MONDIAL DU VENT 2010 - DAY 4 - Light Winds
Apr-13-2010
“Let’s play the waiting game”
Leucate, La Franqui, April 13, 2010 – It was a very difficult, frustrating and challenging day for all the riders, crew and especially Erik Troostheide, the PKRA race director, who waited around the whole day for the wind to pick up in strength. The wind just wouldn’t make up its mind what direction it wanted to blow and how strong. Just as soon as the wind seemed to be picking up in strength it was always 3 to 5 knots less than suitable to run the competition.
Many riders pumped up their kites and spread their lines on the beach in anticipation of strengthening winds. Jesse Richman (Cabrinha, USA), Alex Soto (F-ONE, D.R.), and Florian Gruber (North, GER) were amongst some of the riders who had their kites up in the air testing the wind strength. Michael Schitzhofer (JN, AUT) jumped in and out of his wetsuit more than 3 times today waiting for the official warm up announcement that never seemed like was never going to be announced. In the end, the re-run of his heat was postponed until tomorrow due to the light winds.
After nearly 9 hours of waiting for the wind to decide if it was going to cooperate or not, Troostheide made the final announcement stating that the competition was canceled for today and will resume tomorrow if the wind conditions are more suitable. The forecast for tomorrow does not look promising, but you never know what the actual weather is going to be until it’s actually happening.
Even though the wind was being unfair today there was a lot of entertainment happening all around the event site yet again today. Numerous amounts of happy, smiling people were out and about checking out the action and fun exciting displays up in the sky. It was so nice to see the longest kite in the world lighting up the sky with it’s beautiful colors, also a humungous octopus kite flew over the event site and above the heads of giggling children.
Riders amused themselves by playing some beach volleyball, while others danced and sang to the hip hop music playing on the beach. Brazilian rider Reno Romeu (North, BRA) was so anxious to fly some sort of kite, he didn’t care what he was flying unless it was something that lifted him a few meters up in the air. Thanks to Sky Fly de Leucate for enabling Romeu to get the chance to fly a few meters above the ground instead of above water.
Don’t forget to log onto Twitter.com prokitetour for all the latest updates!
The mandatory riders meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30am with the first possible start at 9:00am.
MONDIAL DU VENT 2010 - DAY 3 - Cold Day
Apr-13-2010
Light wind conditions cause for competition delay
Leucate, La Franqui, April 12, 2010 - It was a pretty "chill" day for all the riders today. Many wore winter jackets, beanies and gloves to fight against the frigid opposing temperatures of yesterday. Everyone anticipated strengthening winds throughout the day but after a long wait, near 3:00 pm the wind seemed as if it was going to accelerate to enable the re-run of yesterday's double elimination heat, Michael Schitzhofer against Matthieu Judic.
A couple brave riders rushed out on the water to test the conditions but struggled drastically to make it upwind due to the strong current and onshore winds. Race director Erik Troostheide made a wise and official announcement at 3:15 pm stating that it was in everyone’s best interest to postpone the competition until tomorrow due to the unsuitable wind conditions.
A special congratulations goes out to the Mondial du Vent 2010 freestyle single elimination winners Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUD) and Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP).
Even though the wind has been unsuitable today there are many other fun and exciting things happening at the Mondial du Vent event site for anyone who wishes to participate. Come check out the radical BMX Freestyle show, demonstration of kite flying, the flight of the largest kite in the world, the magnificent garden of hand crafted mini multi colored windmills, a large commando adventure park for children, a stand up paddleboard demonstration and much more…
*Important Update Information*
The PKRA is announcing the added feature of using Twitter for up to date information concerning event announcements as well as live result updates.
Log on to: http://twitter.com/ search for prokitetour for all realtime results.
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Skippers meeting is scheduled for 8:00 am tomorrow morning with the first possible start at 8:30 am.
MONDIAL DU VENT 2010 - DAY 2 HOT ACTION
Apr-12-2010
Hot Action for the single eliminations
Today a myth has been put to rest… For all of you who believe that Lecaute is only known for it’s rainy, storm like weather conditions this is untrue. Leucate is now known as the place where you can have the best of all weather conditions, good consistent wind, warm, sunny, cloudless blue skies and hundreds of spectators holding their breath as they watch the stunning riders out on the water from the beach.
Race director Erik Troostheide made a wise decision to run the competition this morning even though the wind forecast was a little deceiving. The wind picked up in strength pretty early this morning, and averaged 25-30 knots most of the day. The single eliminations got underway just after 9:00am.
French rider Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA) kicked off the first heat of the day defeating Mario Rodwald (North, GER) and later also eliminating Brazilian rider Tomas Teixera (RRD, BRA) but was later defeated in an extremely close heat against Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED). The judges pondered for minutes after the heat to make their final 3/2 decision in favor of Zoon.
It was a winning day for Australian Competitor Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUD) who defeated Spanish rider Gerard Sanchez in his first heat of the day. Yates was riding strong, with much power, style and execution, which enabled him a winning heat against the current world champion Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) moving him into the final against Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED). Yates defeated fellow Slingshot rider Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) in the men's final.
Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) was consistent throughout all his heats today landing him in the second spot on the podium today, followed by Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP) in third and surprisingly Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) in fourth place. Langeree seemed to be having some technical difficulties with his equipment throughout all his heats.
In the women’s division, it was a successful day for 16-year-old Spanish rider Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) who eliminated Karolina WInkowska (Slingshot, POL) as well as 2009 world champion Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) making her the 2010 France single elimination champion. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) takes second place, Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL) in third followed by Angela Peral (North, ESP) in fourth.
The double eliminations began with deteriorating wind conditions. During the fourth heat, the horn sounded announcing the cancelation of the heat due to the shifting wind direction and speed.
Tomorrow’s skippers meeting is set for 9:30am with the first possible start at 10:00am.
Check out the Live Result Updates:
http://www.extremeelements.tv/live_results/results.php?TNID02=54&TYPE04=SINGLE&SEX01=M http://www.extremeelements.tv/live_results/results.php?TNID02=54&TYPE04=SINGLE&SEX01=F
MONDIAL DU VENT 2010 - DAY 1 Vivre La France
Apr-10-2010
Leucate, France is known for it’s spectacular scenery, friendly people and very powerful wind. Water sports enthusiast flock to Leucate yearly to partake in the amazing wind and weather conditions.
Unfortunately today the wind decided to play hide & seek, however the sun was in full force, shinning over the crowds of people gathered at the event site in hopes of seeing some freestyle action out on the water.
Race director, Erik Troostheide announced this morning at the 9:30am mandatory riders meeting that the wind forecast did not look promising for today, however the wind forecast for tomorrow seems as it will improve. Troostheide released the riders at 5:00pm for the day.
Even though the wind was non-existent until late in the afternoon, riders, tourists, locals, PKRA crew, as well as organization personnel mingled amongst the large pitched tents and displays set up along the boardwalk.
A large marching band led the way to the centre stage where the opening ceremony was held. Officials, organizers and renowned riders such as speed champion Alex Caizergues (F-One, FRA), Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) and Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA) said a few words announcing the official kick-off of the Mondial du Vent 2010.
Tomorrow’s mandatory skippers meeting is set for 8:00am with the first possible start at 8:30am.
