One-stop Youth Big Air world championship will crown up-and-coming athletes
GKA Youth Big Air Kite World Championship St Peter-Ording
20-24 August, 2025 | Ording Beach, Sankt Peter-Ording
The GKA has unveiled plans for the first-ever Youth Big Air world championships in the Twin-tip division, which will take place during the California Kitesurf Masters at St Peter-Ording, Germany.
The GKA Youth Big Air Kite World Championship St Peter-Ording will crown winners in the male and female U14, U16 and U19 categories in front of a vast audience at Kite Village, which hosts the world’s biggest annual kite expo and test event.
The inaugural Youth Big Air Worlds is set to take-off over five days in late August. At that time of year in Germany lighter winds might be expected and the judging criteria, which is still being finalised, will vary depending on the conditions.
But late summer storms are not uncommon in Germany, and in that case the usual rules of Big Air will apply, with the judging rewarding height, amplitude, commitment and technicality. In lighter breezes the judging criteria will likely be adjusted to reward Freestyle and Airstyle moves.
‘Desperately wanted Big Air’
“The young athletes desperately wanted Big Air,” said Liam Dredge, GKA Youth World Tour manager. “Every year they’ve been asking me, when are we going to get Big Air? So it’s great that this year we’ve finally been able to give it to them.”
One of those who has been clamouring for a Big Air world championship is Bulgaria’s Aya Kasabova. The 14-year-old scored her first senior Big Air World Cup when she battled in the GKA Lords of Tram in France, in late March.
Italy’s Leonardo Casati, 15, is likely to be another contender who will be fighting in the U19 category as he turns 16 this year. Casati, the younger brother of GKA Big Air Kite World Champion, Lorenzo, took the third podium spot at this year’s Lords of Tram.
One of his biggest rivals is likely to be local favourite, Germany’s Finn Flügel, 15, who will also compete in the U19 division. Should the winds turn lighter, Flügel’s Freestyle prowess—he won his first World Cup in Qatar last year—could play a big part in the competition.
More than competition
But there are a host of other young athletes who have already won spots on the senior world tour who will no doubt be eager to battle for a Youth Big Air crown. Israel’s Shahar Tsabary, Estonia’s Martin Rahnel, Great Britain’s Max Tullett and Australia’s Ruben Swart have all shown their mettle.
Yet, for the GKA and many of the young athletes who will be battling in a Big Air event for the first time, it is more than just about competition. It is also about the camaraderie bringing the athletes together and allowing them to learn the rules of competition in the environment that surrounds them.
Sankt Peter-Ording sits in the heart of Wadden Sea National Park, which brings with it a responsibility for sustainability and conservation. The young athletes also engage with seminars to help them with their journey in the world competitive of kiteboarding in our fragile ocean environment.
Keeping the whole thing grounded will be German kiteboarding legend Linus Erdmann, a GKA World Tour competitor. He has been part of the local organisation in St Peter-Ording and will serve as the Head Judge for the Youth Big Air Worlds.
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words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Samuel Cárdenas