2022 Big Air World Championships – 20 June-6 July – Tarifa

Kiteboarding’s biggest event is set to explode with the first official world titles for Big Air Kiteboarding in Twintip, Strapless and Hydrofoil disciplines

The GKA is proud to announce the Big Air World Championships in Balneario, Tarifa, Spain. Taking place from June 20th-July 6th, 2022, this event will host 72 big air warriors, going head-to-head outside of old town Tarifa at Balneario. 

As Tarifa fires up with strong Levante winds in early summer, the level of riding is set to be through the roof as male and female competitors will hope to bring their A-game to claim the top step at this winner-takes-all championship. The stage is set for a truly immense kiteboarding event that will break boundaries and expectation. 

WHO WILL COMPETE? 

TWIN-TIP: 24 men, 12 women
STRAPLESS: 12 men, 12 women
HYDROFOIL: 12 men, 12 women 

HOW RIDERS WILL QUALIFY FOR EACH DISCIPLINE: 

24 RIDERS: 

• Top 4  freestyle male riders from the 2021 GKA Kite World Tour ranking are already pre-qualified 
• Top 4 riders from the Full Power Tarifa qualifier event running in May 2022
• 8 entries through video entry
• 8 entries through GKA wildcard invitations

12 RIDERS: 

• Top 4 hydrofoil and strapless kite-surf male and female riders and also top 4 freestyle female riders from the 2021 GKA Kite World Tour rankings are already pre-qualified
• 4  entries through video entry
• 4  entries through GKA wildcard invitations

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL EVENT PAGE

WANT TO COMPETE IN THE EVENT? CLICK HERE TO UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO APPLICATION

ABOUT TARIFA

Tarifa is the capital of European kiteboarding and is fitting as the venue for this landmark event. This Southern Spanish city has been on the GKA event calendar since the tour began. It’s also the competitive birthplace for strapless freestyle with the Tarifa Kite Pro in 2015. Tarifa is home to many world champions and the natural amphitheater atmosphere on the beach combined with a hugely passionate crowd makes for a prime big air location. There’s nowhere quite like it, for competitors or spectators!

COVERAGE: 

If you can’t get a spot on the beach in Tarifa, catch all the action on the livestream at www.gkakiteworldtour.com , through online highlight video shows or the blow-by-blow heat reports on the website and newsletters. The GKA Big Air World Championships will also be broadcast to several million spectators through the GKA Kite World Tour’s TV content partners worldwide. 

Stay tuned for upcoming updates to the list of qualified riders, event announcements and further insights and news occurring throughout the competition period. Don’t miss out on a single part of the biggest kiteboarding event the world has ever seen!

Make sure you’re subscribed to the GKA Kite World Tour YouTube channel.