Giant airs, aggressive action as new contenders send it

Overbeek and Hoogenraad lead the way with massive airs and heat wins while new riders come within fractions of points in their march to the world title

Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite World Championships
9—13 July, 2024 | Salinas de Tenefé

A thick blanket of cool clouds greeted the women and men of the Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite World Championships Gran Canaria 2024 which meant 35+ knots of pumping conditions for the second and final kite Big Air event of the year.

The two-event world championship series started with the GKA Lords of Tram Big Air Kite World Cup France last spring. Jamie Overbeek (NED) and Pippa van Iersel (NED) came into this final stop ranked number one in their divisions with hopes of winning the title, but after the first airs were launched, it was obvious their paths to glory would not be a cake walk.

The winds blew out the windows of the commentary booth and only one round for women was held while the men held the round one and the round two eliminations close to sunset.

Each men’s round one heat winner got a pass to round three while women’s round one winners secured a spot in their semi-finals.

World Champion fast track

Right out of the box Jeremy Burlando (ESP) won his Round One heat, maxing out altitude by hitting 15.3 meters on the Surfr App. His best jump received an excellent 8.0 for nailing a contra loop, front roll with tic tac on the way down.

Big Air isn’t just scored on big altitude any more. And it was Lorenzo Casati (ESP) with the day’s top combined heat score of 23.10 who showed explosive, technical airs.

Spray ripped across the beaches as Casati nailed a 7.70 point jump with a sick S-loop, front roll, board off that was insanely difficult.

Heat Eight for the men showed what Gran Canaria can deliver, and it was current world number one Big Air rider Overbeek who went huge with a bomber move in 35-knots.

Skying 15.8 metres above the waves, he sent an S-Loop with board off and stuck the landing on his second attempt of the trick.

Overbeek has come into this event surprisingly without a sponsor, fully unbranded and charging harder than ever. He and Burlando had massive combined scores but many heat winners headed to Round Three tomorrow also had 20+ combined scores.

The men squeezed in four Round Two elimination heats in a raging Atlantic Ocean and 40+ knots of breeze as the sun dropped low.

“I’m exhausted from the heat, the ricks, the free falls, everyone I landed my legs were shaking,” said a dripping wet Josh Gillitt (RSA), who was the first to qualify out of round two and into round three. “I did everything exactly the same as the first round but with more height and way more aggression.”

Gillitt saw how the judges were rewarding precise moves that were thrown higher and harder. So that’s what he did. “I pulled on the kite earlier and more aggressive. The free fall was way more hectic but I knew I had to do it.”

Event alternate Adalberto “Beto” Gomez (COL) proved he deserved to be in the hunt at the World Championship making it through with a 17.85, less than a tenth of a point behind Zac Adams (USA).

Dutch title showdown

 It was high stakes for the women on day one with the round one winners going straight to the semi-finals.

With world number two Nathalie Lambrecht out of the title hunt due to injury, top seed Zara Hoogenraad (NED) carried the torch for here injured friend.

Stamping her name on round one was Francesca Maini (GBR), a title contender who went totally horizontal in a 12.9-metre loop. She wound up crashing out in that air but she was going for it and ended up winning her heat with a 20.03 combined heat score, landing much cleaner, but less critical jumps.

The final women’s heat of the day was a showdown of top-ranked Van Iersel and  Hoogenraad. Only one would secure her semi-final spot and Van Iersel took the 40+ knots and sent it with a huge single loop, sticking the landing and scoring a 7.0.

Good-luck charm

But it was Hoogenraad wearing a good-luck necklace from Lambrecht who demanded her spot in the semi-finals. The Dutch rider stuck a 12.3-metre double loop with 72 metres of travel to earn an 8.53 score. She ended with a near perfect combined heat score of 19.93.

“Today on the water felt amazing. It was a mix of excitement and joy,” said Hoogenraad. “Realising I made it to the semi’s, I felt so proud and happy. All the hard work was worth it.”

The howling breeze made the event containers tremble like a tea cup during an earthquake. Jumps were scratching at record heights and with the Big Air crown still up for grabs, another day like this will definitely deliver a Hall of Fame finals.

words: GKA Media
images: Svetlana Romantsova

Spot Info: Salinas de Tenefé, Gran Canaria

Weather The weather in Gran Canaria, Spain, during July ranges around 25-30C with sunrise around 07:15 and sunset at 21:00.

Wind and water Gran Canaria enjoys great wind in July. Salinas de Tenefé is famous for its strong winds. The wind regularly blows 30+ knots, with gusts up to 40+ knots. The wind direction is from the north/north-east. The strong wind creates decent chop and some wind swell that also comes from the north-east and provides kickers to boost off, left-foot forward. The water temperature is 23-24C, so a shorty or summer wetsuit is a good idea.

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