Cascais, Portugal – June 10, 2012: Today saw the culmination of the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship tour event in which thirty-six of the world’s top kite surfers from seventeen nations came together at Guincho Beach in Cascais, Portugal, the first-ever European tour stop for the KSP.
During the ten-day holding period, competitors battled it out on waves up to 2.5 meters high in side-onshore winds, ideal for new-school, progressive aerial maneuvers. Explosive performances were delivered by several riders, including Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS/Cabrinha), 19, whose fin free hacks and air reverses secured him a first place win in his heat, and Mitu Monteiro (CPV/F-One), 28, who turned heads with his flowing turns and radical style. Top heat scores of the event included Guilly Brandao (BRA), 31, up-and-comer Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA), 19, and Kari Schibevaag (NOR/Ozone), 33.
Although conditions did not allow for the entire elimination ladder to be completed and points to be accrued towards the world ranking, Best Wave Awards were rewarded to the riders with the highest single wave scores as follows:
Best Wave Awards Male:
Guilly Brandao (BRA)
Mitu Monteiro (CPV/F-One)
Paulino Perreira (POR)
Best Wave Awards Female:
Kristin Boese (GER/Best)
Kirsty Jones (GBR/North)
Kari Schibevaag (NOR/Ozone)
The EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais was supported by EDP, the City of Cascais, Best Kiteboarding, Nissan, TMN, MEO, Telepizza and Buondi as well as national media partners RFM and RTP.
The next stop of the 2012 KSP World Championship Tour will be held on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius and will run from September 7th through 16th. Make sure to follow the KSP World Championship Tour on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KSPworldtour or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KSPworldtour for any future updates and news.
Dag 7.....alleen golfjes...geen wind:
Cascais, Portugal – June 7, 2012: The world’s top professional kite surfers were on standby again today at the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship Tour event. Unfortunately, the wind remained light and uncontestable throughout the day and forced officials to call a fourth consecutive lay day.
“The swell arrived as forecasted and gave us some nice head-high waves, but the wind never materialized today to run the competition, which was disappointing,” said Kristin Boese, KSP’s President and Tour Manager. “The wind forecast looks good for tomorrow and the waves will likely remain head-high. We’re hoping that the conditions will allow us to recommence the competition tomorrow.”
Of the twelve first round heats, five were run on day three of the holding period. After the remaining seven heats of round one have been completed, winners of the heats will advance to round four. With KSP’s “double consolidation” elimination system, all other riders will meet in round two, giving them a second chance to fight their way into the quarterfinals.
“With three more days in the holding period and a good forecast on the horizon, we hope that we’ll be able to run the competition over the next 3 days.” says Boese.
Contest organizers and KSP World Championship Tour riders will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10 A.M. (Portugal time) to evaluate the conditions and determine possible start times for the competition. To hear the call live, tune in to: www.KSPWorldTour.com/live.
dag 6 weer geen wind.....wind zit wel op de hoek:
Cascais, Portugal – June 6, 2012: Low cloud cover suppressed the wind today at the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship Tour event, compelling officials to call the third consecutive lay day for the competition in Portugal.
Both the wind and swell have been forecasted to improve significantly tomorrow. The first of four stops on the 2012 KSP World Championship Tour, the competition enjoyed exhilarating action during the third day of the waiting period, and will recommence when conditions become contestable.
A new swell has already begun filling in and is expected to increase into the weekend. Competitors have been taking advantage of the improved wave conditions to surf and practice for their upcoming heats.
While the competition was on hold, children from the International Preparatory School Carcavelos visited the VIP room today to meet the star professional athletes on the KSP World Championship Tour and learn about kite surfing. Marciel “Matchu” Lopes Almeida (CPV/North Kiteboarding), Cameron Biehl (USA), and Mitu Monteiro (CPV/F-One) gave presentations to the group of enthralled kids. Many of the pros signed autographs on the childrens’ arms, hats and shoes, which the students proudly displayed as badges of honor. The drizzle didn’t dampen their enthusiasm – the kids also got a kite surfing demonstration on the beach.
Contest organizers and KSP World Championship Tour riders will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10 A.M. (Portugal time) to assess the conditions. To hear the call live, log on to: www.KSPWorldTour.com/live.
Dag 5: En nog steeds geen wind; dus wederom is de competitie een dag uitgesteld
Cascais, Portugal – June 5, 2012: Light winds compelled contest officials to call a lay day on day five of the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship Tour event. Forecast models call for increasing swell and wind as the week progresses.
Photographer: John Bilderback - Rider: Airton Cozzolino, North/Italy
As the first event of four of the KSP World Championship Tour, contest officials are waiting for conditions to improve before resuming Round One of the competition. Event organizers and competitors will meet again tomorrow at 11 A.M. Portugal time (UTC) to evaluate conditions and determine possible start times. To hear the next live call, log on to www.KSPWorldTour.com/live.
Riders today took advantage of brief, variable mid-day winds to practice for upcoming heats. Among them was 2011 World Champion, Airton Cozzolino (Cape Verde/North), who warmed up for his showdown against Spanish wave champion, Abel Lago, and American Cameron Biehl.
“I was trying big bottom turns, air reverses, handle passes and air 360s, which I hope to try in my heat,” said Cozzolino. “Abel has competed so many times before and is really good in competition, so the heat will be challenging. I’ve never competed against Cameron, so I don’t know what he has in store but I’m sure it will be good. I really want to advance to go up against Keahi de Aboitiz (Australia/Cabrinha), Mitu Monteiro (Cape Verde/F-One) and Sebastian Ribeiro (Brazil) – competing against them will be difficult and interesting.”
When the competition gets underway again, men’s heat six will kick off the action with a faceoff between KSP World Championship Tour co-founder Sky Solbach (USA), 2010 Portuguese National Kite Surfing Champion, Nuno “Stru” Figueiredo, and 2011 Danish Wave Champion, Jakob Appel.
dag 2:
Cascais, Portugal – June 4, 2012: Coming off a solid day of competition yesterday, a lay day was called today for the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship Tour event due to lack of contestable conditions.
Heats on demand from yesterday are now available on http://men.metacafe.com/loop/live-sports/live/2012-ksp-portugal/ . Be sure to check out the standout performances by top international pro kite surfers, including heat winners Sebastian Ribeiro (Brazil), Keahi De Aboitiz (Australia), Mitu Monteiro (Cape Verde), Lee Harvey (GBR) and Gonzalo Gomes (POR).
With the swell and wind forecast looking promising for the remainder of the week, the competition is expected to resume in the next days. The next call for the competition will be tomorrow, June 5, at 10 A.M. Portugal time (UTC). To hear the next live call, log on to www.KSPWorldTour.com/live.
Cascais, Portugal – June 3, 2012: Consistent surf and stacked heats made for an exciting first day of competition at the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais World Championship Tour event in Portugal.
Riders showcased their world-class skills in side on-shore winds and shoulder- to head-high waves today. Australian Keahi De Aboitiz, 19, 2011 PKRA Wave Tour winner, dominated the second men’s heat with powerful aerial maneuvers.
“I got pretty lucky during the first 20 seconds of the heat and had a nice wall on takeoff, a couple of nice sections, and then it reformed on the inside and gave me some good sections to hit to maximize my scoring potential,” said De Aboitiz. “I had an air reverse and a fin-bust that felt pretty good.”
Another banner performance was delivered in the forth men’s heat when Mitu Monteiro (Cape Verde), 28, got barreled on the inside sand bank. The 2008 Kite Surfing World Champion later nailed a frontside air, which helped him secure a 1st place win in his heat. He also earned the highest single-wave score of the day with 8.17 out of 10.
Other heat winners of today included top-scorer Sebastian Ribeiro of Brazil, 19, who was voted “top up-and-comer” at the 2011 Pacasmayo Kite Surf Pro event and scored a total of 14.2 points; Lee Harvey (UK), 34, who placed 10th on the 2011 KSP World Championship Tour; and Gonçalo Gomes of Portugal, 20, 2011 Ocean Spirit Champion. A local favorite, Gomes learned to windsurf at Guincho and earned the loudest cheers from the crowd on the beach at today’s competition. After his win, Gomes’ fans waved the Portuguese flag in his honor.
Fading winds compelled contest officials to call the contest after the fifth men’s heat. The next call for the competition will be tomorrow, June 4, at 10 A.M. Portugal time (UTC). To hear the next live call, tune in to www.KSPWorldTour.com/live .
For a selection of pictures please klick here and check out the clip of the day on www.kspworldtour.com.