Twenty-four men and 12 women ready for showdown in epic Tramontana winds
Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
29 Marchβ27 April, 2025 | Le BarcarΓ¨s
The second stop of the GKA Big Air 2025 season is about to kick-off at Lords of Tram in the legendary spot of Barcarès, France, powered by the epic Tramontana winds that sweep down off the snow-capped Pyrenees.
Reigning Big Air Twin-tip world champions, Spain’s Jeremy Burlando and the Netherlands’ Zara Hoogenraad, will be on hand to defend their titles. But both have their work cut out for them.
Hoogenraad clinched her title in a cliffhanger final last year in Gran Canaria, Spain, but was sent out in the semi-final at the opening stop of the 2025 season in Jericoacoara, Brazil, last November.
The Dutch athlete has been training hard in Cape Town, South Africa, all winter. But she faces spectre of Britain’s Francesca Maini, who has been in Cape Town too, following her victory at the first Red Bull King of the Air women’s division that helped earn her the GKA Rookie of the Year award.
Re-energised Mika Sol
Both must be on the lookout for the Netherlands’ Pippa van Iersel, who took her third win at last year’s Lords of Tram, the sixth edition of the iconic event. This year marks the third successive collaboration with the GKA.
But the biggest threat of all comes from a re-energised Mikaili Sol (BRA), who took the win at the season opener in Brazil, in November, beating off the huge challenge of Italy’s Alice Ruggiu in the right-foot forward kickers of Jericoacoara.
A host of other challengers that include Sweden’s Nathalie Lambrecht, who missed the first event through injury, and the young Bulgarian Aya Kassabova, promise to make the seventh Lords of Tram one to remember.
In the men’s field, world champion Burlando is unlikely to make a successful defence of his title. It appears Lords of Tram will be the closing event of the GKA Big Air season, ruling out the young Spaniard as he missed Brazil because of injury. He is still recovering, but hopes for big things at BarcarΓ¨s.
Ulrich top seed
“Unfortunately I got injured in Brazil right before the [first 2025] event,” Burlando, 19, said recently. “So I wasn’t able to defend the title there, but I’m getting back stronger and training. Right now I’m trying to focus on my ankle [injury] to find the best way back for Lords of Tram. I’m still in the process of rehab.”
In Brazil, France’s Edgar Ulrich took the first win of the season, helped by handle-pass moves in the lighter winds. No doubt he will be a home favourite among the seven French riders that include former Freestyle world champion, Arthur Guillebert (FRA).
But the field of those who could stage an upset is long and deep. The Casati brothers Lorenzo (ESP) and Leonardo (ITA) are ranked two and three. Former two-times Big Air world champion, Andrea Principi (ITA) is seeded eight, but is on a charge.
Down the order, Jamie Overbeek (NED), last year’s Lords of Tram winner, definitely has the capacity to surprise again. Liam Whaley (ESP), the 2023 Lords of Tram victor, is back from injury and hungrier than ever for renewed success.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Samuel CΓ‘rdenas / Lords of Tram
Men
Edgar Ulrich (FRA)
Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
Leonardo Casati (ITA)
Shahar Tsabary (ISR)
Jeremy Burlando (ESP)
Zac Adams (USA)
JosuΓ© San Ferreira (BRA)
Andrea Principi (ITA)
Kimo Verkerk (NED)
Adalberto “Beto” Gomez (COL)
Nathan Texier (FRA)
Giel Vlugt (NED)
Stijn “Stino” Mul (NED)
Jason van der Spuy (RSA)
Josh Gillit (RSA)
Cohan van Dijk (NED)
Clement Huot (FRA)
Arthur Guillebert (FRA)
Marius Sanchez (FRA)
Luca Ceruti (RSA)
Hugo Wigglesworth (NZL)
Liam Whaley (ESP)
Baptiste Jacquemain (FRA)
Women
Zara Hoogenraad (NED)
Francesca Maini (GBR)
Pippa van Iersel (NED)
Alice Ruggiu (ITA)
Sarah Sadek (EGY)
Inbar Lerner (ISR)
Svenja Zoe Peters (DEN)
Mikaili Sol (BRA)
Alessa Mensch (GER)
Aya Kassabova (BUL)
Nathalie Lambrecht (SWE)
Lilou Ziglini (FRA)
Spot Info: Barcarès
Wind: The Tramontana blowing northerly, or north-westerly offshore, is best. The spot is non-tidal, with flat waters and temperatures of 10-20C.
The best wind for Big Air is 25-40 knots. (On Windguru the perfect forecast is 25 knots, with gusts of 30-35 knotsβwith the gusts as a reference point for the true wind.)
The wind is usually 5-10 knots in excess of the forecast, especially if the air temperatures are cold.
Specifics of the spot: The wind funnels in the corner of the jump zone, with result that riders can often jump three metres to five metres higher than usual.
The jump area has deep water, which makes it safer in the event of a crash.
The best seasons for the Tramontana run from March to June, and September to December. During summer, southern Franceβs hot weather can disrupt the pattern.
Within 500 metres the spot boasts two cable parks: a full-size TΓ©lΓ©ski Nautique and the βout and returnβ Sailor Wakepark. Just a kilometre away there is a full-size indoor and outdoor skateparkβShakapark.
At the competition spot there is a bar-restaurant, The Spott, and a Duotone branded kiteschool, Surf&Kite.
Find out about Lords of Tram by clicking event news.
- Follow the event page: livestream and live scoring
- Follow our Instagram and our new TikTok account for behind the scenes action and event updates
- Subscribe to our newsletter for end of day reporting
- Check out our youtube channel for daily highlight videos.
