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The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

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Toby
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The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby Toby » Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:29 pm

GKA News:

The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched


gka.jpg

The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour: The Ultimate Combination

In 2018 the GKA Kiteboarding World Tour will stage a series of World Cup events that will put the wow factor and spectators' enjoyment at the heart of the action. Wild and dynamic performances will take the best of all aspects of twin-tip freestyle kiteboarding and at the end of the season World Champions will be crowned: let the Air Games begin!

The essence of the tour is to find the most complete twin-tip rider out there, however the basis of each judging category primarily calls for as much height as possible. After that, the show will come down to each rider's interpretation and how they want to display their vision for where an all-round show of explosive riding can go in the given conditions.

Watch the high-octane promo video to get the full idea!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SomHvAmBNEU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SomHvAmBNEU


THE CATEGORY BREAKDOWN:
Tricks will be judged over four categories and at the end of the heat (4 riders per heat) each rider's best three tricks from three different categories will count.

The categories:
Regular jumps (spins, grabs – anything goes, as long as it's high)
Board-offs
Kite loops
Handle-passes

By developing a format with four different and diverse categories the visual show will always be dynamic, explosive and exciting. By allowing riders to omit one category of trick, there's still scope for them to specialise without having to sacrifice their own distinct riding styles, so we expect to see some of the sport's biggest stars throwing down in their own trademark style.

Imagine Carlos Mario's double handle-passes off big kickers in Cabarete mixed with Jesse Richman's kite loop double half cabs. Picture the huge hang-time of Tom Hebert's insanely high board-offs in front of thousands of people on the beach in Tarifa up against the flow of Kevin Langeree's massive inverted kite loop back rolls. Could Aaron Hadlow realise yet another World Championship by combining his undoubted ability to adapt to all aspects of twin-tip kiteboarding – whether the conditions are calling for adaptation towards more powered technicality or high wind artistry?

One male and one female rider will prevail and this tour will bring together the world's best riders to open all our eyes to what's possible when inspiration from all corners of the twin-tip spectrum merge as one into Air Games.

CONDITIONS
The competition will run in any winds of 15 knots and above, so riders need to be prepared to switch up their performances. As the winds increase, the overall height factor will score more highly, while at the lower end of the wind scale, judges will be rewarding more technicality, while still expecting as much height and amplitude as possible.

Staged at some of the most iconic kiteboarding competition venues, expect classic kiteboarding conditions that will ignite the imagination of people all over the world and at the same time inspire true kiteboarders, too:

THE EVENTS:
Mondial du Vent, Leucate, France: 17 - 22nd April
Tarifa: 27th June - 1st July
Cabarete Kiteboarding World Cup: 9 - 15th July

More events: TBC

Throughout 2018 the GKA event team will work with the riders to create a strong tour for the athletes, public and sport. Anything could happen! Stand by for take-off...

FIND A FULL RUNDOWN AND MORE INFO ON THE GKA WEBSITE NOW!

www.global-kitesports.org

NEED MORE DETAILS?
WANT TO JOIN THE TOUR?!
You'll find the rulebook detailing the exact structure of each event here:

To join the tour and compete - email: jo@global-kitesports.org

To be involved on a commercial level, to support the tour, or to host an event - email: info@global-kitesports.org

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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby longwhitecloud » Fri Mar 16, 2018 12:33 pm

Wakeboarding did this.. reached the same paint drying tricks for 10 years thing and added compulsory trick catagories. Sheep riding will always go the way of the toilet.

Pemba
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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby Pemba » Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:09 pm

Mwah.. I think it's a positive change.

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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby longwhitecloud » Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:46 am

I don't think it's a bad idea wakestyle is stuck as the least progressive format right now imo ( 319 one of very few new tricks for last few years), you l need the riders on board tho.. look how stoked hadlow was to be doing board off kiteloops tho in kota lol

Will they ban handles? Lol

Then there is the subject that gka thinks that surfing with a kite is a form of sailing #fail lol

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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby Toby » Fri Apr 06, 2018 4:41 pm

The fleet of riders signed up to the first ever GKA Kiteboarding World Tour event that will take place at the Mondial du Vent in Leucate, France, from 17 – 22nd April is very exciting.

This new tour calls for dynamic performances and a mix of new school and more classic older school, big air influences, however the overriding factor is that riders need to go as huge as possible… making for the best show as the competition seeks to find the most complete twin-tip rider.

The GKA aims to work with the riders to create a strong tour for the athletes, public and sport.

A live scoring system will run at this event to add further insight and entertainment for the large Mondial du Vent crowds on the beach!

RIDERS:

The latest news is that Kevin Langeree and Jesse Richman have just signed up alongside two time freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario from Brazil, who registered last week and will compete in Leucate!

Prior to that the field was already shaping up strongly, with five-time World Champion and two-time Red Bull King of the Air winner, Aaron Hadlow, signed up and ready to show that he still has the most varied repertoire of freestyle moves in the sport.

Liam Whaley will also compete in France. A freestyle World Champion himself, he is one of today’s most technical riders. In his debut year at the contest, it was clear that this young Spaniard also has what it takes to go huge at the King of the Air, claiming a runner-up podium position at his first attempt.
Lewis Crathern (also a four time UK freestyle champion) will be a familiar name to all big air fans, as will Lasse Walker, Jerrie van der Kop and Reno Romeu; four riders with a very strong history at the King of the Air, with Lewis claiming third place at this year’s event, Jerrie made the podium a few seasons ago and Lasse is also a Red Bull Mega Loop Challenge winner.

The rest of the field who have signed up so far is littered with seasoned athletes with long established their names in the sport, as well as young rippers who have made an emphatic entrance into competition in the last year to 18 months.

The women’s ladder is also packed with talent, including Kite Park League Champion Annelous Lammerts as well as three-time UK Champion, Kite Speed World Champion and highly experienced world tour competitor Hannah Whiteley who find themselves lining up against the likes of rising stars Mikaili Sol and Osaia Reding, it’s sure to be a great contest on their side, too.

Here are the men's and women’s line-ups:

MEN:
Nicolas Delmas, France
Odin van Dijk, Netherlands
Val Garat, France
Lasse Walker, Netherlands
Paul Serin, France
Luis Alberto Cruz, Dominican Republic
Lewis Crathern, UK
Ross Dillon-Player, South Africa
Pauline Valesa, France
Lazare Gournay, France
Set Teixeira, Brazil
Arthur Guillebert, France
Maxime Chabloz, Switzerland
Reno Romeo, Brazil
Julien Krikken, France (Wildcard)
Tom Hebert, New Caledonia
Marius Hoppe, Germany
Nicolas Gambier, France
Aaron Hadlow, UK
Liam Whaley, Spain
Theo de Ramecourt, France
Tamas Deak, Hungary
Antonin Rangin, France
Domantas Jusionis: Lithuania
Augustas Dudenas: Lithuania
Clement Huot, France
Jules Chollet, France
Jerrie van de Kop, Netherlands
Carlos Mario, Brazil
Kevin Langeree, Netherlands
Raiarii Fadier, Brazil
Antoine Fermon, France
Juan Rodriguez, Colombia
Valentin Rodriguez, Colombia
Posito Martinez, Dominican Republic
Jesse Richman, Hawaii
Joselito del Rosario, Dominican Republic
Leon Corniel, Dominican Republic
Eudazio da Silva, Brazil
Edgar Ulrich, France
Aaron Rosslee, South Africa
+2 Wildcards

WOMEN:
Maureen Castelle, France
Pauline Valesa, France
Vera Klabbers, Netherlands
Hannah Whiteley, UK
Mikaili Sol, Brazil
Osaia Reding, Spain
Angely Bouilot, France
Pippa Iersel, Netherlands
Annelous Lammerts, Netherlands

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Toby
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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby Toby » Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:05 pm


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BillyGoatGruff
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Re: The GKA Kiteboarding World Tour 2018 has launched

Postby BillyGoatGruff » Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:21 pm

The men's is a great line up and exciting field. Good to see the Dominican riders (Luis, Posito and Joseleto) in there.... will be very entertaining


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