INCREDIBLE LEVEL ON DAY 4 AT WKT YOUTH CUP 2016



The 4th day of the WKT Youthcup 2016 started today with a clinic for the kids regarding competition format, code of conduct and strategy during the heat. It was the turn for the Spanish riders. Right after the clinic the wind started to pick up and we started with a Round Robin between the two only U11 riders; Kacper Lepicky (POL) and the Brazilian Kaiki Mar (BRA). They put a nice show despite the light wind and in the end the Polish won the battle.
We continued with the U17 boy’s category. Tight quarter finals between the young talented riders. Choppy conditions but with slightly lighter winds than previous days, allowed riders to go out on their 12 to 14m kites. The beach of St. Pere Pescadorwas once again filled with spectators and families ready to cheer up the kids.



Christian Tio (PHI), the talented Philippine rider could finally show us his skills getting Robby Krikken (FRA) out of the ladder and going straight to the semifinals against the Frenchman Romain Guilliano (FRA). Tio is definitely ready to play with big boys.
On the other semifinal we will have Nino Liboni (FRA) and Maxime Chabloz (SUI), these shredders are performing great since day one. Unfortunately local rider Iñaki Gainza was beated by Chabloz so he will have to wait for the double elimination to get a second chance at the podium.
"It’s a pitty but you never know what’s going to happen. Today conditions were not that good, light wind, and I am not that comfortable with the 14 meter kite I couldn’t land my tricks. Chabloz did well but he was also struggling sometimes. Now I will focus on next year and train harder for next year", Iñaki Gainza stated.



For the semifinals U15, there was an extremely tight heat between Théo Fermon (FRA) and Arthur Lehz (FRA). Lehz was on form, landing sick tricks. However, Fermon was more consistent. In the end, Fermon took the victory from Lehz grasp. 
 
Oscar Perrineau (FRA) was another rider who was on fire today. He performed an unbelievable show, scoring tricks from 5 different families during his semifinal heat. He knew that he had to go big if he wanted to advance against Ducos-Sendra (ESP). Perrineau delivered a solid heat and secured a place in the Final to defend title against his friend Fermon.
 
Riders' meeting is scheduled at 9:30 a.m, this time the Clinic will about tricks families and execution.
 

Amazing LEVEL ON DAY 2 AT WKT YOUTH CUP 2016

 
Costa Brava, Spain (Monday, June 27, 2016) - Amazing performances from all riders on the second day of competition of the World Kite Tour (WKT) Youth Cup 2016. Today it was the boys turn. Lars De Groof (U17) from Belgium showed us amazing skills landing five sick tricks from different categories; backside 313, 313, Heart Attack, Slim and Back to Blind, this kid is knocking at the senior’s Tour door.
In the U15 category Frenchman Oscar Pirreneau, advanced to the quarter finals, Oscar is doing great, landing tricks like a Double S-bend to Blind and Heart Attack. With this kind of progression, Oscar will be playing with the big boys next year. Pure talent for a rider that has only been kiting a couple of years!.
The other Frenchie Théo Fermon had to fight hard to beat the Spaniard Joan Mir. The heat was really tight against Joan, who surprised everyone with his improved technique and skills this year.
 
 

 
 
 “I am really happy, I enjoyed every second of my heat, and the conditions were great I feel really confortable at this spot. Joan did great too but he crashed many times and I could take advantage while he was re-launching the kite, landing a good 313 at the end of the heat. Now I have to focus on the next round which is against the Austrian Max Samhaber”, explained Théo Fermont.
 
We had the pleasure to have a few words from local Costa Brava rider  and Senior Pro Rider Rita Arnaus. “I love this spot, this is where I learned to kite and I always pass by to support my friends and team mates. I competed in this event a few years ago and I always had fun and learned a lot. I really recommend young riders to come and enjoy the experience.
You meet people from all over the world and the campground at La Ballena Alegre is great, it has everything you need and there is always a good vibe”, Arnaus said.
 
Around 4:30 p.m. (GMT+2) competition was called off due to dropping wind. The kids continued to play at the beach and slowly started to pack their equipment to rest for the next day of competition.
 
As for U17 category, tomorrow we’ll have what should be a very interesting heat featuring the Italian Francesco Contini and the Frenchman Nino Liboni, these two shredders are surprising everyone with their sick moves.
 
 
 



Tomorrow, a clinic will be held in English and the next days in Spanish and French. The WKT Crew will give a talk to the new generation of kiteboarders about the importance of their image as professional athletes and the opportunities that athletes can have after their competitive career. They will also discuss about the importance of physical training in addition to kiteboarding in order to prevent injuries.
The meeting will take place at 9:30a.m. 
The forecast looks good for the afternoon with south winds on the 14 to 18 knots. If that happens we will have some action of girls and boys U17.

REGISTRATION and action DAY 1 at the WKT YOUTH CUP 2016

 
 
Costa Brava, Spain (Monday, June 27, 2016) – 47 young riders representing 18 nations gathered today to register to the fourth edition of the Youth Cup in Camping La Ballena Alegre. During the morning they completed registration process and showed their brightest smiles for the ladder pictures and right after riders had de first Skipers meeting outside to meet and understand the competition format. 
 

Aged from 10 to 19, they will battle from June 27 to July 2 at the great Mediterranean spot of Sant Pere Pescador.
After registration wind was really light and thanks to the thermal wind, action started around 17:00 with girls under 15 category. Great moves from this shredders. We enjoyed a tight final of single elimination between Mikhail Sol (BRA) and Osaia Reding (ESP), they landed great tricks like a slim by the brazilian and a sick blind judge by the Spanish. Once again the Brazilian pulled it off in the end.
 
We had enough wind to continue with the girls under 17 category, at that point the thermal wind was dying and riders had to change the kite during heats. The final was between the two spaniards Nina Font and Claudia León, both friends did an excellent performance but Claudia León won the single elimination final U17.
 


The WKT Youth Cup opening ceremony showed the best up-and-coming kiteboarders proudly holding their country flags. Even though they were a bit nervous but they enjoyed every moment of it. 
Girls’ and divisions were merged into 2 groups as they are not enough to complete each category. As for boys, they should be divided in two age groups:


Youth U15: born in 2002 or 2003
Youth U19: born in 2000 or 2001

Riders meeting will be held at 11 a.m. (GMT+2). Forecast is looking promising for the upcoming days with mellow thermal winds ranging from 12 to 18 knots.