Big season sees new venues and new disciplines

• Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz closes out season with first world title

• Hood River debuts on tour with Ewan Jaspan claiming Park crown

• Brazil’s Mikaili Sol returns to grab first Big Air win of 2025 season

The Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour delivered another landmark season in 2024, with 13 events across four disciplines, showcasing the sport’s growth and diversity at some of the globe’s most breathtaking kiteboarding venues.

The season saw an exciting mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars claiming the 11 world titles on offer. Legends like Bruna Kajiya, Mikaili Sol and James Carew continued to cement their legacies, while newcomers like Zara Hoogenraad and Jeremy Burlando made their mark, pushing the boundaries of competitive kiteboarding.

One of the standouts of the year was Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz, who took his first Freestyle crown at the closing event of the season in Qatar. The multi-talented athlete won the title after claiming his first event win in Brazil following an epic season-long battle with France’s Arthur Guillebert.

“I’m world champion,” said Chabloz, right after winning. “That’s all I can think about right now. It’s something I’ve been dreaming of since I discovered kiting. I think I was seven years old and since the day I discovered kiting, I said I want to be the best kiter in the world. It was my biggest dream in life. I can’t believe that it’s finally happened. “It’s been such a journey. But the longer the journey, the more sweet the victory is in the end.”

Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya was completely dominant, taking three tour stops from three in emphatic style. At 37, Kajiya is the most senior woman on tour, but landed back-to-back titles to give her five Freestyle crowns.

‘Special year’

“Winning here this year was a special year for me where I feel like I was on top of my game throughout the whole year,” said Kajiya, in Qatar. “I got three firsts and that’s not usually very common. So it means a lot because it shows my work and dedication. I really did a lot of preparation to be here and to get this fifth world title.”

In the Big Air TwinTip discipline, Spain’s Jeremy Burlando and the Netherlands’ Zara Hoogenraad, also got their first world titles when they won the second of the 2024 season’s two stops in Salinas de Tenefé, in Gran Canaria’s big winds.

“It was such a special moment in my life,” said Hoogenraad. “It’s a feeling that I never ever experienced in my life before. Because the past few years I had a lot of self-doubt and didn’t really believe in myself. I think just to get that world title changed lot for me mentally.”

But in a sign of things to come, perhaps, Brazil’s Mikaili Sol and France’s Edgar Ulrich, made their mark at the opening Big Air TwinTip event of the 2025 season in Brazil’s Jericoacoara. Multiple world champion Sol was making a comeback after a year-long break, while Ulrich had been asking questions for sometime.

‘Back with full force’

“I don’t think I could have asked for a better result,” said Sol. “I ended the comp with a 10 and winning, and this is my first event that I’ve been doing in the past year. So coming back strong like this really pushes me, really motivates me. So I’m ready to come back with full force next year.”

The Hydrofoil Big Air discipline closed its season in Brazil with the women battling for their own world title for the first time. Switzerland’s Andrea Zust got her hands on the inaugural crown, while Frances’s Charles Brodel got his sixth.

“I’m super, super happy to win my sixth world title here in Brazil, in this good and windy place,” said Brodel. “We were able to express ourselves in these good conditions. I trained a lot in strong wind. So it was a bit scary riding in lighter wind. But I managed to ride well on my 9m so I’m really happy.”

Australia’s James Carew charged back from an injury he suffered right after winning his Surfboard Big Air world title 18-month ago, retaining his crown with a dominant display in Brazil. For him it was an emotional moment.

‘So grateful’

“To think of what happened last year at this event, to be here I now I’m so grateful and I feel really blessed right now,” said Carew. “You know, that the hard work really is paying off. What can you say mate? Did it again.”

In the Kite-Surf discipline France’s Capucine Delannoy regained the title she lost a year earlier. A win in Sylt, Germany, in August, in huge winds, combined with her strong performances to give her the crown in Ibiraquera, Brazil.

Brazil’s Gabriel Benetton landed the men’s title on home waters in Ibiraquera with his runner-up spot. His consistency throughout the season was enough to get him over the line as the other title challengers endured chequered years.

The US’s Hood River, in Oregon, USA, made its first appearance on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour with the inaugural Kite Park world championships. The Australian duo of Katie Potter and Ewan Jaspan got the wins. It was Jaspan’s third successive Park title.

The coming 2025 season is set to be even bigger and better, with new locations to add to many iconic spots on the calendar. New names are bound to have their breakout moments too. Join us again for all the action.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova / Samuel Cárdenas