Tense Times In Taiba For the Freestyle Finals

NINE RIDERS STILL HAVE A SHOT AT THE FREESTYLE TITLES
8-12 NOVEMBER, TAIBA LAGOON, BRAZIL 

The final round of the Freestyle competition on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour starts Tuesday 8^th November. The Copa Kitley Qatar Airways GKA Freestyle-Kite World Cup Taiba will see the world’s best freestyle kiters compete in perfect conditions on the infamous lagoon.

Such idyllic conditions should bring out the absolute best in all competitors as they battle it out to decide their final end of season rankings for 2022, with one male and one female rider becoming the Qatar Airways GKA Freestyle-Kite World Champions!

BRAZILIANS IN THE DRIVING SEAT AT HOME

Manoel Soares currently leads the tour with two event wins from two this season and has a commanding position going into this event where he will be hoping to claim his first title on very much his home ground.

Mikaili Sol, of course another Brazilian, leads the women’s competition but she hasn’t had it all her own way this season. Sol took the round one win in Colombia back in March, but Spaniard Claudia Leon brought herself into contention with the first event win of her career at Neom, Saudi Arabia at round two in October.

While Soares and Sol hold the advantages coming into the Taiba event, these are the scenarios at play when it comes to working out who could become the 2022 World Champions:

BECOMING 2022 WORLD CHAMPION

WOMEN
CURRENT RANKING AFTER TWO EVENTS:

1. Mikaili Sol (BRA) 1870 points
2. Claudia Leon (ESP) 1580
3. Bruna Kajiya (BRA) 1570
4. Rita Arnaus (ESP) 1540

Mikaili Sol will become World Champion, regardless of where anyone else finishes, if she gets third place or better in Taiba.

Claudia Leon can claim the title if she wins in Brazil and Mika ends up in fourth or below in Taiba.

Bruna Kajiya can claim the title if she wins in Brazil and Mika ends up in fourth or below in Taiba.

Rita Arnaus can claim the title if she wins in Brazil and Mika ends up in fifth or below in Taiba.

(Profile images taken at round two, at the Neom Beach Games)

MEN
CURRENT RANKING AFTER TWO EVENTS:

1. Manoel Soares (BRA) 2000
2. Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA) 1470
3. Juan Rodriguez (COL) 1470
4. Carlos Mario (BRA) 1370
5. Arthur Guillebert (FRA) 1290

As he’s won both previous events this season, the situation is more clean cut for Manoel Soares to take his first world Championship. Essentially, just qualifying for the semi-finals is enough for him to be top of the world in 2022 – but no doubt he will be aiming to seal the deal as event winner at what will be a very special local atmosphere.

Gianmaria Coccoluto can claim his first world title if he wins at Taiba and if Manoel finishes in ninth position or below.

Gianmaria could also win the title by finishing second in Taiba, IF Manoel finishes 13^th or below.

Juan Rodriguez could take his first world title by winning in Taiba if Manoel finishes in ninth or below.

If he can win in Taiba, Carlos Mario could claim his fifth world title, BUT, in order for that to happen, Manoel would need to finish 13^th or worse. Even if Gianmaria finishes in second in this scenario, Carlos would still take the title.

Finally, the current champion is still in with a slim shot. If Arthur Guillebert can win in Taiba, Gianmaria finishes in third or below, and Manoel ends up in 13^th or below, then the Frenchman could claim his second title.

Hear more from the world title contenders: 

Once the event starts you’ll find all updates, heat ladders and the livestream on the official Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle-Kite World Cup Taiba live event page:

WWW.GKAKITEWORLDTOUR.COM/LIVE

Report: Jim Gaunt
Photos: Svetlana Romantsova