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Freestyle title race hots up at mid-point in Germany

Second successive new tour stop at Borkum Island lands days after season opener

GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Germany
3-7 June, 2026 | Borkum

By the time the world’s best Freestyle athletes land on the German island of Borkum for the tour’s second stop of the season, they will have their competition game dialled as the title race hots up.

The GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Germany makes its first appearance at Borkum just days after the conclusion of the Freestyle season opener at Nuevo Nayarit on Mexico’s Pacific west coast.

With three events on the Freestyle season calendar this year, every stop will be vital for those hoping to secure an overall podium finish or land the title, which will be decided at the third and final call at Taiba, Brazil, in October.

Germany’s Finn Flügel, still just 16, headed to the first stop in Mexico as reigning Freestyle world champion. He will be hoping he can build momentum to retain his crown in front of his home fans at Borkum, where he will be top seed.

In the men’s fleet of 17 riders, just one other rider, Mats Clasen, will be flying the German flag. But the other athletes will make up a total of 10 countries around the world bringing a global vibe to Borkum’s doorstep.

Italy’s Matteo Dorotini finished second overall last season and goes to Germany as second seed, while former Freestyle World Champion, Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz, enters the line-up as third seed.

Past World Champions, Italy’s Gianmaria Coccoluto, and Arthur Guillebert, of France, are in the draw in fourth and fifth. Coccoluto is a master in flat water, but Guillebert may come into his own in the choppy conditions and steady breezes of Borkum.

The women’s roster is headed by current World Champion, Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya, who will definitely by looking to repeat her stellar campaign of last season to land her seventh Freestyle world title.

Spain’s Claudia León will be pushing Kajiya all the way, while third seeded Francesca Bagnoli, of Italy, will be back after missing the stop in Mexico, which could hurt her overall podium chances.

The German interest among the 12-strong women’s fleet from seven countries, will be represented by Kaya Lehmann in fifth seed, with Sabrina Lutz and Julia Heckhausen completing the trio.

Join us here to see how it all goes down in Borkum.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Samuel Cárdenas

Spot Info: Borkum

Weather
In early June on Borkum, the weather is cool to mild with long daylight hours, fresh North Sea air, and highly changeable conditions. Daytime temperatures usually range from 17–20°C, with cooler evenings around 11–13°C. Expect a mix of sunshine, fast-moving clouds, and occasional brief showers as Atlantic weather systems pass through the region. Sea temperatures remain chilly at around 14–16°C, so although the days can feel pleasant in the sun, the combination of cold water and steady wind keeps conditions feeling much cooler overall.

Wind
Early June delivers classic North Sea wind conditions, with consistent southwest to northwest airflow generated by Atlantic pressure systems. Average sustained winds commonly range between 15–22 knots during the afternoons, with stronger frontal days capable of producing 25+ knots. Mornings are often lighter and cleaner before the sea breeze and weather systems build through the day. The wind can become gusty during passing fronts, creating technical freestyle conditions with moderate North Sea chop. While not an extreme high-wind destination, Borkum regularly produces reliable powered riding conditions throughout early June, making it well suited for Freestyle competition.

Event information

  • Location: Borkum
  • Dates: 3-7 June
  • All event information here.

Find everything about GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Germany by clicking event news.

Event highlight video will be published next morning. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.

Mexico Delivers: Kajiya and Flügel Take Victory at the 2026 Season Opener

The reigning World Champions mean business — Kajiya and Flügel both claim victory at the first freestyle stop of the 2026 season

GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Mexico
26-30 May, 2026 | Nuevo Nayarit

Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico, hosted the GKA Kite World Tour for the opening Freestyle stop of the 2026 season, welcoming 15 men and 8 women to the start of a new competitive year. A brand-new destination on the tour calendar, Nuevo Nayarit has rolled out the red carpet for athletes and crew alike — the beginning of what we hope will become a regular annual fixture on the GKA Freestyle circuit.

Day one combined registration, the opening ceremony, and the first day of competition.

With 16 knots filling in from midday, conditions allowed the opening rounds of both the men’s and women’s draws to get underway without delay.

A few notable names are missing from the roster for this opener — Gianmaria Coccoluto and Matteo Dorotini on the men’s side, Therese Taabbel and Francesca Bagnoli on the women’s — opening the door for the next generation of riders to make their mark, including a strong contingent of local Mexican talent.

Women’s Draw

The women’s fleet of 8 riders features three Mexican athletes — Sara Ricaurte, Aleksa Sanchez, and Ananda Gamio — competing on home water. Reigning World Champion Bruna Kajiya arrived in Mexico chasing her seventh world title, while Spain’s Claudia Leon looked sharp and ready for the new season. Poland’s Martyna Konkel and Italian duo Nais Balbinot and Anna Bongiorno rounded out the line-up.

After two rounds of intense competition on day one, the field narrowed to four finalists: Bruna Kajiya, Claudia Leon, Martyna Konkel, and Aleksa Sanchez.

The women’s final delivered a thrilling showcase of freestyle kiteboarding on Thursday afternoon. Defending World Champion Bruna Kajiya wasted no time asserting her dominance, opening with two commanding scores to establish an early and convincing lead that she never relinquished. Claudia León impressed throughout, executing a series of technical tricks with precision and clean landings. Local wildcard Aleksa Sanchez was a crowd favourite, earning her place in the final on home soil — but ultimately found the gap to her more experienced rivals too great to bridge. When the scores were tallied, Martyna Konkel claimed third, despite getting stung by a jellyfish in the final moments, Claudia Leon took second, and Bruna Kajiya sealed the victory to kick off her title defence in style at the first freestyle event of the 2026 season.

Final results:

1st Bruna Kajiya (BRA)

2nd Claudia León (ESP)

3rd Martyna Konkel (POL)

4th Aleksa Sanchez (MEX)

The men’s fleet saw the majority of the top-ranked athletes advance through to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals took place on Thursday with nice wind conditions. The format remained the same, with 7 trick attempts and the top 4 scores counting. Mexican athlete Anthar Racca is still on top of his freestyle game, but he struggled to land his first trick attempts. He was going massive on each attempt, but the landings were tough and he paid the price. Leo Verracchia was on good form and managed to lock down some solid scores. He was locked into a battle with Davi Ribeiro for a spot in the final, but Davi made a strategic mistake, not landing tricks from 4 different families, and lost his spot in the final. Leo advanced through together with  Maxime Chabloz was riding well with clean execution and cleared his way to the final at the top of the heat. 

In the second semi-final, Eliott Panet and Karim Mahmoud struggled to find their rhythm, plagued by inconsistent landings that kept their scores low and ultimately ended their run at the event. Arthur Guillebert and Finn Flügel, in contrast, delivered cleaner, more composed riding to secure their spots in the final.

The men’s final proved to be an intense battle, with every rider hungry for the first event win of the season. Verrecchia and Guillebert both had shaky openings, crashing their first trick attempts, while Flügel and Chabloz quickly began stacking clean scores. The choppy conditions made landing anything a challenge across the board. Leo, competing in his first-ever final, threw caution to the wind and went all in — but couldn’t quite get his landings to stick. As the heat progressed, the podium battle narrowed to three: Guillebert, Chabloz, and Flügel. Guillebert looked set to take it with a massive 9-point score, but Flügel refused to give ground — closing out the heat in first place with 32.37 points. Guillebert took second, Chabloz third, and Verrecchia fourth.

Finals results:

1st Finn Flügel (GER)

2nd Arthur Guillebert (FRA)

3rd Maxime Chabloz (SUI)

4th Leo Verracchia (AUS)

And with that, the curtain came down on the first freestyle event of the 2026 season at the spectacular setting of Nuevo Nayarit. Mexico delivered everything a season opener could ask for — world-class riding, stunning scenery, and an electric atmosphere that set the tone for the year ahead. We can’t wait to return. But for now, attention turns north — the tour heads to Borkum, Germany, where the second freestyle stop of the season gets underway next week.

words: Gemma Hamaini
images: Samuel Cardenas

Freestyle season kicks off with Mexico debut

Idyllic conditions of new stop at Nuevo Nayarit light up World Championship title race

GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Mexico
26-30 May, 2026 | Nuevo Nayarit

The world’s best freestyle kiteboarders are set to begin their hunt for title glory when the first stop of the season opens as the GKA makes its debut in the dramatic new location of Nuevo Nayarit, on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Current Freestyle World Champions, Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya and Germany’s Finn Flügel, 16, are seeded top of the women’s and men’s fleets as they open their bids to retain their titles at the first three slated stops.

The evergreen Kajiya, at 39 the most senior woman in the line-up, took her sixth Freestyle world title on home waters at the end of last season and is as passionate as ever to add another crown to her name.

Kajiya is among 10 women from eight nations set to line up in Nuevo Nayarit, where the flat waters and rolling chop bathe the long sandy beaches, offering an ideal platform for the intense Freestyle action.

Spain’s Claudia León returned from a long injury at the end of last year and has her heart set on a first world title now that she is fully fit. But Poland’s Martyna Konkel, has shown she is a force to be reckoned with too.

Young up-and-coming freestylers, like Italy’s Naïs Balbinot and France’s Phoebe Rocher, will be hoping to upset the established order. Mexicans Ananda Gamio and Aleksa Sanchez also join the roster to give the enthusiastic local fans something to cheer about.

The 21-strong men’s line-up, from 12 countries around the world, is stacked with most of the leading freestylers. Italy’s Matteo Dorotini has been quietly moving up the order for several years and finished second overall last season.

Former Freestyle world champion, Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz, will no doubt be looking to begin his campaign to reclaim his title on a high note.

Chabloz and the rest of the fleet will swap the warm waters of Nuevo Nayarit for the chilly North Sea at Borkum, Germany, a few days after the end of the Mexico competition, before closing out the season in Taiba, Brazil, in October.

In Nuevo Nayarit the heat will be on in the men’s fleet. A clutch of former world champions, Italy’s Gianmaria Coccoluto and France’s Arthur Guillebert, will be pushing the frontrunners.

The Egyptian powerhouse, Karim Mahmoud, has been making his mark and staking a claim to the podium, while 17-year-old Brazilian superstar Davi Ribeiro is a rider who is ready to step on to the big stage.

Italian youngster, Pierfrancesco Rizzello, 15, has been big on the junior scene for several years and now his time may be coming to break into the big time. Join us here to see how fares in the heat of battle.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Svetlana Romantsova

Spot Info: Nuevo Nayarit

Weather
At the end of May in Nuevo Nayarit, the weather is hot and sunny with daytime temperatures around 30–32°C, warm nights, and rising humidity that makes it feel more tropical. Most days are clear and great for the beach, though you might get an occasional short rain shower as the rainy season begins to approach.

Wind
May is the windiest month in the bay. Maximum sustained winds are at their highest in late May to early June, where average top sustained speeds can reach around 15-25 knots. Wind speed reaches its peak for the year during May, predominantly blowing from the west/west-northwest during the afternoons, with calmer east-northeast winds in the mornings and evenings. Expect daytime temperatures around 33°C, clear to partly cloudy

Event information

  • Location: Nuevo Nayarit
  • Dates: 26-30 May
  • All event information here.

Find everything about GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Mexico by clicking event news.

Event highlight video will be published next morning. Written reports will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.

Lords of Tram winners begin title chase

Jamie Overbeek tops podium in France with stunning comeback

Germany’s Alessa Mensch makes breakthrough World Cup win

Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
28 March—26 April, 2026 | Le Barcarès

The Netherlands’ Jamie Overbeek launched a stunning comeback when he dominated the final at Lords of Tram in France, while Germany’s Alessa Sophia Mensch made her big breakthrough to win her first GKA Big Air World Cup.

Overbeek repeated his 2024 victory when he closed out the final with a perfect 10 sending him a remarkable four points clear of the rest of the field in the deciding heat, fought out in freezing conditions and nuking Tramontana winds in Barcarès.

“I train in the most shitty conditions in the Netherlands: choppy waters and rainy weather— the wind goes up and down from 15 to 30 knots—with gloves and [booties],” said Overbeek, when asked to compare Barcarès to his home spot. “So, it pays off training in not-so-good conditions.”

Mensch started slowly in her first final of the Lords of Tram GKA Big Kite World Cup. But the German piled the pressure on reigning Big Air World Champion, Brazil’s Mikaili Sol, with a huge Contra-loop Frontroll that was enough to take the win.

“I’m blown away, quite literally,” said an overwhelmed Mensch. “I want to thank . . . just everybody. The crowd, you were such a vibe; holding on in the cold weather. It’s been such a pleasure to be here.”

The 2026 edition of Lords of Tram, the fourth successive year it has hosted a stop of the GKA Kite World Tour Big Air World Cup, was packed with drama and shock upsets.

The best 24 and 12 women Big Air athletes from around the world battled over two days of epic Tramontana winds that often hit more than 40 knots blowing over the lagoon at Barcarès. Lords of Tram was the first call of the GKA Big Air World Championship that will conclude in Mykonos, Greece, in June.

But reigning Big Air World Champion, Spain’s Lorenzo Casati, already has a mountain to climb if he is to retain his title after he was sent out in the quarter final in Barcarès.

Yet his exit was neither straightforward, nor free of controversy. At the end of the heat he seemed to have cruised to second place, according to the Surfr app on the watches all the athletes were wearing, which would have seen him advance comfortably to the semi-final.

But after the heat ended the judges conceded they had mis-categorised a trick of Brazil’s Josué San Ferreira, which boosted him to second place afterwards. Casati protested, claiming he had played it safe with his final trick, believing he was home safe.

Before the semi-final on day two, Casati and San Ferreira were given a chance to repeat their final trick to settle the matter. In further drama, San Ferreira was a no-show, but Casati’s effort did not better his score and he was out.

In the semi-final, San Ferreira could not repeat his giant-killing feats and finished fourth. The US’s Zac Adams was on fire and won the heat, five points clear, with Germany’s Finn Flügel squeezing through in second, just ahead of former World Champion Jeremy Burlando, of Spain.

The second semi, dubbed the “heat of death”, was stacked. Amazingly, Italy’s Andrea Principi, last year’s winner and a former World Champion, could not find his groove and finished fourth, just behind the Dutchman, Cohan van Dijk.

The younger Casati brother, Italy’s Leonardo Casati, 16, went trick for trick with Jamie Overbeek. Both booked their places in the final, but Overbeek signalled what was to come when he shut out Casati with a big close.

The final was one for the ages. Zac Adams put up a good fight, but could not repeat the heroics of his semi and finished fourth, a fraction of a point behind Leonardo Casati, who was smooth, powered and bristling with Innovation tricks.

By contrast, Finn Flügel, 16, the GKA Freestyle Kite World Champion, had a shocking start. He flew a 7m2 foil kite for the first time in a final. It did not go well. Early on, it slammed into the water, forcing a kite change. Remarkably, Flügel retained his composure and mounted an incredible comeback, but it was not enough and he finished second.

Overbeek started big, and just got bigger and bigger. He never missed a trick and showed his total mastery of the conditions. It was a stunning riposte to the Red Bull selectors who left him out of last year’s King of the Air line-up. Overbeek finished with an incredible 28.80 from 30 for his three counting tricks.

The women’s competition was just as packed with incident. The biggest early casualty was Sweden’s Nathalie Lambrecht, last year’s Red Bull Kota winner, who was out in Round 2, denting her world title hopes.

The first semi-final saw Alessa Mensch move up in second place, just ahead of Egypt’s Sarah Sadek, who had a strong competition. Slovenia’s Lana Herman eased to the final in first spot.

In the second semi former Kota winner, Britain’s Francesca Maini, could not find her rhythm, and ended fourth, behind the Hungarian debutante, Eszter Nagy, a last-minute call-up, in third. The big guns, the Netherlands’ Zara Hoogenraad and Mikaili Sol, both advanced, separated by only 0.1 of a point.

The final saw Zara Hoogenraad and Lana Herman locked in a battle for the third podium step, but Slovenian came out just ahead. Mikaili Sol seemed to heading for another victory, but she faded just as Alessa Mensch found her feet and the German came out on top by just 0.3 of a point to take an historic win.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Hugo Martin

Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup 2026 results

Men
1 Jamie Overbeek (NED)
2 Finn Flügel (GER)
3 Leonardo Casati (ITA)
4 Zac Adams (USA)

Women
1 Alessa Mensch (GER)
2 Mikaili Sol (BRA)
3 Lana Herman (SLO)
4 Zara Hoogenraad (NED)

Spot Info: Barcarès

Wind: The Tramontana blowing northerly, or north-westerly offshore, is best. The spot is non-tidal, with flat waters and temperatures of 10-20C.

The best wind for Big Air is 25-40 knots. (On Windguru the perfect forecast is 25 knots, with gusts of 30-35 knots—with the gusts as a reference point for the true wind.)

The wind is usually 5-10 knots in excess of the forecast, especially if the air temperatures are cold.

The spot: The wind funnels in the corner of the jump zone, with result that riders can often jump three metres to five metres higher than usual.

The jump area has deep water, which makes it safer in the event of a crash.

The best seasons for the Tramontana run from March to June, and September to December. During summer, southern France’s hot weather can disrupt the pattern.

Within 500 metres the spot boasts two cable parks: a full-size Téléski Nautique and the “out and return” Sailor Wakepark. Just a kilometre away there is a full-size indoor and outdoor skatepark—Shakapark.

At the competition spot there is a bar-restaurant, The Spott, and a Duotone branded kiteschool, Surf&Kite.

Event Info:

Find out about Lords of Tram by clicking event news

  • Follow the event page: livestream and live scoring
  • Follow our Instagram and our new TikTok account for behind the scenes action and event updates
  • Subscribe to our newsletter for end of event reporting
  • Check out our youtube channel for daily highlight videos.

Green Light for Lords of Tram 2026

First stop of GKA Big Air season set to kick off at Barcarès with epic Tramontana winds forecast

Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
28 March—26 April, 2026 | Le Barcarès

The Green Light has been called for the opening stop of the GKA Big Air season which is set to go down over the weekend at Lords of Tram, in Barcarès, southern France, in intense Tramontana winds.

The signal puts the world’s best 24 men and 12 women Big Air athletes under “starters orders”, with the action set to begin as early as 7.30am local time in the stadium-like setting of the lagoon at Parc des Dosses.

The traffic light system warns any of the athletes, who were Pre-selected by ranking, Video Selected and Wild Cards, that they should travel to Barcarès, if they are not already at the site training.

The chilly Tramontana winds that blow off the snow-capped Pyrenees to the north have been howling and are forecast to reach more than 40 knots, which in reality can mean even stronger breezes fuelling the battles.

The competition, the fourth consecutive year GKA and Lords of Tram have teamed up, is the first call of a two stop race for the World Championship title. It will be decided when the GKA debuts in Mykonos, Greece, in June.

Reigning World Champion, Spain’s Lorenzo Casati, won the title last year at Lords of Tram. His second place at Barcarès was enough to give him the title and he went on to win the Red Bull King of the Air (Kota) crown in Cape Town at the end of the year.

Italy’s Andrea Principi won the Lords of Tram last season, and is seeded number two for the 2026 edition. The younger of the Casati brothers, Leonardo, who competes under the Italian flag, is seeded three and was runner-up at Kota last season aged 16.

This year’s line-up also features the multi-talented German teenager, Finn Flügel, who clinched the GKA Freestyle Kite World Championship title last season. Another young rider who made the cut is the Dane, Maxwell Dahl, the GKA U16 Youth Big Air World Champion.

GKA Big Air Hydrofoil World Champion, New Zealand’s Hugo Wigglesworth, also makes it into the line-up on a Wild Card, along with the Netherlands’ Giel Vlugt and Clément Hout.

The Netherlands’ Jamie Overbeek is one of the Selected riders for Lords of Tram and definitely one to watch even though he is seeded 15. Overbeek and Flügel were inexplicably missing from last years Kota line-up.

Mikaili Sol was in a class of her own last year when she was crowned GKA Big Air World Champion at Lords of Tram. But former King of the Air winner, Britain’s Francesca Maini, is seeded number two this year, with the Italian powerhouse, Alice Ruggiu, third seed.

The Netherlands’ Pippa van Iersel, a former winner at Lords of Tram, was in the line-up, but is out with injury, along with Svenja Zoé Peters. One of the biggest threats must come from the Swede Nathalie Lambrecht, who missed LoT last year through injury, but went on to win the Red Bull Kota crown.

Another Dutch athlete, Zara Hoogenraad, is a former GKA Big Air World Champion, who will no doubt push the others to the limit and beyond. Join us here for all the action.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lords of Tram / Andy Troy

Pre-selected Men
Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
Andrea Principi (ITA)
Leonardo Casati (ITA)
Finn Flügel (GER)
Kimo Verkerk (NED)
Shahar Tsabary (ISR)
Zac Adams (USA)
Stijn “Stino” Mul (NED)
Josué San Ferreira (BRA)
Timo Boersema (NED)

Wild Card Men
Clement Hout (FRA)
Maxwell Dahl (DEN)
Hugo Wigglesworth (NZL)
Giel Vlugt (NED)

Video Selected Men
Jeremy Burlando (ESP)
Josh Gillitt (RSA)
Nathan Texier (FRA)
Luca Ceruti (RSA)
Jamie Overbeek (NED)
Jason van der Spuy (RSA)
Baptiste Jacquemain (FRA)
Elliott Bouton (FRA)
Marten Koblishke (GER)
Cohan van Dijk (NED)

Pre-selected Women
Mikaili Sol (USA)
Francesca Maini (GBR)
Alice Ruggiu (ITA)
Sarah Sadek (EGY)
Pippa van Iersel (NED)

Video Selected Women
Zara Hoogenraad (NED)
Nathalie Lambrecht (SWE)
Lana Herman (SLO)
Svenja Zoé Peters (DEN)
Alessa Mensch (GER)

Wild Card Women
Aya Kasabova (BUL)
Lilou Ziglini (FRA)

Spot Info: Barcarès

Wind: The Tramontana blowing northerly, or north-westerly offshore, is best. The spot is non-tidal, with flat waters and temperatures of 10-20C.

The best wind for Big Air is 25-40 knots. (On Windguru the perfect forecast is 25 knots, with gusts of 30-35 knots—with the gusts as a reference point for the true wind.)

The wind is usually 5-10 knots in excess of the forecast, especially if the air temperatures are cold.

The spot: The wind funnels in the corner of the jump zone, with result that riders can often jump three metres to five metres higher than usual.

The jump area has deep water, which makes it safer in the event of a crash.

The best seasons for the Tramontana run from March to June, and September to December. During summer, southern France’s hot weather can disrupt the pattern.

Within 500 metres the spot boasts two cable parks: a full-size Téléski Nautique and the “out and return” Sailor Wakepark. Just a kilometre away there is a full-size indoor and outdoor skatepark—Shakapark.

At the competition spot there is a bar-restaurant, The Spott, and a Duotone branded kiteschool, Surf&Kite.

Event Info:

Find out about Lords of Tram by clicking event news

  • Follow the event page: livestream and live scoring
  • Follow our Instagram and our new TikTok account for behind the scenes action and event updates
  • Subscribe to our newsletter for end of event reporting
  • Check out our youtube channel for daily highlight videos.

Starry line-up for Lords of Tram revealed

GKA Big Air season opener returns to Barcarès for first of two-stop world championship title race

Lords of Tram GKA Big Air Kite World Cup France
28 March—26 April, 2026 | Le Barcarès

The opening stop of the GKA Big Air 2026 season is set to kick off at Lords of Tram, in Barcarès, southern France, with the action fuelled by epic Tramontana winds that blow off the Pyrenees over the lagoon.

Reigning GKA Big Air Kite World Champions, Spain’s Lorenzo Casati and Mikaili Sol, of the US, are ranked top seeds and will be eager to open the defence of their titles in the stadium-like setting of Lords of Tram.

The competition, the fourth consecutive year GKA and Lords of Tram have teamed up, will have a month-long holding period to guarantee the best winds for spectacular action. The north-westerly Tramontana winds can blow up to 60 knots at this time of year.

The world’s top 24 men and 12 women Big Air twin-tip athletes have made it into the draw for the first Big Air event of the year, with the champions due to be crowned in mid-June when the GKA makes its debut in Mykonos, Greece.

Lorenzo Casati won the title last year at Lords of Tram. His second place at Barcarès was enough to give him the title and he went on to win the Red Bull King of the Air (Kota) crown in Cape Town at the end of the year.

Italy’s Andrea Principi won the Lords of Tram last season, and is seeded number two for the 2026 edition. The younger of the Casati brothers, Leonardo, who competes under the Italian flag, is seeded three and was runner-up at Kota last season aged 16.

This year’s line-up also features the multi-talented German teenager, Finn Flügel, who clinched the GKA Freestyle Kite World Championship title last season. Another young rider who made the cut is the Dane, Maxwell Dahl, the GKA U16 Youth Big Air World Champion.

The Netherlands’ Jamie Overbeek is one of the Video Selected riders for Lords of Tram and definitely one to watch even though he is seeded 15. Overbeek and Flügel were inexplicably missing from last year’s Kota line-up.

Mikaili Sol was in a class of her own last year when she was crowned world champion at Lords of Tram. But former King of the Air winner, Britain’s Francesca Maini, is seeded number two this year, with the Italian powerhouse, Alice Ruggiu, third seed.

The Netherlands’ Pippa van Iersel, a former winner at Lords of Tram, will undoubtedly be in the mix. But one of the biggest threats must come the Swede Nathalie Lambrecht, who missed LoT last year through injury but went on to win the Red Bull Kota crown.

Another Dutch athlete, Zara Hoogenraad, is a former GKA Big Air World Champion, who will no doubt push the others to the limit and beyond. Join us here for all the action.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Andy Troy

Pre-selected Men
Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
Andrea Principi (ITA)
Leonardo Casati (ITA)
Finn Flügel (GER)
Kimo Verkerk (NED)
Shahar Tsabary (ISR)
Zac Adams (USA)
Stijn “Stino” Mul (NED)
Josué San Ferreira (BRA)
Timo Boersema (NED)

Wild Card Men
Clement Hout (FRA)
Maxwell Dahl (DEN)
Hugo Wigglesworth (NZL)
Giel Vlugt (NED)

Video Selected Men
Jeremy Burlando (ESP)
Josh Gillitt (RSA)
Nathan Texier (FRA)
Luca Ceruti (RSA)
Jamie Overbeek (NED)
Jason van der Spuy (RSA)
Baptiste Jacquemain (FRA)
Elliott Bouton (FRA)
Marten Koblishke (GER)
Cohan van Dijk (NED)

Pre-selected Women
Mikaili Sol (USA)
Francesca Maini (GBR)
Alice Ruggiu (ITA)
Sarah Sadek (EGY)
Pippa van Iersel (NED)

Video Selected Women
Zara Hoogenraad (NED)
Nathalie Lambrecht (SWE)
Lana Herman (SLO)
Svenja Zoé Peters (DEN)
Alessa Mensch (GER)

Wild Card Women
Aya Kasabova (BUL)
Lilou Ziglini (FRA)

Spot Info: Barcarès

Wind: The Tramontana blowing northerly, or north-westerly offshore, is best. The spot is non-tidal, with flat waters and temperatures of 10-20C.

The best wind for Big Air is 25-40 knots. (On Windguru the perfect forecast is 25 knots, with gusts of 30-35 knots—with the gusts as a reference point for the true wind.)

The wind is usually 5-10 knots in excess of the forecast, especially if the air temperatures are cold.

The spot: The wind funnels in the corner of the jump zone, with result that riders can often jump three metres to five metres higher than usual.

The jump area has deep water, which makes it safer in the event of a crash.

The best seasons for the Tramontana run from March to June, and September to December. During summer, southern France’s hot weather can disrupt the pattern.

Within 500 metres the spot boasts two cable parks: a full-size Téléski Nautique and the “out and return” Sailor Wakepark. Just a kilometre away there is a full-size indoor and outdoor skatepark—Shakapark.

At the competition spot there is a bar-restaurant, The Spott, and a Duotone branded kiteschool, Surf&Kite.

Event Info:

Find out about Lords of Tram by clicking event news

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Iconic Cape Verde break kicks off season

World Champion Capucine Delannoy opens defence of crown
Title holder Pedro Matos misses stop where he won last year

GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde
16-21 February, 2026 | Ponta Preta / Kite Beach, Sal

The 2026 GKA Kite-Surf season once again opens in the iconic point break of Cape Verde’s Sal Island, with the title race set to be tighter than ever as it plays out over a scheduled five globe-trotting stops.

Women’s world champion, France’s Capucine Delannoy, began the title trail to her third Kite-Surf crown last year with a win for the first time in Ponta Preta. Delannoy, 19, has again been in Cape Verde training since the start of the year, hoping to make it a fourth Kite-Surf title.

“I think if could do the same [this] year and win the title, that would be great,” said Delannoy. “I had a lot of fun. I improved a lot as well. I won three events and winning in Cape Verde was really special. It was the highlight of the season.”

But Pedro Matos is set to miss the opening stop in defence of his crown. The Brazilian landed his first men’s Kite-Surf title last season in a journey that began with an historic victory in Ponta Preta, when he took down local legend Airton Cozzolino (ITA) in an epic final.

A full line-up of 24 men and an expanding roster of women, with 18 athletes, from a total of 13 countries around the world are set to battle for glory in the intimidating right-hander of Ponta Preta that curls around the rocky point into a sandy bay.

Multiple world champion, the US’s Moona Whyte, is not in the women’s line-up for the first time in many years. Whyte was defeated in the final in Ponta Preta last year after many victories in one of her favourite waves.

But the women’s second seed, Brazil’s Kesiane Rodrigues, will be in the mix. She will be eager to start her 2026 campaign where she left off last year, with a victory at the season finale in her native Taíba.

Among a host of new faces on the women’s roster, the number three seed, Brazil’s Serena Luz, will looking to build on the success of her third place finish overall in 2025.

Airton Cozzolino heads to men’s order in Cape Verde, with Matos out. But no doubt the Brazilian duo, former world champion Gabriel Benetton and Sebastian Riberio, will be snapping at the Italian’s heels.

Australia’s James Carew is seeded number three for Cape Verde, but must be wary of the Brazilian talent Artur Morais, who won the final stop of last season in his home spot of Taíba.

The versatile and supremely talented Casati brothers—Big Air world champion Lorenzo campaigning under the Spanish flag, Leonardo under the Italian banner—return once again, showing their desire to be among the most rounded kiteboarders of their age.

Local favourites Mitu Monteiro (CPV) and Matchu Lopes (ESP) are among a number of Cape Verdeans in the line-up who will certainly keep the fans, just metres away from the action on the rocky shoreline, entertained. Join us here for all the action.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lukas K Stiller

Spot Info
The idyllic island of Sal is gearing up to host the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Cape Verde. Against the stunning backdrop of this picturesque paradise, this eagerly-anticipated repeat stop will offer two potential event locations, with both Ponta Preta and Kite Beach in the mix, depending on the conditions.

Ponta Preta
For those seeking the ultimate wave-riding experience, look no further than the legendary Ponta Preta, in Cape Verde. This picturesque spot offers big, powerful, and glassy waves, accompanied by the most favourable cross-offshore winds. Considered a playground for expert-level riders, the waves can soar up to 6m high, making for an adrenaline-pumping experience like no other. While the beach is rocky in places, it’s also dotted with pockets of sand, making it an ideal location when the north-easterly winds kick in.

Kite Beach
As one of Sal’s most versatile kiting spots, Kite Beach welcomes riders of all levels with open arms. The beach’s consistent onshore and cross-onshore winds make it a top choice for watersports’ enthusiasts, ensuring riders always have a smooth return to the sandy shoreline.

While it may be the busiest kitesurfing location on Sal, the vast 3kms stretch of sandy beach ensures ample space for both seasoned riders and kite schools alike, even during peak months. Those closer to the beach can expect a mild wind-blown chop and the occasional shore break, while further out on the reef, you’ll find waves perfect for shredding.

Wind
Cabo Verde offers fantastic wind conditions with consistent north-easterly Trade Winds blowing 15-25kts almost daily from November to June. The wind tends to be strong throughout the day, with the most powerful gusts occurring from 9am to 3pm. Kite Beach is the primary kitesurfing spot on Sal, as it faces east and provides less turbulent, onshore wind compared to other south or west facing locations.

The winter months offer pleasant temperatures of around 22ºC, and the water temperature is only slightly cooler. Most kiters will find a 3/2mm shorty wetsuit suitable for full-day kiting sessions, while board shorts may enough on warmer days later in the season. Regardless of the time of year, it’s essential to apply sunscreen.

Wind directions include NNE, NE, and E, and the windiest months are November, December, January, February, March, April, and June.

Event Information

  • Location: Sal Island, Cape Verde
  • Dates: 16-21 February, 2026
  • All event information is here.

Stay on top of everything about the event in Cape Verde by clicking event news.

An event highlight video will be published at the end of the event. A written report will be posted to the website at the end of the competition.

GKA Big Air Challenge X WOO collab scores big

Second Big Air team competition in windy Western Cape sets host of new records

GKA Kite World Tour Big Air Challenge 2026
17–24 January, 2026 | Western Cape, South Africa

The second edition of the GKA Big Air Challenge in collaboration with WOO Sports set a host of new records. Team Duotone walked away with the trophy for the second successive year when their top five riders posted a combined height of 149.6 metres for their best jumps.

But the honour of the highest jump recorded went to Team Flysurfer’s Julian Zens, when he landed a score of 36.6 metres at Dolphin Beach, the highest ever on a twin-tip in South Africa. Zens’ leap helped Flysurfer to second place with 134.5 metres.

Team Core took the third podium place with their combined total for their best five riders coming in at 129.9 metres, during the weeklong competition battled out along the beaches of South Africa’s Western Cape between 17 and 24 January.

This year’s competition, using WOO Sports’ popular WOO sensor to measure the heights of the riders’ jumps, featured a total of 257 participants who registered 753 sessions—a new high for the GKA Big Air Challenge.

Thirteen kite brands qualified for the run-off for the perpetual GKA Big Air Challenge, fielding five or more riders. In the windy conditions that blew along the coast during the week, 10 kite brands’ teams averaged jumps of more than 20 metres.

Eighty of the riders, almost a third, clocked their own Personal Records during 114 sessions, 15 percent of all the sessions logged. The Challenge truly was a high-octane celebration of Big Air kiting.

Team Duotone 149.6m

Luke Dixon              31.8m    Misty Cliffs
Edgar Ulrich           31.6m    Kite Beach
Max Tullet               30.6m    Kite Beach
Matteo Lazzaretti   28.8m    Kite Beach
Jouk Langendoen   26.7m    Misty Cliffs

The winners, Team Duotone, had 61 riders in their line-up. But the most Personal Records were recorded on other brands and models of kites. Slingshot’s Code NXT landed a total of 12 PRs, with the Lacuna Alpha taking 10, the Harlem Peak eight, Core’s XR8 seven, and the North Orbit seven too.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: WOO Sports

World Tour stages second Big Air Challenge

GKA Kite World Tour Big Air Challenge 2026
17–24 January, 2026 | Western Cape, South Africa

The GKA Kite World Tour Big Air Challenge 2026 is to take to the skies for the second edition of the team competition, in collaboration with WOO Sports’ popular WOO sensor.

Teams of riders—which may be made up of pro-riders and amateurs—will battle on the beaches of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa. The highest jumps of the top five riders during the week from 17 to 24 January, 2026, will be combined, with the biggest team total getting the win.

Any rider can upload his or her WOO session during the competition window. Riders will automatically be allotted a team based on their kite brand ridden and registered on the WOO platform.

For the groundbreaking 2025 edition, more than 200 riders registered for 16 brands for the week-long competition. Duotone took the honours, with its top five riders posting a total of 121.3 metres, including the individual max height of 24.26 metres.

The competition is restricted to Twin-tip riders only. Recently, New Zealand’s Hugo Wigglesworth broke the WOO World Record with a jump of 40.0 metres, on a hydrofoil, in Cape Town. But he had long held the WOO World Record of 36.7 metres on a Twin-tip.

The aim is to encourage as many riders as possible to join the teams. While only the top five riders’ combined total height will count towards the team total, all the team members’ jumps will be shown on the brand leaderboards, which will be updated each day. Duotone, for instance, had a team of 65 in the first competition.

All the riders will have eight days to record their jumps, from 00.00h on 17 January through to 12.00h on 24 January. Each day riders will have until 23.59h to upload that day’s session, otherwise the scores will not count.

Brand teams are being encouraged to nominate a Team Captain for the event. The Captain will receive WOO Demo Kits that include WOOs, WOO mounts and a portable battery.

Riders will be able to use their own WOO sensors, with the latest firmware and mounted correctly, or demo devices will be available for pick up in Cape Town. All kite brands are invited to take part, including non-GKA members.

Team Captains can contact Arlin from WOO – arlin@woosports.com – to arrange collection of the Demo Kits at The Brand Stable, 4 G Horizon Bay, 4 Blaauwberg Service Road, Table View, Cape Town.

Individual WOOs will also be available for daily demo at The Brand Stable and the Dirty Habits/High Five Kitesurf Club. Dirty Habits/High Five Club: 68 Beach Boulevard, Table View, Cape Town.

The GKA Kite World Tour Big Air Challenge perpetual trophy will be awarded to the winning team on 24 January, at the Dirty Habits Social Club. The five top-scoring riders will be awarded WOO 4.0 devices.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: WOO Sports

GKA readies for action-packed 2026 season

Kite season set for big year with three new destinations joining old favourites over 11 events on four continents

The GKA season is set to swing into an action-packed 2026 with three fresh destinations around the world joining the roster that includes many old favourites that have become part of the fabric of the kiteboarding calendar.

Freestyle will enjoy renewed emphasis with three solid events set to decide the World Championship titles. The opener will be in the in the new location of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in late May, before moving to another “first”, at Borkum, Germany, a few days later.

The Freestyle crowns, won by Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya and Germany’s Finn Flügel, will again be decided in the iconic spot of Brazil’s Taíba Lagoon in late October.

The Kite-Surf discipline will open and close the GKA year, taking in a total of five events. The legendary break of Ponta Preta on Cape Verde’s Sal Island will again see the first shots fired in February in the 2026 title race.

After a break of almost six months, the second stop is set to come in late August in the established spot of Sylt, Germany, where it will likely feature the only strapless freestyle or mixed format stop of the year.

The long right-hander of Dakhla, Morocco, is the tour’s third call in early October. Two Brazil stops in November will close out the Kite-Surf year, with local Pedro Matos and France’s Capucine Delannoy hoping to retain their titles.

The dramatic spot of Ibiraquera, which sits in a national park, is up first in early November. Taíba will again have the honour of closing the season and crowning the 2026 Kite-Surf World Champions.

The Big Air year will open again where it closed last season, at the Lords of Tram event in Barcarès, France, whose lagoon is bathed by the usually nuking Tramontana winds. The event will have a month-long holding period for most of April to afford the best conditions.

The Big Air world titles, held by Spain’s Lorenzo Casati and Brazil’s Mikaili Sol, will be decided in another new location, Mykonos, Greece, in mid-June, when the thermal winds are invariably huge.

Hydrofoil Big Air will get two stops. The first is in Sylt, Germany, in August, followed in October by Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which debuted on the tour last year. World champions New Zealand’s Hugo Wigglesworth and Switzerland’s Andrea Zust will be hoping they can repeat their title winning ways and take the crowns again in Abu Dhabi.

It is bound to be another epic year full of drama. Join us here for all the action.

words: Ian MacKinnon
images: Lukas K Stiller / Svetlana Romantsova / Andy Troy