Day 2

The stage was set for the second official day of competition in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, today as racers met at 10am to be briefed on the day’s events and forecast. The conditions looked promising and the competition began shortly thereafter, with the first race taking advantage of winds between 9 and 13 knots. This first race proved to be quite exciting in its last moments, as the leading John Heineken (USA) mistakenly missed his last mark before reaching the finish line, forcing him to turn back around, allowing Bryan Lake (USA) to take the first place finish in the second race of the competition.

The races that followed were also defined by close finishes and constantly changing placements, with the stand-out leaders – John Heineken, Bryan Lake, and Adam Koch (USA) – continually swapping places, gaining ground on one another and then falling a place or two behind. Commenting on the conditions of the area, Koch revealed that weeds are a huge issue with racing here, jokingly stating, “I may have nightmares about weeds tonight.” Such an issue were weeds in fact, that he said avoiding them became a major part of racing strategy today, as the glare from the sun on the water would often times disguise the patches of weeds, leading unknowing riders straight into the wrong areas.

Aside from this increased aspect of difficulty, the competitors exceled in the moments that required it the most. Katja Roose from the Netherlands rode very consistently throughout the day, with a strong and powered approach. Brazilian rider, Ricardo Leccese also stood out, consistently placing in the top four of every race. Lake, who has trained alongside Koch and Heineken for the better part of this past year was very pleased with his performance as well, and observed that it was a perfect day for racing, with everyone riding powered and pushing through strong downwind tacks. With a growing smile throughout the day, Lake’s affinity for the sport was by no means hidden to those on the beach.

Overall, the second day here at the MINI Kiteboard World Tour proved to be an exhilarating and full affair. The well-designed course allowed an abundance of movement throughout each race, while slightly shifting wind and strong currents brought about interesting challenges and new variables for every rider.

Eventually, the sun’s descent in the sky became more apparent as Sebastian Garat and Alberto Rondina entertained the beachside audience with an unofficial session for the evening– the faint and far-off image of Cozumel serving as a backdrop, and the racers absolved of their duties for the day.

The third day of racing is scheduled to begin early tomorrow, with the Freestyle Pro event set to finally take place as well. In addition, the slalom course will likely be made available to riders who wish to go head to head in the name of fun. They will be provided with identical boards to make things interesting.

Please note: Due to technical difficulties, pictures are not avilable for this press release at this time, but will be added within 24 hours. This updated version can be viewed at www.ProKiteTour.com.

See the full results through to race 5 below:




Day 1

Beginning the morning with considerably dryer weather than the day prior, PKRA competitors moved onto the beach around 9:30, ready to enter the water at the first sign of reliable wind. As this wait for wind began, the opening ceremonies commenced, welcoming competitors and the PKRA to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, with an authentic ‘pray for wind’ dance, performed by painted men in traditional feathers and headdresses. Sky Divers with giant flags also dropped from the sky, making for an exciting first impression, while a full display of the newest MINIs lined the beach in style.

Unfortunately, this reliable wind did not appear as hoped in the early or mid stages of the day, with intense heat and sun transitioning to stormier weather, which caused a brief downpour that pushed both competitors and spectators under cover. Considering the variable weather at hand, riders stayed aware of their kite sizes kept on the beach, which led to seemingly constant inflating and deflating patterns.

Beachside, top-ranked rider, John Heineken took in some downtime under the comfort of shade, saying that he hopes for consistent wind in the coming days, and in the meantime is enjoying the scenery. Freestyle pro, Alberto Rondina, also found relief from the intermittent rain and heat in the main gathering area, commenting that he very much appreciates the relaxed pace in Mexico, not to mention the warmer temperatures that so sharply contrast those of France – the last tour stop where Rondina achieved a 2nd place finish.

Finally, once 4pm arrived, winds looked to be adequate to start the first official race of the MINI Kiteboard World Tour. Slightly delayed by another passing storm, riders eventually took to the water, with kites ranging from 9M to 15M. After the sound of the horn, racers battled for perfect positioning and lead spots. John Heineken (USA) took an early lead, with Adam Koch (USA) not far behind. Others such as Ricardo Leccese (Columbia) and Bryan Lake (USA) put forth their strongest efforts, holding their ground for the duration of the race and finishing third and forth, respectively. In the end, Heineken grasped first place, with Koch coming in at a clear second. Katja Roose (Netherlands) happily earned first for the women, after switching her kite out with barely enough time before the race began - a maneuver that surely paid off. As was apparent with today’s race – the competition for the final first place will continue to be a hard fought battle till the end.

For tomorrow, wind is expected to arrive earlier with greater consistency. In fact, conditions may allow for both racing and the special freestyle exhibition. For the latest updates, visit the PKRA’s Facebook page and Twitter feed. Event sponsors, MINI and Sandos Hotels & Resorts have thus far proved to be an integral component of this successful first racing tour stop of the PKRA 2012 season.

Registration Day

Today, 36 competitors from 13 different countries arrived in Playa Del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico, for the much-anticipated MINI Kiteboard World Tour, which is sure to enthrall and excite over the next several days. Of these competitors, 21 men and 5 women make up the racers, while the rest plan to participate in a special freestyle event.

This year, thousands of dollars in prize money is at stake, as well as the top race rankings to kick off the year. Undoubtedly, this event and the racing competitions that follow will provide intense battles, with former champions and new names fighting for premium podium positions. Past PKRA course racing champions include John Heineken (USA) and Carolin Adrien (France) in 2011, as well as Adam Koch (USA) in 2010. Notably, the 2011 PKRA race world tour leader from France, Julien Kerneur, will be attending this event - keeping the level of racing at a high intensity.

Additionally, a special single elimination freestyle event will take place, which will include a full ladder of 12 male competitors. World-renowned freestyle riders, Sebastian Garat and Alberto Rondina stand out as the ultimate professionals to watch, as they throw down their biggest tricks for the special exhibition.

While registration day provided the riders with more rain than sun and greater humidity than wind, expectations remain high for the event to come, as the forecast looks very promising for the afternoon on Thursday, as well as Friday and Saturday. As a result of the rain and lack of wind on registration day, competitors spent their time wisely, venturing into and around the scenic and lush region of the Riviera Maya, and taking advantage of the myriad of things to do and see. As the first PKRA racing tour stop of 2012, many of the riders appeared highly concentrated – focusing on the events in days to come. Currently, the area is abuzz with hopeful spectators and excited kiteboarding fans; ready and willing to take in all the action this tour stop has to offer.

Keep updated on all the happenings throughout this event via Facebook and Twitter or the PKRA website – www.prokitetour.com.

Mexico 2012




Following the amazing and well received Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, tour stop of 2011, the PKRA returns again for the MINI Kiteboard World Tour – set to take place on April 19th through the 22nd.

Competitors and spectators alike can look forward to the many riches of the region, which include its classic warm turquoise waters and the friendly, spirited culture of the Mexican people. Additionally, the area remains well recognized for its consistent winds and seemingly endless party atmosphere.

Here, the best racers will battle it out for a podium finish at the first PKRA racing event of the year. On the line will be $10,000 in prize money, coupled with the top rankings to start this racing season. In addition, the competitors will gain access to a great slalom course with four identical boards for the ultimate in racing fun.

To add to the excitement at Playa Del Carmen, the PKRA will also host an exclusive freestyle exhibition, featuring top riders, Alberto Rondina and Sebastian Garat. Executing the most advanced maneuvers and inspiring tricks, spectators will surely be amazed by the on-water action.

Furthermore, this highly anticipated event will coincide with the Mayan Calendar’s most well-known phenomenon, which predicts for transformative happenings at the end of the calendar year. Perhaps, the kiteboarding action witnessed at the MINI Kiteboard World Tour will be exactly what the Mayan Calendar planned for.

Keep updated throughout the event by visiting the PKRA's Facebook and Twitter feed, or check out www.prokitetour.com.

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DAY 3

With the earliest start yet for the MINI Kiteboard World Tour, day three provided good wind early on, and freestyle riders finally earned some time on the water. The Freestyle Pro portion of this competition involves a mix of old school and new school tricks, with a six-minute window to provide the best overall impression in each heat. Local favorite, Sean Farley (MEX) returned to competition for the first time in several years after a foot injury. Often considered a staple of international kiteboarding events, Farley proved his talent is still in tact, winning his first heat. Farley will go against Alberto Rondina (ITA) in the next round. Rondina also impressed with some stylish old school one-footers and newer tricks like his Moby Dick.



For the course racing, the first run began at 12, and luckily, there were no storm clouds to be seen this time around. Blowing consistently at 10-12 knots, racers took to the water once again, determination and intensity as high as ever for this third day. Interestingly, most all racers have adapted to a tri-fin set-up, which decreases drag while still allowing for optimal racing capabilities. Top racers, Adam Koch (USA), John Heineken (USA), and Bryan Lake (USA), all utilized this fin system here in Playa Del Carmen.



The 6th official race was incredibly close, with Koch taking an early lead and holding it throughout the duration. Unfortunately, however, a crash just meters before the finish line gave Heineken the chance he needed to inch his way past Koch- taking the first place finish for that race. Koch, of course, was undeniably disappointed by this outcome. Katja Roose (NED) also secured another impressive first place finish, which nearly ended in disaster as the two men before her mistakenly missed the finish line, nearly leading Roose in the same direction. Luckily, Roose paid enough attention to see where the correct finish line was and commented that she almost made the wrong decision following the two racers in front of her. With high spirits and a good race so far, Roose was happy to continue in this seemingly perfect day of competition.



Race 7 was incredibly tight as well, with the usual front-runners battling for first place, and others such as Olivier Dansin (FRA), Ricardo Leccese (COL), and Julien Kerneur (FRA) close behind. For the second day in a row, Lake made a big impression, earning a clear first place win just after his sixth place finish in the race prior. Once the 8th race started however, it was clear not long after the green flag went up that winds were shifting. Erika Heineken, a top finisher for the females in preceding races, had trouble with her kite and was never able to relaunch it. Meanwhile, kites began to go down one by one, and pretty soon eight kites lay dormant on the water. Due to these unfavorable conditions, the race was cancelled, even though Leccese, Koch, and Heineken had already crossed the finish line.

After the cancellation of race 8, it was clear that the wind would not be returning. Racers packed up and plans began for what will be the final day here in the Riviera Maya.

Sponsors including MINI Kiteboarding, Sandos Hotels & Resorts, as well as Kiteboardtrips.com can be credited for this spectacular event, one that will surely be a high point of the PKRA World Tour for years to come.