GKA Fuerteventura – Day 5

Wednesday 24th July

Report: Matt Pearce / All photos: Svetlana Romantsova 

It was the last day of the event today in Sotavento at the GKA Freestyle World Cup Fuerteventura. After four days of relentless wind (it’s been blowing non-stop since the event began), some of the riders were still keen for more so it was time for the Best Trick competition.

There would be three heats – strapless freestyle, men’s twintip and women’s twintip – and riders would have five trick attempts each. Scores were awarded for 50% height and 50% technical ability and, with the wind pushing past 30 knots and into big air territory, that meant the competitors would be able to ride to the conditions and send it!

Pippa van Iersel won the women’s heat against Alexandra Torres with some sizeable kiteloops, and it was a strong showing from the young Dutch rider whose winters in Cape Town and summers in Tarifa have helped her develop her boosting ability.

In the strapless freestyle heat, Kiko Roig Torres built on his already standalone performances in yesterday’s team Big Air event with a convincing win. Big rotations and cleanly executed landings set him apart, but some close scores from Pedro Matos and Anderson Reboucas kept him on his toes.

The third and final heat was a seven man clash in which the male twintip riders showed a really diverse range of styles. Some opted for old school moves like board-offs and deadmans, while others went for freestyle-influenced tricks or kiteloop / megaloop variations.

Arthur Guillebert won the heat with a massive backside 317, but he was pushed all the way by Lewis Crathern who scored three tricks over 7 points while also sticking the best loop of the heat. Lewis might well have beaten Arthur on his last trick attempt, but a lull in the wind thwarted him as he lined up for a boogie loop resulting in a low score with no more chances available to him.

Lewis had to settle for second while Nelson Gomez from Colombia took third with a trick far older than he is himself – a massive deadman board-off!

It was a fitting end to an awesome event where the conditions have delivered day after day. The action on the water has been stellar, with Adeuri Corniel and Paula Novotna surging to victory ahead of the usual suspects in their divisions.

The overall rankings have now shifted with Maxime Chabloz moving into first place ahead of Carlos Mario as Pippa van Iersel closes in on Mikaili Sol at the top of the women’s table.

See full results and tour rankings below.

GKA FREESTYLE WORLD CUP FUERTEVENTURA – MEN

1: Adeuri Corniel (DOM)

2: Maxime Chabloz (CHE)

3: Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA)

4: Carlos Mario (BRA)

GKA FREESTYLE WORLD CUP FUERTEVENTURA – WOMEN

1: Paula Novotna (CZE)

2: Pippa van Iersel (NLD)

3: Mikaili Sol (BRA)

4: Bruna Kajiya (BRA)

BEST TRICK COMPETITION

TWINTIP MEN

1: Arthur Guillebert (FRA)

2: Lewis Crathern (GBR)

3: Nelson Gomez (COL)

TWINTIP WOMEN

1: Pippa van Iersel (NLD)

2: Alexandra Torres (ESP)

STRAPLESS FREESTYLE MEN

1: Kiko Roig Torres (ESP)

2: Pedro Matos (BRA)

3: Anderson Reboucas (DEU)

GKA KITE WORLD TOUR 2019 FREESTYLE RANKINGS 

MEN’S TOP FIVE

1: Maxime Chabloz (CHE)

2: Carlos Mario (BRA)

3: Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA)

4: Liam Whaley (ESP)

5: Adeuri Corniel (DOM)

WOMEN’S TOP FIVE

1: Mikaili Sol (BRA)

2: Pippa van Iersel (NLD)

3: Bruna Kajiya (BRA)

4: Therese Taabbel (DNK)

5: Rita Arnaus (ESP)

Find the fully updated tour rankings here

Next up: The GKA Kite World Tour will be in Bel Ombre, Mauritius, for the second combined tour stop of the season from the 06-15th September.

The fourth Kite-Surf event will take place alongside the fifth GKA Kite World Tour freestyle fixture of the season at another GKA mega event!