Big Air to debut in epic Brazil stop

Three Big Air divisions set to make first appearance in Jericoacoara with world champions to be crowned

Copa Kitley GKA Big Air Kite World Cup Jericoacoara 2024
5–9 November, 2024 | Jericoacoara, Brazil

Copa Kitley GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite World Cup Jericoacoara 2024
5–9 November, 2024 | Jericoacoara, Brazil

The Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour is about to land in the iconic kite spot of Jericoacoara, where the Big Air TwinTip and Surfboard contests will make their Brazilian debut.

The Copa Kitley GKA Big Air Kite World Cup Jericoacoara is set to host the opening event of the 2025 Big Air TwinTip season, with a one-stop world championship in the Surfboard division for 2024 title running alongside.

The Hydrofoil Big Air world championship will also reach its climax when it is run in tandem. The Copa Kitley GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite World Cup Jericoacoara will feature 23 of the world’s best men and women athletes battle for the world titles.

In all more than 70 riders are slated to descend on Jericoacoara for the Big Air world cups, which will put the discipline front and centre.

The reigning Qatar Airways GKA Big Air TwinTip Kite World Champion, Spain’s Jeremy Burlando, was hoping to get his 2025 season off to a flying start in Brazil. But he was injured training before the event and had to pull out just before the start.

Intriguing prospect

Burlando landed the title at the final in July in Salinas de Tenefé, Gran Canaria. But on the Big Air stage Burlando’s fellow countryman, Lorenzo Casati, has been charging in the intervening months, along with his younger brother, Leonardo, just 15.

Former world champion, Italy’s Andrea Principi, was unable to defend his 2023 title and is seeded sixth heading into the season-opener in Jericoacoara. But he is hungry to get his 2025 world title campaign on track.

The Netherlands’ Zara Hoogenraad secured her first world title in Gran Canaria. Sweden’s Nathalie Lambrecht was due to be back in competition in Brazil, but aggravated the injury that forced her out of Gran Canaria and also withdrew from the Jericoacoara 2025 season opener.

World number two, Britain’s Francesca Maini, is also fast emerging as a title contender. Pippa van Iersel, of the Netherlands, opened last season with a win at Lords of Tram in France, but could not back it up in the Gran Canaria finale.

One of the most intriguing prospects is the return to competition of the Brazil’s Mikaili Sol. She stepped back at the beginning of the year, but with two Big Air world titles in her locker, she must be a formidable force and will be battling on home waters.

Turn the tables

In the Surfboard division the current world champion, Australia’s James Carew, is back from the injury he sustained right after he won the title last year in Tarifa, Spain. The former Big Air Surfboard world champion, Airton Cozzolino (ITA), was another late withdrawal from the field of 12 that will take to the water.

In the Hydrofoil Big Air title race, France’s Charles Brodel, leads the pack after a win at the first round in Sylt, Germany, in August. The five-times Hydrofoil world champion is in a league of his own but Lorenzo Casati, who is also entering the Big Air Surfboard contest, will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with.

In the women’s Hydrofoil division, Andrea Zust (SUI), was the highest placed woman in Sylt, Germany, when she competed with the men. But a fleet of five women are scheduled to battle in their own division in Jericoacoara.

Join us here for all the action on the Livestream.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova / Samuel Cárdenas

Spot Info

Jericoacoara
Jericoacoara offers lagoons for the freestylers and kickers on ocean for the Big Air athletes. The winds from 20 to 30 knots, or more, are constant and on all day from August to November. The winds are cross-onshore from the right, but outside Jeri town they tend to be cross-offshore. The lagoons, surrounded by sand dunes and palm trees, are separated from the sea by a low sandbars.

Weather
November is the driest months in Jeri. The air temperature during day can be between 32°C, the highest temperatures, and the lowest of 24°C. The water temperature of the sea is around 20-25°C, so nothing more than a summer shorty is required.  Sunrise is at about 05.30 and sunset is 17.30.

Wind
Easterly winds blow cross-onshore in Jericoacoara, between 20–30 knots. You can find the most accurate online wind forecasts on Windguru.

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