‘World first’ tricks in competition set the bar high as second tour stop opens in Brazilian lagoon
Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024
12β15 November, 2024 | Cauipe, Brazil
The opening exchanges at the Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe sparked a series of “world first” tricks pulled off in competition that set the tone for the coming days.
The action in the first rounds of the men’s and women’s contests on Cauipe’s iconic lagoonβwith its mirror-flat waters and steady breezesβraised the bar high with a clutch of high-scoring tricks.
The season’s second stop in the Freestyle discipline on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour is vital for those with title ambitions, with the closing call in Qatar in less than a month’s time.
The women’s tour leader, Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya, who won the opening stop in Dunkerque, France, in August, had yet to take to the water when the opening day of action closed towards sunset.
But Kaya Lehmann (GER) has emerged from the GKA Youth ranks and burst onto the senior world cup scene, taking third podium spot in France. In Cauipe she landed a world first in competition, a Blind Frontroll to Blind for 8.0 points from 10, that helped her to a heat win.
βWorldβs best Freestyle placeβ
“That felt really, really good,” said Lehmann. “Seeing the eight points was amazing. This was the first time I could show it in competition. The flat waters here are just amazing. It’s probably the best place in the world for Freestyle. Wind every single day.”
The action as the 24 men got their campaigns of to a flying start was equally intense. France’s Valentin Garat opened with intent when he won his heat to advance, including a 7.13 for a Slim 7 in his total score.
Brazil’s Erick Anderson gave former world champion Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA) a run for his money in one heat, even though the Italian opened with a 9.10 for a Front Blind Move 5, followed immediately by 8.73 for a KGB5.
Another Brazilian youngster David Ribeiro pushed world number two, Maxime Chabloz (SUI), even though he also opened big. His first trick was an 8.53 for a Heart Attack 7, and he went even bigger with the day’s highest trick score, 9.4 for a Back Mobe 7. The Swiss athlete is one to watch.
The Dominican Deury Corniel is back in competition after two years out with a knee injury and a campaign to get an Olympics’ berth in the Kitefoil racing class. He was delighted to be back on the Freestyle circuit.
βInsane feelingβ
“I was trying to get in the kites for the Olympics,” he said. “But as I could not make it, this is my last competition of the year. I just want to do the best I can here in Brazil. I just love this so much.”
Corniel was defeated by Egypt’s Karim Mahmoud in their heat, though Corniel lives to fight again in the next round. Mahmoud was on fire and landed a Blind Slim for 9.27 to take his heat total to 32.89 from a possible 40 for four tricks, the highest of the day.
“It’s an insane feeling,” said Mahmoud, right afterwards. “It’s the best heat I’ve ever ridden in my life and I couldn’t be happier. I landed all the tricks I’ve been training on and I’m stoked to land them in competition. The flat-water spots here are something else. You can really push the limits of Freestyle. Such amazing conditions.”
France’s Arthur Guillebert, the tour leader after his win on home waters at the first stop, had a slow start by his standards. But did enough to win his heat and get the better of Colombia’s Juan Rodriguez in a tight battle.
Brazilian athlete, JoΓ£o Lucas, was another with series of big moves might have brought down the world number three, Germany’s Finn FlΓΌgel. But 15-year-old FlΓΌgel was on another plane, landing a 7.6 for a Blind Heart Attack 5 that was another world first.
It helped give FlΓΌgel the win and leaves the competition poised for a dramatic climax as the men and women prepare to reach the business end of the action. Join us here for all the action.
words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova
Spot Info
Cauipe
Cauipe Lagoon offers butter-flat waters and constant winds. It is perfect for freestyle and many pros train there during the European winter months. Cauipe Lagoon, outside Cumbuco village and 30kms from Fortaleza, forms at low tide. The lagoon, surrounded by sand dunes and palm trees, is separated from the sea by a low sandbar. That ensures the water inside is always smooth. Outside the sandbar, the wide beach is bathed by wind swell driven by the 18 to 25 knots of north-easterly breeze.
Weather
November is the driest month in Cauipe. The air temperature during day can be between 32Β°C, the highest temperatures, and the lowest of 24Β°C. The water temperature of the sea is around 27Β°C, so nothing more than a summer shorty is required. Sunrise is at about 05.30 and sunset is 17.30.
Wind
Easterly winds blow sideshore in Cauipe, between 15β25 knots. You can find the most accurate online wind forecasts on Windguru.
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