Press release
18.08.21
James Carew won the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Wednesday. The Australian prevailed against Brazilian Pedro Matos in a high-class final and, after finishing second in 2019, fulfilled his dream of winning on Sylt. “It was like the conditions back home in Australia. I felt incredibly comfortable and am totally happy about this victory at one of the biggest kitesurf events in the world,” said the beaming winner shortly after the final.
The world number one and defending champion Airton Cozzolino from Cape Verde was surprisingly eliminated in the semi-finals and finished third ahead of Reece Myerscough from Canada. The best German at the only GKA tour stop in Germany was Keanu Merten from Saarbrücken. The 16-year-old, who lives in Spain by choice, thrilled the spectators with great performances, sensationally reached the round of 16 and finished 17th in his first competition in Germany. “It was a great contest, I am totally satisfied with my performance in these tough conditions in this world-class field,” explained the exceptional talent. Linus Erdmann from Hamburg and Jörn Donat from Borkum also impressed and fought their way into round four.
In the women’s competition, the only 15-year-old Capucine Delannoy was the benchmark. The Frenchwoman was in top form in stormy conditions, rushed from victory to victory and won the final against Australian Peri Roberts confidently on points. “I checked my equipment carefully in the morning so that nothing would go wrong in these stormy conditions. I was able to show all my tricks and moves and am incredibly happy about this success,” said the young Frenchwoman after her convincing performance at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt.
The world number two, Charlotte Carpentier from France, secured the third podium place, while the Swede Johanna-Catharina Edin finished fourth. Sonja Bunte from Hamburg and Giulia Böhmerle from Lübeck grew beyond themselves in front of the home crowd in Westerland. Both kitesurfers reached the quarter-finals in the world-class field and were delighted with an excellent shared fifth place. Sonja Bunte: “It was incredibly difficult to even get out onto the North Sea in the onshore wind and to find a suitable ramp for the jumps in the chaotic waves. But it was a lot of fun, I’m just happy.”
The competitions began on Wednesday in again fantastic conditions with wind speeds of up to eight Beaufort and waves over two meters high as early as 7:40 a.m. All the favorites had qualified for the showdown on the North Sea on the opening day and showed the spectators why the Kite-Surf category, which consists of Strapless Freestyle and Wave, is one of the most spectacular water sports disciplines of all. Meter-high jumps, sophisticated tricks with the board and safe landings in the rough North Sea were as much a part of the kitesurf acrobats’ repertoire as elegant and breathtaking wave rides. The winners were honored at Brandenburger Strand around noon, and the official award ceremony will take place this Sunday.
A Best Trick Supersession will be held at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Thursday.
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In the end, there was no way around the top favorite at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. The 17-year-old Frenchwoman Capucine Delannoy defended her title on the North Sea island and won on Brandenburger Strand in Westerland.
Simply unbeatable on Sylt - Capucine Delannoy is and remains the queen of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. The 18-year-old Frenchwoman beat Switzerland's Camille Losserand in a high-class final and secured her third title in a row after 2021 and 2023 (the event did not take place in 2022). "It was just perfect, I scored the perfect 10.0. I've been training for months for this event and this moment and I'm so happy," said the overwhelmed winner directly after the final run on Brandenburg Beach.
The biggest kite surfing event in the world is also in full swing - the riders in the supreme discipline of kite surfing got down to business on Thursday. After the first heats were completed on Wednesday afternoon, the women and men have been battling it out in alternating rounds for the coveted places in the quarter and semi-finals since the morning hours.
Exactly one year ago, I had an operation and everyone told me that I wouldn't be here today. Just being here was a win for me. Now I have the World Cup title on Sylt, dreams do come true," said the newly crowned champion James Carew after the grand final.
It's all set for the Defender GKA Kite-SurfWorld Cup on Sylt! For the 3rd time, the Qatar Airways GKA KiteWorld Tour will be stopping off at Brandenburger Strand in Westerland, with the world's best kite surf riders in tow.
The premiere of the Hydrofoil Big Air competition has a beaming winner - Charles Brodel from France, five-time serial world champion, beat his opponents by a clear margin to not only win the World Cup on Sylt, but also secure the European title in this spectacular kite discipline.
The Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt is returning and once again promises exciting competitions and spectacular action on Westerland's Brandenburger Strand. From August 20 to August 25, 2024, the best kite surfers in the world will compete for the coveted title. In addition to the kite surfing discipline (wave and strapless freestyle), hydrofoil champions will also be crowned for the first time - including the European Championship title.
Successful week at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. Not only the main competition offered breathtaking action on the water over the past few days, spectators were also able to enjoy another highlight on Brandenburg beach this Sunday. In the hydrofoil competition, which was integrated for the first time, the athletes flew far more than 10 meters above the sea in moderate conditions and performed spectacular jumps and tricks.
The finals of the newly initiated E-Foil Race competition were on the program for the pros on Friday. After the heats had already been held on Thursday, Friday was all about the very first title in the new discipline as part of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt.
First ever final on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour and the title at the biggest kite surfing event in the world! 22-year-old Kiko Roig Torres from Spain surprisingly secures victory at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. - 18-year-old German Keanu Merten rides to a sensational third place with a wild card.
50 athletes from 16 nations at the start - Seven German riders compete for the titles - Atmospheric opening ceremony on Brandenburg beach - Varied supporting program and free admission on all days.
Mark your calendar in red: the island of Sylt is finally attracting the world's best windsurfers and kite surfers to Westerland again this year. From August 22nd, the absolute world elite will meet for six days at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt on Brandenburg Beach.
For the third time after 2019 and 2021, water sports fans can look forward to the biggest kite sports event in the world on Sylt. From August 22 to 27, the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup will take place on Germany's largest North Sea island and the starting field is more than impressive.
Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt ends with official award ceremonySpectacular competitions, fantastic conditions and great media interest at the only stop of the GKA World Tour in Germany.
At the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt, the best kitesurfers in the world had their first break on Friday. The wind was too weak to hold another super session. The athletes were not idle, however, and were busy signing autographs on Brandenburg Beach.
After the spectacular and exciting strapless freestyle and wave competitions, the action at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt continued on Thursday. For the kitesurfing artists, the best trick super session was on the agenda, in which only the best aerial maneuver was counted.
We are very happy about the large starter field at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup on Sylt! Today we received the final list from the GKA. 16 women and 30 men from 16 countries are seeded for the World Cup. There is even a waiting list for the men. So we can expect kitesurfing of the highest perfection from the best kitesurfers in the world.
A competition for high-flyers. On the third day of the event, the kiters once again showed what they are capable of in a super session.
The competitions at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup have been decided after two exciting days in the best wind and wave conditions.
James Carew won the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Wednesday. The Australian beat Brazil's Pedro Matos in a high-class final and fulfilled his dream of winning on Sylt after coming second in 2019.
Two and a half meter high waves and up to eight wind forces - at the start of the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Tuesday, perfect conditions prevailed for the discipline of kite surfing, in which strapless freestyle and wave are held.