PKRA - Thailand: 14 - 19 of March

The PKRA World Tour is set to kick off its 2011 season with the return of the Hua Hin Kiteboarding World Cup in Thailand.

Asia's first ever Pro Kiteboarding event had an amazing success in 2010 and quoted by international pro-riders as one of the best event setups in the history of Kiteboarding. We can expect another remarkable event this season which will set the mode for this year’s annual pro tour event lineup making Asia a prestigious part of the PKRA World Tour circuit.

This mega event will start up on March 10th through March 13th with a special PKRA Asian freestyle qualifier, high jump as well as long distance race. The top 2 male and top 2 female freestyle winners will be given the chance to test themselves against the world’s best as they will automatically be entered into the main event as wildcards.

The PKRA international crew will be running this qualifier event, which will ensure the highest quality of event logistics and judging. Registration for the main event will take place on Sunday, March 13th whereby Monday, March 14th through Saturday, March 19th will mark the official kick off of the PKRA World Tour season. Top riders from around the world will compete in this Grand Slam event, featuring Freestyle, Course Racing, and Board Off disciplines.

As an added highlight, an SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) competition has been added to the list of disciplines beginning every morning at 9:00am from March 15th-17th, and will have a vast range of prizes for the winners.

Holding a world-class event in Asia has proven to promote the sport of kiteboarding and will open opportunities for new talent to take center stage encouraging Asian riders to partake in the highest level of kiteboarding in the world. PKRA Thailand promises to be an event to be remember, and will set a high standard for professional kiteboarding competitions in the entire Asian continent.

Don’t forget to register!

*** FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: ***

http://www.prokitetour.com

Twitter: prokitetour

Facebook: PKRA World Tour

Yo everybody,
Today was the first day of the new PKRA season!
The wind was pretty good and all the qualifications were done today.
We also did 2 races.
Check what the PKRA press release is:
(pictures are coming tomorrow)


Successful start to the 2011 PKRA World Tour season
Mar-14-2011

It was a beautiful, melting hot sunny day in Hua Hin, Thailand today. Competitors made their way to the beach early this morning in hopes of getting out on the water with the consistently increasing winds. By 1:00pm the wind speed reached a suitable strength for the racers to battle it out on the course.

A total of two races were completed today prior to the continuation of the freestyle Qualifier event, which was held over the past couple of days but due to the lighter wind conditions came to an end prior to finishing with results. In the men’s racing division it was an all around winning day for the 2010 PKRA World Racing champion Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA). Kerneur proved today that he is serious about defending his title by finishing 1st in both races. Bruno Sroka Cabrinha, FRA) had a great race today finishing 2nd in the first race and 4th in the final race of the day. Rolf Van der Vlugt (Airush, NED) received a DSQ (disqualification) in the first race for crossing the start line early but managed to shake off this error to take 2nd in the last race. It was a battle for third place between North riders Olivier Dansin (North, FRA) and Dirk Hanel (North, GER). In the first race Dansin managed to finish 3rd while Hanel followed closely behind in 4th. In the second race and final race of the day, Hanel managed to follow through with his strategic techniques to finish 3rd while Dansin fell four spots to 7th.

In the women’s division it was a successful winning day for Steph Bridge (North, GRB). Bridge used strategic tactics to speed her was across the finish line 1st in both races of the day. The first race of the day could have turned out differently for Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA) who managed to overtake Katja Roose (Airush, NED) in the final lap earning her 2nd place in the first and second race. Roose followed closely behind finishing 3rd in both races.

In the late afternoon as the wind was up and down making it difficult to run consistent heats, the freestyle Qualifier resumed and was completed followed by the main event freestyle trials. Four wildcards were given from the Qualifier to the top three winners; Hironubu Nakano (Japan), Mod Chanchan (THA) and Nung Hanjai (THA) while KTA competitor Yo Pudla (Ozone,THA) was given the 4th wildcard. Two women wildcards were also given, one was handed to local Thai rider Fon Jantawan (Cabrinha, THA) and the second went to Aya Oshima (Cabrinha, JPN) from the KTA.

The PKRA Freestyle Qualifier Trials were successfully completed where the top twelve riders advance into the freestyle single elimination.

The advancing riders are:

1. Mike Blomvall (Nobile, SWE)

2. Thomas Paris (North, FRA)

3. Marc Jacobs (Switch, NZL)

4. Stefan Spiessberger (North, AUT)

5. Robinson Hilario (F-ONE, D.R.)

6. Cesar Portas (North, ESP)

7. Mario Rodwald (North, GER)

8. Alex Soto (F-ONE, D.R.)

9. Christophe Tack (Liquid Force, NED)

10. Nils Wesch (Naish, GER)

11. Alvaro Onieva (Slinghot, ESP)

12. Mickael Neral (Slingshot, FRA)

RACING RESULTS

RACE # 1 MEN

1. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)

2. Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Olivier Dansin (North, FRA)

4. Dirk Hanel (North, GER)

RACE # 2 MEN

1. Julien Kerneur (Takoon, FRA)

2. Rolf Van der Vlught (Airush, NED)

3. Dirk Hanel (North, GER)

4. Bruno Sroka (Cabrinha, FRA)

RACE # 1 WOMEN

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)

2. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)

RACE # 2 WOMEN

1. Steph Bridge (North, GBR)

2. Caroline Adrien (Cabrinha, FRA)

3. Katja Roose (Airush, NED)



Tomorrow’s mandatory skipper’s meeting is scheduled for 10:30am with a 11:00am first possible start. For tomorrow's live results please visit: EXTREME ELEMENTS.TV

The Hua Hin Kiteboard World Cup 2011 event is sponsored in part by the Hua Hin Intercontinental Resort, BECL, tourismthailand.org, Prachuapkhirikhan, Hua Hin, KBA, Movenpick, HELLO!, Action Asia, emedia, EEA, KSA, International Herald Tribune, GAC, Nivea, Mont Clair, Yamaha, Thai Tap Water, HSBC, L’Occitane, PKRA World Tour, Tourism Board of Thailand, PKRA Asia, Official Guide Thailand, Singha Light.