The fleet of riders signed up to the first ever GKA Kiteboarding World Tour event that will take place at the Mondial du Vent in Leucate, France, from 17 – 22nd April is very exciting.
This new tour calls for dynamic performances and a mix of new school and more classic older school, big air influences, however the overriding factor is that riders need to go as huge as possible… making for the best show as the competition seeks to find the most complete twin-tip rider.
The GKA’s aim is to work with the riders to create a strong tour for the athletes, public and sport. Here’s a teaser for how varied the action will be…
The latest news is that two time freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario from Brazil has registered and will compete in Leucate!
Prior to that the field was already shaping up strongly, with five-time World Champion and two-time Red Bull King of the Air winner, Aaron Hadlow, signed up and ready to show that he still has the most varied repertoire of freestyle moves in the sport.
Aaron’s ready to go big in Leucate! Photo: North Kiteboarding
Liam Whaley will also compete in France. A freestyle World Champion himself, he is one of today’s most technical riders. In his debut year at the contest, it was clear that this young Spaniard also has what it takes to go huge at the King of the Air, claiming a runner-up podium position at his first attempt.
Liam Whaley, freshly signed to his new sponsor F-One, is ready to impress! Photo: F-One Kiteboarding
Lewis Crathern (also a four time UK freestyle champion) will be a familiar name to all big air fans, as will Lasse Walker and Reno Romeu; three riders with a very strong history at the King of the Air, with Lewis claiming third place at this year’s event, and Lasse also being a Red Bull Mega Loop Challenge winner.
The rest of the field who have signed up so far is littered with stars with long established their names in the sport, as well as young rippers who have made an emphatic entrance into competition in the last year to 18 months.
Here’s the men’s and women’s line-up as it currently stands. The men’s is almost full, but we expect a couple of big names to be added in and we’ll be bringing you news next week as the women’s ladder also fills up, but with Hannah Whiteley and Mikaili Sol already spanning the established and rising star headlines on that side, it’s sure to be a great contest on their side, too.
MEN:
Nicolas Delmas, France
Odin van Dijk, Netherlands
Val Garat, France
Lasse Walker, Netherlands
Paul Serin, France
Luis Alberto Cruz, Dominican Republic
Lewis Crathern, UK
Ross Dillon-Player, South Africa
Lazare Gournay, France
Set Teixeira, Brazil
Arthur Guillebert, France
Maxime Chabloz, Switzerland
Reno Romeo, Brazil
Julien Krikken, France
Tom Hebert, New Caledonia
Marius Hoppe, Germany
Nicolas Gambier, France
Aaron Hadlow, UK
Liam Whaley, Spain
Theo de Ramecourt, France
Tamas Deak, Hungary
Antonin Rangin, France
Domantas Jusionis: Lithuania
Augustas Dudenas: Lithuania
Clement Huot, France
Jules Chollet, France
Jerrie van de Kop, Netherlands
Carlos Mario, Brazil
Raiarii Fadier, Brazil
Antoine Fermon, France
Juan Rodriguez, Colombia
Valentin Rodriguez, Colombia
WOMEN:
Maureen Castelle, France
Pauline Valesa, France
Vera Klabbers, Netherlands
Hannah Whiteley, UK
Mikaili Sol, Brazil
Osaia Reding,
Angely Bouilot
Here what’s else you can expect to see on the beach at the Mondial du Vent:
Find more details about the GKA Kiteboarding World Tour here.
