Day 5:

On the final day of the Hainan International Kitesurf Festival, Christophe Tack (BE) and Karolina Winkowska (PL) were officially crowned the 2014 PKRA Freestyle World Champions after the culmination of an action-packed tour season. At the closing ceremony, their titles were consummated and the top four finishers in the single elimination, and the world titles, were celebrated.  

After yesterday’s conditions that led to the start of the single elimination, today was windless, leaving the results from yesterday’s last round to stand as the final results for the event. With the field narrowed to the top four men and women, shared first place finishes were earned by riders making it into the semifinals.

The festivities have already begun, yet the closing of the event and the tour season comes with mixed emotions for the riders. Having completed ten stops over the year, this year has been one of the longest seasons to date. “It’s such a relief that it’s the end and to win the title again.” commented Winkowska.

She has earned the title with her share of victories over the course of the year, the most unique likely being the shared first place from the last stop in Pingtan. “It’s a world tour.” she states. “It’s not one event, it’s not one trick that counts, it’s a whole year. We’ve been working and traveling from Panama in February until now China. It was a whole year of competition and I showed my best at each location and that’s why won and it feels really amazing.”

Earning his first ever world title, Christophe Tack had his share of adversaries throughout the course of the year, with pressure from Liam Whaley (ES), Mark Jacobs (NZ), and Aaron Hadlow (UK), amongst others. His entrance into the PKRA ranks began in 2011, and even then, it was noteworthy, as he consistently placed in the top ten, but never broke through to land in the top three. He maintained his own direction and style, gaining consistency and momentum until finally breaking out this year, winning the first stop in Panama. “I started getting better and better results, and then once you actually get to the podium, I was like, man - I want to do that again.” stated Tack. “I think it is a matter of believing, man, I did it once, I can do it again; I’m not overestimating myself.”

The level of riding by the women this year was unprecedented. New riders such as women’s Rookie-Of-The Year winner, Annelous Lammerts (NL), provided the additional pressure that pushed the women‘s riding to new heights. Men’s Rookie-Of-The Year winner went to David Tonijuan (ES), who made his entrance into the ladder -immediately recognized for his technical riding and fluid style.

As the third consecutive year in Haikou, the PKRA was excited to return to Hainan Island, Over the course of the year, with all the waters shredded, the heats lost and won, and faces and countries known and visited, we are excited moving towards 2015.  We look ahead to the riders, disciplines, and tricks that will makeup the evolving kiteboarding landscape and challenge the champions of today.  As the 2014 PKRA season comes to a close, stay connected to the PKRA through all of its media streams for all latest news, updates, and information on the upcoming 2015 tour season.  Facebook   Twitter   YouTube  Instagram

Hainan International Kitesurf Festival Winner's Men (shared 1st place)

MEN: Aaron Hadlow (UK), Christophe Tack (BE), Liam Whaley (ES), Youri Zoon (NL)

WOMEN: Bruna Kajiya (BR), Annelous Lammerts (NL), Gisela Pulido (ES), Karolina Winkowska (PL)

2014 PKRA World Champions

Christophe Tack (BE)- Men’s Freestyle World Champion

Karolina Winkowska (PL) Women's Freestyle World Champion 

Bryan Lake (US) Men’s Slalom World Champion

Katja Roose (NL) Women’s World Champion

2014 Men's Freestyle Overall

MEN

1st - Christophe Tack (BE)

2nd - Liam Whaley (ES)

3rd - Aaron Hadlow (UK)

WOMEN

1st - Christophe Tack (BE)

2nd - Liam Whaley (ES)

3rd - Aaron Hadlow (UK) 

2014 PKRA Wave Champions

Keahi De Aboitiz (AU) Men's PKRA Wave Champion

Moona Whyte (US) Women's PKRA Wave Champion

2014 Rookie-of -the-Year

MEN: David Tonijuan (ES)

WOMEN: Annelous Lammerts (NL)

Day 4:

Amid huge suspense and unprecedented circumstances, Karolina Winkowska secures the 2014 PKRA Freestyle World Title becoming world champion for the second time in her career. After winning five events over the 2014 tour year - add a shared first place at the last stop in in Pingtan - she has cemented her spot in the elite group of repeat world title winners.

The PKRA Race Committee decided in agreement with both athletes to re-run the super final from Pingtan here at the event in Hainan. As both athletes were ready to enter the water and decide the result in a heat, a last minute ruling by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) brought things to an end.

IKA is the sanctioning body of kiteboarding within the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) that sanctions the world title in Freestyle and Slalom to the PKRA. As such, it is the ultimate authority for disputes and both athletes accept the below judgment:

We have considered the facts presented during the IKA Executive Committee meeting held in Palma on November 3, 2014.

The Racing Rules of Sailing, which also apply to PKRA competitions, do not allow any races (or heats) to be held outside of the published competition dates. Therefore, if at the end of the competition an unbreakable tie remains (riders had lost one heat each in the double elimination), both riders shall be scored equal position. In this case, both riders shall be scored first.

With the highly anticipated re-run of the super final set to take place this morning, the conditions were finally ideal to start the competition. As the IKA judgment was announced, emotions were split.  “I’m really happy” pronounced Winkowska, “but I’m super emotional as it has been a stressful week and it hasn’t really sunk in yet. In the end, the IKA decided and I think that it was a fair decision.”

Winkowska and Pulido have been each other’s primary opponent the whole year, meeting in the finals at almost every event. Winkowska now looks to finishing the event here in Hainan “I was happy when we started the single elimination, I was like, yeah, that’s what we do - you know- you start the first heat and the best rider advances and then you go to the next round, that’s what we do, we fight in the water, we show what we can do best, that’s what I signed up for, kiting, and showing your best tricks on the water. 

Pulido’s response to the decision contrasted that of her opponent stating “this morning when told, I was not happy. I went out to ride anyways and had a really good session. In the end, I ride for myself and it’s just a world title. I’m super-young, only 20 years old, and there’s more years to come.”  

With both riders sitting in the top four in the single elimination, there is a good probability that the two will meet in a final. “We couldn’t run the super final, so to be able to meet her (Winkowska) in this final would be pretty cool” admits Pulido

“We’ve both have been riding and scoring well in Pingtan so I would really like to fight her in the final in Hainan. It doesn’t matter to the overall result, but winning the last event of the year would give me at least a little satisfaction.”

Day 3:

The Hainan International Kitesurf Festival carried on today with no contestable wind and a heightened sense of anticipation. The riders were eager to get the competition underway as the second day of wind-hold slowly became a reality. The conditions looked promising - luring riders out for freeride sessions at times - but the wind never increased to sufficient levels and the event was called for the day.

Getting off to an early start, the first order of events was the re-run of the super-final from the last event in Pingtan between Gisela Pulido and Karolina Winkowska. At the first possible start time of 8:30 am, both girls were out on the water as the wind was on the edge of being contestable. With a few forced tricks being landed from both riders on their 13m kites, the conditions were clearly difficult - light, onshore, breaking waves, and current. 

“We were expecting to run the pending final from Pingtan early this morning, but conditions were not suitable for a freestyle event” stated head judge Sami Gali.  “Unfortunately, the conditions did not substantially improve so we are postponing for tomorrow as we want to make sure that we have suitable conditions before we go with the red flag for this final” he added.

This singular heat will decide whether or not Pulido’s campaign for the title will continue. If she wins, she will still be a contender for the world title, but would need to win the event here in Hainan to become world champion. If Winkowska wins the heat, she will be the world champion regardless of her finish here in Hainan.

“It was an extremely frustrating day for management as well as for the riders” said Race director Erik Troostheide. The conditions were just under borderline all day long. It started to improve a little bit when the winds switched slightly in the afternoon, but unfortunately for all of us the wind never improved.”

After another day on standby, the pressure and excitement builds as the women's world title hangs in the balance. With a slightly better forecast for tomorrow, hopes are high for improving conditions to allow the competition to run. An early meeting is scheduled for 8:00 am with a first possible start at 8:30 am.

Day 2:

No competition took place on day two of the 2014 Hainan International Kitesurf Festival. The wind that was forecasted never materialized. With slight increases throughout the day, the wind seemingly toyed with the eager competitors and kept riders on hold throughout the afternoon. Waiting until the all were certain that the wind wasn't going to show, the competitors were finally released at 4 pm. 

With the warm tropical climate and the skyline of the city of Haikou as the backdrop, the event site provided plenty of diversions for the competitors. Many relaxed in the riders lounge and passed the day amongst the lush palms trees chatting and enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. Dancers were on hand as well and kept riders and spectators entertained with performances throughout the day, engaging the receptive crowd.

Aside from the weekend hordes and the sun umbrellas lining the shore, only the kites of Gisela Pulido and Karolina Winkowska accented the beach, a constant reminder of what is on everyone’s minds. Both riders arrived early and were ready with kites pumped, clearly focused, and ready for the rematch when the conditions would allow.

The forecast for tomorrow is expecting the wind to be strongest in the morning 14-18 knots. The re-run of the super final from the last event in Pingtan between Pulido and Winkowska will take priority over the start of the single elimination. Rider’s meeting will be at 8 am with an 8:30 am first possible start.

Day 1:

The first day of the 2014 Hainan International Kitesurf festival provided a surprise afternoon of wind that allowed enough of a window to run the Chinese Men’s Trials to completion.  The re-run of the women’s super final from Pingtan between Gisela Pulido (ES) and Karolina Winkowska (PL) was set to go following the completion of the trials, but the wind showed signs of fading, and the decision was made to call the event for the day.  

After this morning’s official opening ceremony, the event site was packed with the weekend crowds. With barely enough wind to keep a kite in the air, the crowds still grew and by 1pm, the wind had increased and the first kites hit the water. Judging by the enthusiasm of the spectators, it was obvious that for many, it was the first time that they have ever seen kiteboarding. With light winds forecast for the day, it was thought that today may be a lay day, but the unexpected afternoon thermal was welcome and at 3pm the first heat of the Chinese Men’s Trials got underway.  

Nine Chinese competitors competed in three-man heats. The first place finishers advanced to compete in a final where the top two finishers earned wildcards into the main event.  Finishing on top, Li Jin Guang (CN) clearly enjoyed the competition “I’m really happy with my riding. The wind was not forecast to be so strong and it actually filled in quite nicely, so it helped me to ride well. It is so good to have won” he said.

Following the trials, the plan was to do the rerun of the women’s super final from Pingtan. During the trials, both riders had been out on the water warming up in preparation to compete. As signs of the wind fading became apparent, race director Erik Troostheide made the decision to call the event for the day. Winkowska was set and ready to compete saying “I would rather have it over and done with today- the sooner the better, but it’s fine because I checked the wind and it started to go down a bit. So if we would have actually started the heat and then postponed it, that would be worse, so I think it’s a good decision to wait until tomorrow”

Pulido mirrored Winkowska’s sentiment admitting “I don’t really think Karolina or me was really happy that they were going to run the final today. I mean, the wind was really light and there was current, it was a hard day. We went out riding, both of us and we were struggling a bit with the wind. I think tomorrow is going to be better, let’s hope.”

Tomorrow’s forecast has improved and it is expected to be up to 16 knots. Riders will meet at the beach for a 10:30 am meeting with a first possible start at 11 am.