QATAR AIRWAYS GKA KITE WORLD TOUR 2024
GKA Kite World Cup Sylt 2024
20 August – 25 August, 2024
Spot: Sylt
Discipline: Kite-Surf
Judging Criteria: time split into half tricks, half waves with best 3 scores counting (best trick, best wave, 3rd highest in either)
Day six: 25 August, 2024
15.33 We’ve come to a close of an amazing week of action here in Sylt. Congratulations to all the winners of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. Stay tuned for more video highlight event coverage, and see you next week as we go live from Dunkerque for the GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup France 2024!
15.15 The athletes are gathered at centre stage ready for the award ceremony.
14.45 We shortly move to the closing ceremony and official prize giving for the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024.
14.40 Charles Brodel won the best trick scoring 9.70 in the Hydrofoil expression session.
13.57 The Hydrofoil expression session will start at 14.00
13.56 The final results best the best Kite-Surf trick are: 1st place Gabriel Benetton (9 points for his triple front roll), followed by Airton Cozzolino in 2nd place (8.17 points for his back side 3 handle pass), and Gray Foster in 3rd place (6.77 for his double front roll)
13.40 Airton Cozzolino wins heat two Kite-Surf expression session.
13.30 Gabriel Benetton wins heat one of the Kite-Surf expression session.
11.41 Stay tuned as we move to the best trick expression sessions next.
11.21 Delannoy is in tears of happiness with her father on the beach.
11.20 It’s all smiles for the beach podium with fans crowding around the winners and a cheering audience.
11.16 You need to see how big the smiles are as Delannoy wins the event and has an emotional celebration on the beach with her family.
11.13 There is just a few points between first and second place with the final minute left to play out. Losserand places a great 6.07 wave score and needs to just get another like it.
11.10 Losserand’s wave closed leaving her only foam to work with, making it really hard to improve her scores.
11.09 Losserand makes her way to the edge of the box hunting down the best waves.
11.08 Delannoy riding a different kite and board has already put down a 4.2 wave score.
11.05 Having switched to wave boards, the women have a job to find a nice section as the waves are not forming as well as in previous days in competition.
11.04 It’s the last minute of the freestyle segment and Losserand has put high scores on the board but is behind Delannoy. Can she improve as we start the wave segment?
11.01 Losserand has to respond and has a lot of work to do but lands a beautiful double back roll board off.
11.00 Delannoy is having the heat of her life scoring an unbelievable ten-point score with a front roll shove it 3 raising her arm for the claim. It’s the best freestyle we’ve seen from the women this event.
10.57 Losserand took second place here in Sylt last year and is giving her all, but goes for a big move and loses her board, while Delannoy is yet to crash and putting in an unbelievable start.
10.55 We are about to go live for the final with Camille Losserand (SUI) against Capucine Delannoy (FRA). Delannoy is currently ranked number 2 below Moona White (USA) but White is pure wave-focused and has discarded this event. Delannoy is in a strong position to steal back the crown after winning the world title back in 2022.
10.53 Rodrigues takes third place in the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 with Derrien in fourth.
10.48 Rodrigues looks comfortable after securing a 4.67 wave score.
10.45 Derrien needs to put down 2 big wave scores as she unfortunately only got one score in the freestyle segment.
10.42 We are now in the wave segment of the heat.
10.41 Rodrigues secured the highest freestyle score so far with a tic tac flip and rodeo, meanwhile, Derrien unfortunately crashed her kite with her front roll attempt.
10.38 Rodrigues executes her tactics and lands a rodeo which places the first score of the heat.
10.31 The onshore wind today means the athletes can choose to ride either left or right on a wave, most likely playing to their preferred stance to ride frontside in the wave segment.
10.29 In under an hour we expect to be crowing the women’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 winners!
10.26 The sun is out and the wind is pumping. The first heat of today is in sequence with Clémence Derrien (FRA) against Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA) in the mini-final to decide third and fourth place.
9.50 Good morning from a windy final day in Sylt. The first possible start to complete the women’s finals will be at 10.30. We then plan to hold expression sessions for the best trick at 13.00, followed by prize giving at 15.00. Stay tuned!
Day five: 24 August, 2024
17.02 That’s it for today from Sylt as the action has been called off in favour of a great looking forecast tomorrow.
16.31 The women have been released for the day with more promising conditions for the finals tomorrow.
16.00 The next call will be at 16.30 with a first possible start at 17.00.
14.30 We are assessing the conditions and hope to start an expression session soon with hydrofoil athletes competing for the best trick. The first possible start will be 16.00.
12.15 The next call will be 16:30 with a first possible start of 17:00.
11.56 The first possible start has been delayed to 12.15 as we wait for the wind to build.
11.41 The next call will decide if the first possible start could be 12.00.
11.30 The first possible start is now at 11.45.
11.00 The first possible start is now at 11.30.
10.40 Good morning from Sylt. We have clear skies and are waiting for the wind to build to start the women’s finals of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. The first possible start is 11.00.
Day four: 23 August, 2024
16.05 That’s it for competition today as the women’s finals will conclude tomorrow. Stay tuned for more action here in Sylt.
15.50 The winners enjoy their podium moments while the judges examine conditions for the next heats. Stand by!
15.46 Congratulations to the winners: James Carew in first place, followed by Gabriel Benetton, and Lorenzo Casati in third place.
15.45 The comeback king James Carew from Australia becomes the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 winner! Gabriel Benetton takes second place after a tense and very close heat.
15.42 Big spray for Carew and he may have just taken the event win!
15.41 Benetton has gone into first place after a 6.5 wave score!
15.40 Carew is milking his wave until the shallows and is just ahead in the scores.
15.37 Benetton found a great section and got some lovely turns in. The competition is tight!
15.35 Carew is heading back out onto the water with potentially crossed lines as he decides to not waste a minute fighting for the win.
15.33 It’s the final freestyle minute and the riders are almost level pegging, with both showing capability to take the win.
15.30 Carew places three scores above 7 points each when Benetton then lands the triple front roll he previously attempted scoring 9.18.
15.28 Benetton is not getting the pop he was hoping for on a triple front roll, but still has a 7.17 score on the board.
15.27 Carew flies to the moon in his opening trick. They have 7 minutes for the freestyle before switching to waves.
15.26 It’s time for the men’s final! We have Benetton versus Carew fighting for first place, staring with the freestyle first.
15.25 Casati secures third place in the men’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024.
15.20 The sun is out and the crowd is growing here in Sylt. We have around 90 seconds left with Casati way ahead.
15.15 Abadjiev throws a massive trick and lands it punching the air, but heartbreakingly he misses the buzzer and it doesn’t count.
15.10 The rain has cleared with blue sky beginning to peak through the clouds. Casati is shining through in these 50-knot conditions, being used to big air.
15.03 It’s gusting up to around 55 knots and Casati is up against Abadjiev fighting for third place.
15.00 We have had a change in heats as we next move to the men’s mini-final, followed by the men’s final.
14.18 The heat has been cancelled as a 50 knot storm approaches.
14.15 We have moved back to the women’s mini final where Derrien and Rodrigues are fighting for third place.
14.06 Carew rides a wave all the way to the beach managing to get an air off the lip, before putting more scores on the board and going on to win a place in the final.
14.00 The athletes are riding overpowered in the challenging conditions and Abadjiev is still putting up a fight in the hopes of going through to the final.
13.56 Carew is going absolutely massive jumping around 20m in over 40 knots. So far his highest score is 8.07 for his contra loop back roll board off.
13.50 Next up Carew tries to cement his place competing against Abadjiev.
13.47 Gabriele Benetton takes the win and looks like he could join James Carew in the final.
13.42 Despite the wind and driving rain, the audience persists as the action continues. Benetton is looking in a good position.
13.39 Benetton is in the lead as we switch over to the waves. The conditions are really nuking and boards and kites are being changed.
13.32 Benetton is challenging Casati now in H1 of the men’s semis.
13.30 The women battled in gusts of 40 knots in the challenging shore break. Rodrigues put up a very close fight but Delannoy just slips through to the finals with 0.69 advantage. We now switch back to the men’s with the H1 of the semi finals.
13.16 Delannoy has opened up well and is performing strong in the freestyle.
13.13 Semi-final H2 is in sequence with Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA) against Capucine Delannoy (FRA).
13.10 Losserand has made it through to the final with Derrien advancing to the mini-final.
13.06 Losserand is getting some nice waves and is currently in the lead.
12.55 We are live now for the women’s two heat semi-final starting with Clémence Derrien (FRA) versus Camille Losserand (SUI).
12.52 Abadjiev has knocked out Cozzolino from the competition! Wow, what a plot twist. Everyone is speechless.
12.50 Cozzolino hacks three turns on a wave putting a wave score down but the judges are still deliberating if it’s enough to take him through to the semis.
12.48 The North Sea is looking wild and seeing Cozzolino struggling is not the norm. He’s still in second place with 90 seconds to go and needs another 2.52 on his score.
12.40 Surprisingly R4 H4 is not the heat we expected as neither favourite Airton Cozzolino (ITA) nor Nicola Abadjiev (BUL) has placed a score yet. Will there be another plot twist?
12.31 It’s gusting from 20 to 36 knots with a side-onshore direction, making the conditions really challenging. Unfortunately, Lopes gets knocked out of the competition. Could Carew join rival Airton Cozzolino in the final?
12.27 Carew is riding backside and really looping the kite, but Matchu still needs to place a decent third score as he rides overpowered in up to 35 knots.
12.19 Carew pulls the biggest loops seen in competition and scores a 9.5 for a kite loop tic tac.
12.17 Carew is riding full power and both riders are really going for it but we’ve also seen some heavy crashes.
12.13 Casati wins and we will see him next in the semi-finals. Up next is R4 H3, a huge heat with comeback king James Carew (AUS) against favourite Matchu Lopes (ESP).
12.05 R4 H2 is live with Charly Martin (FRA), against the crowd-pleaser Lorenzo Casati (ESP) who is currently in the lead.
11.52 Benetton’s strength in the wave segment particularly showed and he takes the win, going through to the semi-final and knocking out last year’s champion.
11.40 Incredible opening for both riders but Benetton is currently in the lead as he switches to a wave board.
11.35 We are about to go into sequence for R4 H1 of the men’s with the format 7-minutes freestyle, followed by a 1-minute break, then 8-minutes wave.
11.30 The live stream is in play as we wait to start H1 of the quarter-final men’s of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. Kiko Roig (ESP) is getting ready to go head-to-head against Gabriel Benetton (BRA).
10.50 The first possible start will be 11.30 with a forecast that promises top action here in Sylt. We hope to crown the champions today and will be starting with the men’s quarter-finals.
10.15 We have a bit of rain this morning in Sylt and the judges are in a meeting deciding the plan for the day.
Day three: 22 August, 2024
19.05 Delannoy makes it to the quarter finals and it’s a wrap for the day. Join us for an exciting finals day tomorrow for both the men and women’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024.
18.57 Delannoy lands a massive front roll tic tac scoring 7.6.
18.46 Rodrigues wins R3 H3 as we move on to Capucine Delannoy facing Daniela Moreno in the last heat of the day, fighting for a place in the women’s quarter-finals.
18.41 After a kite change from both riders, the wind ramps up again to 39 knots.
18.37 The wind has dropped to 30 knots, gusting to 33 with Rodrigues in the lead as we switch to waves.
18.31 R3 H3 Local Susanne Schwarztrauber goes head to head against Brazilian favourite, Kesiane Rodrigues.
18.30 Losserand wins as Carpentier struggles to put scores on the board.
18.10 R3 H2 gets underway with Charlotte Carpentier and Camille Losserand.
18.07 The wind is blowing 36 knots gusting up to 42, making conditions challenging for the women.
18.03 Unfortunately Monti’s tricks are not scoring as they are out of the box.
17.57 Clémence Derrien is up against Sofia Monti in R3 H1 of the women’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024.
17.51 Merten’s wave riding wasn’t enough to beat Cozzolino and he unfortunately exists the competition. Cozzolino will go on to compete against Abadjiev in R4. Now we move on to women’s R3.
17.50 James Carew is Cozzolino’s ex team mate and caddy which is nice to see and he’s first to get in the water scoring waves and bumping up his heat total.
17.45 Merten is pulling off some text book moves including a high scoring kite loop flip, challenging Cozzolino.
17.35 We’ve reached R3 H8, the last men’s heat of the day and competition favourite Airton Cozzolino is up against local German Keanu Merten.
17.33 Abadjiev takes the win and advances to R4.
17.23 Nicola Abadjiev is so far in front against Gray Foster in R3 H7.
17.20 Lopes takes the win and advances to R4, and 15 year old Leonardo Casati exits the competition.
17.07 R3 H6 Strong contender Matchu Lopes is up against Lorenzo’s brother Leonardo Casati who’s equally going going massive out there!
17.05 Have you recovered from that one yet? This is what competition is all about!
17.00 Just as the favourite Matos overtakes on the scores, the buzzer sounds as Lorenzo is about to take the last wave of the heat. Casati maxes every turn and squeezes the very last bit of juice out of it, fighting in the most exciting heat of the competition so far. The judges deliberate keeping us all in suspense, but Casati is the one that goes on to take the win, leaving Matos speechless on the beach as well as a jaw dropped audience.
16.53 It’s dropped to 25 knots and Matos shows his hunger in the waves backside riding, but Casati is still in the lead.
16.50 Casati is landing every trick so far and all above a score of 7. Matos switches into waves early playing to his strength.
16.46 R3 H4 is one to watch with Lorenzo Casati up against Pedro Matos as they throw down high scores from the get go.
16.45 R3 H3 and French duo Charly Martin and Theo Demanez compete in tough conditions with Martin taking the win.
16.23 Benetton wins with an incredible 26.00 heat score, the highest so far.
16.15 Benetton makes history scoring a triple front roll shove it three, one of the best freestyle moves you can do and a first ever seen in competition, scoring an incredible flawless 10.0 score. The crowd are going absolutely wild as the action has ramped up to new levels in Sylt.
16.10 Gabriel Benetton opens the heat with a 9.47 scoring triple front roll, the first we have seen in the competition so far and demonstrated with such commitment and power. Woodley Hall has work to do to keep up, but is pushing hard.
16.05 It’s starting nuking up to 41 knots but Roig comfortably won R3 H1 and advances to the next round.
15.55 Roig lands smoothly pumping his fist as he claims a 7.13 front roll board off and is now comfortably in the lead with solid scores as we switch to waves.
15.51 R3 H1 of the mens and Kiko Roig opens up with a beautiful front roll, leaving Yaris Dell’omo to answer back.
15.48 The high tide is causing a heavy shore break but Moreno goes through to the next round. Now we start R3 of the mens.
15.30 Carpentier advances to the next round, and next up now is H4 with Sonja Bunte (GER) and Daniela Moreno (ESP).
15.25 It’s blowing 18-27 knots for our eliminating women’s round. R2 H2 is underway with Simona Schatzmann against Charlotte Carpentier.
15.10 Merten makes it through to R3 and shortly we kick off the women’s R2.
14.55 We’re live with H8, the final heat of men’s R2, before we switch back to the women. German duo Keanu Merten and Alex Middeler go head to head fighting against elimination.
14.50 We have quite up and down conditions with gusty wind. Sermon struggled to place scores and Abadjiev goes through to the next round.
14.38 Skipping H6 as previously mentioned, we now enter sequence with Nicola Abadjiev (BUL) against Leo Sermon (FRA) in R2 H7.
14.30 Unfortunately Lopes exits the competition due to injury.
14.25 Lopes heads to the beach in difficulty while Sanca continues.
14.20 Hendrick Lopes (SUI) is on the water commencing R2 H5 against Jordy Sanca (CPV).
14.10 During the 6 trick attempts Casati was going massive with his highest score of an impressive 8.0 boogie loop. The heat focus has now switched again to 8 mins of wave riding and Casati is non stop fully focused on the game.
14.05 Duffin narrowly missed out by 0.10 in a place in the next round and unfortunately exits the competition. R2 H4 is live with huge kiteloops from Lorezo Casati (ESP) and Luca Gasperini (ITA) chasing his tail.
13.55 It’s R2 H3 and Theo Demanez (FRA) is competing against Luca Duffin (AUS). Demanez has a strong lead with higher scores in both tricks and waves.
13.40 Hall pulls off some nice final moves and takes the win as we round up heat 2.
13.28 News in from the judging tower that unfortunately Kelton Lopez (CPV) has dropped out of the competition due to injury, meaning we won’t be running R2 H6 and his opponent Leonardo Casati (ITA) moves straight through to the next round. On the water now we have Woodley Hall (USA) against Tim Sermon (BEL) in R2 H2.
13.15 It’s blowing 25-30 knots and right at the last minute Roig’s wave scopre of 3.40 was enough to overtake Gossart, skimming his way through to R3.
13.05 We are live with the men’s action for H1 of the elimination round two of the men’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. Former event champion Kiko Roig is up against Louis Gossart (FRA).
13.00 Round one of the women’s heats has been completed while a dedicated audience lined the beach in the bracing wind to watch the non-stop action. Next up we move to round two of the Kite-Surf men’s heats.
12.55 Despite challenging conditions, Delannoy put on a strong performance with high scores, particularly on the freestyle side, taking the win and advancing to R3, with Schatzmann getting another chance in R2.
12.40 Rodrigues took the win R1 H3 and we are now live with Capucine Delannoy (FRA) the current ranked number two, against Simona Schatzmann (SUI) in R1 H4.
12.25 Former 2022 Kite-Surf vice world champion Rodrigues showed off her freestyle moves and is currently in first place in R1 H3. The riders are now switching to their wave focus for the second half of the heat.
12.05 On the water we have R1 H3 of the women’s heats with Clémence Derrien (FRA), Daniela Moreno (ESP) and Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA) as the wind continues to build.
12.00 Male Kite-Surf competitor Kelton Lopez joins Liam on the live stream chatting about the spot with some equipment tech talk. Losserand takes the win.
11.55 Sonja Bunte (GER) is up against Camille Losserand (SUI) in R1 H2 having completed the freestyle and now switching into waves. Losserand is currently in the lead.
11.40 As the final minutes play out in R1 H1, it wasn’t enough for Schwarztrauber as she takes second place, with Monti advancing to round three. Carpentier and Schwarztrauber get a second chance to climb the ranks in round two.
11.30 As the competition heat switches to wave riding Schwarztrauber comes into her own showing off her surfing skills and slipping into second place.
11.20 Sofi Monti (ITA) is the vice world champion for under 21 on the strapless freestyle side and is currently in the lead for R1 H1.
11.07 This morning’s wind started quite gusty blowing between 22-32 knots with choppy water, but conditions look to ramp up to over 35 knots this afternoon.
11.05 We now switch to the first round of the women’s Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. In H1 we have local Susanne Schwarztrauber (GER), up against Sofia Monti (ITA), and Charlotte Carpentier (FRA) following the same format as in R1 of the mens.
11.00 The final heat of R1 mens saw a strong performance with a close fight between to the top two riders Cozzolino and Casati, but it’s Cozzolino that gets to advance to R3.
10.40 News from the judging tower as they confirm Foster took the win in R1 H7. The first of the women’s heats will commence next round.
10.35 Lorenzo Casati (ESP) moves from hydrofoil and joins Leo Sermon (FRA), Lorenzo Casati (ESP) and big name Airton Cozzolino (ITA) in R1 H8, the final heat for round one.
10.00 R1 H7 kicks off the day with Alex Middeler (GER), Gray Foster (USA) and Theo Demanez (FRA). The current heat format is each rider gets 6 trick attempts for a freestyle move attempted turn by turn, followed by a 1 min break to give riders time to switch boards, then an 8 minute window for pure wave riding.
9.30 It’s another windy morning in Sylt with very promising conditions for a full day of action in the Kite-Surf discipline. The skippers’ meeting is underway with a first possible start of 10.00.
Day two: 21 August, 2024
19.10 Lopes takes the win in R1 H6. That’s it for today as we now press pause on the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 where we will come back tomorrow with favourable conditions and non-stop action for the rest of the week.
18.45 R1 H5 saw Carew advancing to R3. We now have Jordy Sanca (CPV), Woodley Hall (AUS) and top favourite Matchu Lopes (ESP) on the water, and also confirmation that R1 H6 will be the last heat of the day.
18.15 Former champion James Carew (AUS) is on the water in R1 H5 after an injury break, joined by Kelton Lopes (CPV) and Louis Gossart (FRA).
18.00 R1 H4 is won by the Brazilian favourite Pedro Matos, followed by Keanu Merten (GER) and Luca Duffin (AUS).
17.40 Charly Martin (FRA) wins R1 H3 against Luca Gasperini (ITA) and Nicola Abadjiev (BUL).
17.20 Benetton wins R1 H2 and H3 gets underway.
16.45 R1 H2 sees the 2023 winner Kiko Roig (ESP) up against strong favourite Gabriel Benetton (BRA) and Leonardo Casati (ITA).
16.40 Dell’omo takes the win and advances to R3, with Sermon and Lopes up next in R2.
16.00 R1 H1 is underway with Tim Sermon (BEL), Yaris Dell’omo (ITA) and Hendrick Lopes (CPV).
15.55 Stay tuned as we wait to bring you the live stream as the first Kite-Surf heats play out.
15.30 The action starts with R1 H1 kicking off the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024. Each heat will be split into two parts mixing tricks with wave riding. Each rider will take turns performing a trick with the best one counting. The final eight minutes of the heat will be scored from the best wave, then the third highest score will be counted either from a trick or wave.
14.20 Up next will be the first heats of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 with the first possible start at 15.30.
14.10 Brodel makes his way off the water to claim his win where he will also be crowned the European champion. The official scores confirm Casati takes second place, with Schnyder in 3rd and Del Rosario in 4th place.
14.05 Charles Brodel takes the win here in Sylt with an impressive performance in strong and choppy conditions!
14.00 We are on to the final round of tricks, with Charles holding his lead and Lorenzo in 2nd place.
13.55 Incredible ContraLoop Back Roll from Lorenzo Casati scoring 6.33 points. We are moving on to the 6th round of tricks now.
13.48 The action is back on! We are currently on our fourth round of tricks with Charles Brodel currently in the lead.
13.35 It’s the final of the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024 and Brodel starts strong followed by Schnyder, but Casati unfortunately crashes his first two trick attempts. However, the wind has now dropped to 16 knots and the heat has been put on pause.
13.25 We are waiting for the rain to pass in anticipation that the wind will increase once the front has passed.
13.15 The final heat is on standby while we wait for more favourable conditions.
12.50 Strong rain has set in as we wait to commence the final heat of the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024. The confirmed riders are Lorenzo Casati, Joselito Del Rosario, Peer Schnyder and Charles Brodel.
12.45 Brodel secures a heat score of 25.17 and Casati with 17.40 in R5 H2. Now we move on to the final.
12.35 Clouds are showing some signs of rain which could mean stronger winds are on the way. Flügel and Vellon are unable to land the final tricks they need, leaving Casati and Brodel to jostle for first and second place but both now make it through to the final.
12.30 Flügel and Vellon really need to place some big scores to stay in the running. Casati is looking stronger with a chance at joining the final.
12.25 Brodel lands a kite loop back roll board off scoring 8.47 which is the highest-scoring individual trick of the competition so far, placing him also with the highest scoring heat, despite still having four trick attempts to go.
12.20 Brodel is flying high with smooth landings and achieving the biggest scores of the heat so far including a 7.13 for his contra loop front roll board off.
12.15 The semi-finals heat 2 is underway with Lorenzo Casati, Finn Flügel, Borja Vellon and Charles Brodel. Riders scoring first and second place will advance to the final of the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024.
12.05 Schnyder tries the first S-loop seen in the competition so far but fails to land it, yet maintains his position in the lead. Del Rosario fails to land his 7th trick, and without three scores on the board, it means Soto just needs to land a low score to take 2nd place.
12.00 The last trick attempt means the last chance to land a third score for both Soto and Del Rosario and a place in the final.
11.50 Trick sequence 4 is in play with Schnyder currently in the lead, followed by Soto and Del Rosario in 3rd place.
11.45 The wind is now pushing 24 knots and a large crowd is building on the beach surrounding the action as the hydrofoil big air semis play out. This week we are expecting between 50-100,000 visitors here on Sylt and you can definitely feel the excitement in the air.
11.40 Hunter Becker is, unfortunately, having issues with his equipment, leaving Peer Schnyder, Joselito Del Rosario and Alex Soto on the water fighting for one of the two places in the final.
11.35 The Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024 semi-finals are about to commence.
11.20 Flügel wins R4 H2 and advances to secure the last place in the semi-final along with Hunter Becker.
11.10 Flügel lands the highest-scoring trick of the heat with a contra loop back roll board off scoring 5.37. Unfortunately, James has yet to land a trick, and Zust is behind in 3rd place but Hunter has also left the water so all is still to play for.
11.05 Riding a 7m sized kite, Becker unfortunately, crashes his 3rd trick attempt, yet remains in the lead until Flügel lands a kite loop back roll and switches into first place. At 15 years old Flügel is our youngest competitor and one of the strongest and looks hungry to secure a place in the semi-finals.
10.55 The wind is increasing slightly and R4 H2 is getting underway with Andrea Zust, Hunter Becker, Robby James and Finn Flügel, all fighting for the last two places in the semi-finals.
10.45 Schnyder secured the win with Lorenzo Casati in second place, meaning they both move to the semi-finals. Theo Demanez unfortunately exits the competition.
10.30 The wind is around 20 knots gusting up to 25 with Peer Schnyder currently in the lead.
10.10 Linus Erdmann is absent from R4 H1 withdrawing from the competition and the heat will restart.
10.00 The riders are on the water ready for R4 H1 of the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024 to kick off the day
09.45 Good morning from a very windy Sylt. The skippers’ meeting is underway and the first possible start for round four of the hydrofoil discipline will commence at 10.00. The judges anticipate completing the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite Sylt 2024 this morning, before moving on to start the first men’s heats for the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 this afternoon.
Day one: 20 August, 2024
15.40 The wind has dropped and the competition has been placed on hold. Conditions look much stronger tomorrow and we anticipate finishing the hydrofoil discipline in the morning before moving on to start the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 tomorrow afternoon.
14.55 We are taking a one-hour break as we welcome Dr. Frederik Hogrefe (State Secretary for the Ministry of Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sport) to our official GKA Kite World Cup Sylt 2024 opening ceremony.
14.50 Andrea Zust competes in R3 H4 against Charles Brodel (FRA) and the multi-disciplined Lorenzo Casati (ESP). Brodel wins and advances to the semi-final after landing every trick attempt and becoming the only rider to avoid crashing so far in the competition. Casati and Zust will compete again in R4.
14.40 With just 2 trick attempts to go there are only 1.44 points in it between 3rd and 1st place. Demanez lands a kite loop back roll for his last trick but it’s not enough as Vellon wins and advances to the semis.
14.21 Borja Vellon enters R3 H3 against Hunter Becker (USA) and Theo Demanez (FRA).
14.20 Soto wins R3 H2 and becomes the second Dominican rider to secure a place in the semi-finals.
14.05 R3 H2 Peer Schnyder is up again against Robby James (THA) and Alex Soto (DOM).
14.00 Del Rosario scores the highest of the heat with his 6th trick attempt of a one footed kiteloop backroll and goes through to the semi finals, with Flügel and Erdmann to R4.
13.45 We are live with R3 H1 and the competition is hotting up as seeded riders Finn Flügel (GER) and Joselito Del Rosario (DOM) are up against Linus Erdmann.
13.40 The Swiss duo Schnyder and Zust score highest and advance to R3.
13.20 Barein, Schnyder, Zust, and Stephens fight in R2 to stay in the competition with their top 3 scores counting from 7 trick attempts.
13.10 The wind is blowing around 20 knots as we prepare to commence the elimination in R2.
13.05 Borja Vellon (ESP) wins R1 H2 and advances to R3. Lennart Barein (GER) and Peer Schnyder (SUI) are up next in R2.
12.50 Linus Erdmann wins H1 and advances to R3. Zust and Stephens will battle it out again in R2.
12.45 R1 H1 Local German hero Linus Erdmann is competing in a hydrofoil discipline for the first time against the only female competitor, Andrea Zust (SUI), as well as Richard Stephens (BRN).
12.30 The riders are on the water ready for R1 H1 of the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite Sylt 2024, the debut event for this new discipline.
12.15 The kite-surf athletes have been released for the day with all eyes on the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite Sylt 2024.
12.00 Race Director Juan Antonio Aragon confirms R1 H1 will start at 12.30. Tune in to the livestream for real-time updates.
11:45 The riders have been briefed and the next call is at 12.00 with the first possible start for the hydrofoil heats at 12.30.
10:45 Registration is complete and the next update will be given at the 11.00 skippers’ meeting.
10.00 The judges expect side and straight onshore winds today which may be strong. We aim to start with the hydrofoil discipline first.
09.45 Good morning from Sylt. Registration is underway for both the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 and the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite Sylt 2024. We’ll be ready for action straight after the skippers’ meeting, with the first possible starting at 12.00 midday. Stay tuned for updates.