After two rounds of racing yesterday, Alex Caizergues (FRA, F-One) and Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha) have taken the lead in this years speed world championship, held in Port St. Louis, France.
In total, 35 competitors registered for the first event of the season, and although the weather forecast is not brilliant for the upcoming days, there is hope for the weekend to bring more wind to allow for more racing.
The first heat of the competition was won by Rob Douglas (USA, Cabrinha), the first kiter that broke the speedsailing dominance of the windsurfers last year in Luderitz, and one of the three kiteboarders that made it over 50 knots. Heat two was then won by World Record Holder Alex Caizergues. Second in both legs was Sylvain Hoceini, ensuring him a second place in the overall ranking as well. Rob Douglas is in third overall, and US course racing star Damien Leroy (Cabrinha) on an excellent fourth place in his first speed competition. In fifth, local hero Sylvain Maurin (FRA, F-One).
In the womens fleet, newcomer Melissa Gil was able to defeat reigning world champion Charlotte Consorti (FRA, F-One), they are both tied in points but Melissa with a slightly better top speed. In third then reigning world record holder Sjoukje Bredenkamp (RSA, Naish).
Racing continues until Sunday, fifth of April, with daily racing from 10:00 hours.
Full results can be found
here, for pictures check the
press lounge.
Alexandre Caizergues (FRA, F-One) and Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha) are the Kitespeed World Champions 2009.
After two races on the first day of the competition, the wind did not return to the event side based at Plage Napoleon, France. Although the race committee tried to go for an early start at 8:00 hours at the final day of the competition, the conditions never improved enough to allow for fair racing.
Local Alexandre Caizergues from Port St. Louis defended his title from the past two years, while for speed-rookie Melissa Gil the victory over defending world champion Charlotte Consorti (FRA, F-One) and current world record holder Sjoukje Bredenkamp (RSA, Naish) was a surprise. Being on speed equipment only since one months, she should be the new star in womens competition.
Melissa won the first leg of the competition, while her biggest opponent Charlotte shot a bullet in the second leg, but due to the decreasing winds Melissa scored with 30.03 knots the better speedand thus secured the overall victory.
In the mens fleet, runner-up Rob Douglas (USA, Cabrinha), with 50.54 knots second fastest man in the world, was able to defeat Caizergues in the first round, but struggled with the light conditions in leg two. Most consistent was Sylvain Hoceini (FRA, Griffin) with two second places also overall in second.
Third then Douglas, with the top-speed of the competition (33.94 knots). His team-mate, US racing star Damien Leroy (Cabrinha) scored an excellent fourth place in his first speed competition, aking use of the light conditions. Local rider Sylvain Maurin (FRA, F-One) completed the top 5 mens ranking.
Competitors and organizers were fully satisfied with the completion of the first IKA world championship, even when the wind conditions were not as expected. For the speed world ranking, the next points can be scored in Namibia late summer, and then in the United States and Ireland later in the year.
The international circuit is now focussing on the start of the professional tours and the continental racing championships in Europe and North America beginning of May.
Full results are available here for download:
http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1368&Itemid=27
High resolution, royalty free pictures are available in our picture database at:
http://media.internationalkiteboarding.org/?c=4&k=6a75371736
Due to the unfavourable weather conditions we are unfortunately not able to offer a full video playout, but can provide video snippets from the event on individual request.
