Date: Tuesday 10th November
Location: Hamburg
Words: Kate Chandler | Images: Svetlana Romantsova
The action has started here in Fortaleza athletes from 7 countries have gathered to take part in the Superfoil 2020 event.
Itβs the first time the GKA has held an event in Cearaβs capital city, thus far we have been blown away by the location and conditions. The colourful skyscrapers make a diverse change from palm fringed lagoons, barracas, and beach buggies.
The bright and colourful theme continued into the first ever SuperFoil Fortaleza opening ceremony. Traditional dancers welcomed our team and athletes to their city with swirling dances, glittering outfits and pounding drums.
Due to the nature of events in 2020 weβve put extra precautions in place to ensure our crew and athletes are safe during their time with the GKA in Brazil. Each one of them took a COVID-19 test before being granted entry to our competition zone and GKA bubble. Thankfully everyone has been given a clean bill of health and the event is off to a very smooth start. The event is closed to the public and only our team and riders can enter.
GKA CEO JΓΆrgen Vogt congratulated the riders and team members for their efforts towards making the event possible during the pandemic. During a speech at the opening ceremony, he praised their commitment to follow safety guidelines, and their dedication to the sport. It meant that kitesurfing competitions were able to continue internationally in 2020 and he thanked them for their part in bringing competition back to the water.
After the registration and opening ceremony athletes hit the water to get an understanding of the conditions and put on a show for our team with the spectacular sunset and backdrop. The atmosphere is electric and every one of them is pumped to be riding in a competition once again after so many months of lockdown, and it shows in their riding.
Charles Brodel and Maxime Chabloz were both looking strong on the water. Maxime comes from a multi-sport background, he is an accomplished athlete in many disciplines, being a professional kitesurfer and freeskier, heβs no stranger to being on a podium and will be hoping to add hydrofoil to that list. Fred Hope, Loic Brismontier and Titouan Galea are also athletes to watch during this event, as well as local riders Nilson Costa and Pedro Vianna Silva.
We have a great position for the event site , right on the shore-line in Iracema, and the forecast for next week is promising. Conditions are side on-shore winds, with a nice rolling wave perfect for our hydrofoil riders. Wind can be anywhere between 15-25 knots here in Fortaleza, itβs predicted to be in the upper portion of this forecast over the next week.
The competition will begin tomorrow, as we have no livestream for this event. The liveticker will be updated with results and news as and when it happens. For now, good night from Fortaleza!
