the stakes significantly. Sarah Sadek and Aya Kasabova eliminated Alessa Sophia Mensch and Nathalie Lambrecht in the first heat — a difficult result particularly for Mensch, who had entered Mykonos as a World Title contender. In the second semi-final, Mikaili Sol rode with the composure and control of a champion, building a clear lead by the midway point. Francesca Maini was clean and precise throughout, and the two advanced together, leaving Eszter Nagy and Alice Ruggiu behind.
The Women's Final: Sol seals her legacy
The women's final took place in the late afternoon, with Mikaili Sol, Sarah Sadek, Francesca Maini, and Aya Kasabova all knowing that a World Title was within reach. Sol was hungry, Sadek had the power to deny her, and the atmosphere on the beach was electric.
Fifteen-year-old Aya Kasabova — who came up through the GKA Youth World Championships — rode without a trace of nerves, going trick for trick and proving beyond any doubt that she belongs at the very highest level of the sport. Maini and Sadek were equally impressive throughout. But it was Sol who was on another level entirely, riding what looked like one of the best heats of her career. As the final attempts approached, she held 22.54 points and cruised back to shore having secured her 9th World Title. A staggering achievement.
Women's Event Results:
1st: Mikaili Sol (BRA)
2nd: Aya Kasabova (BUL)
3rd: Francesca Maini (GBR)
4th: Sarah Sadek (EGY)
Women's 2026 Overall Season Standings:
1st: Mikaili Sol (BRA)
2nd: Alessa Sophia Mensch (GER)
3rd: Aya Kasabova (BUL)
A new icon on the World Tour
Mykonos has announced itself as an iconic destination for Big Air kiteboarding. The combination of world-class conditions, a record-breaking prize purse, and competition of the very highest order has cemented this event as one of the standout moments in the history of the GKA Kite World Tour. With overwhelming local support and an atmosphere unlike anything the tour has experienced before, Mykonos will be back — and the kite world will be ready.