Final Press Release
August 22, 2021
(Westerland, August 22, 2021). The Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt concluded on Sunday with the official awards ceremony. At 4 PM, the winners were honored on the stage at Brandenburg Beach and received their trophies to the applause of the spectators. For Capucine Delannoy, the ceremony was a very special experience. The only 15-year-old kitesurfer celebrated the first World Cup victory of her career in Westerland.
“I’m so happy about this success, especially because the conditions were incredibly difficult. It was very cold, extremely windy, and the sea was choppy. That’s why I’m proud to have won for the first time on the GKA World Tour at this great event,” said the young Frenchwoman, who clearly defeated Australian Peri Roberts on points in the final. Third place went to Charlotte Carpentier from France, and Sweden’s Johanna-Catharina Edin finished fourth.
The German competitors also thrilled the home crowd at Brandenburg Beach. Sonja Bunte from Hamburg and Giulia Böhmerle from Lübeck put on a fantastic competition and shared an excellent fifth place in the final standings. “I had to fight incredibly hard to get out to sea in the strong onshore wind and be able to show my best tricks. But the competition was a lot of fun, and there was a great atmosphere on the beach,” explained the 23-year-old medical student Böhmerle. Susanne Schwarztrauber from Regensburg, who surprisingly finished third in Sylt in 2019, was unable to repeat her coup and finished ninth.
In the men’s division, Australian James Carew dominated, not as expected the current world champion and defending champion Airton Cozzolino. The 22-year-old scored over 30 points in each of his heats and gave his opponent Pedro Matos from Brazil no chance in the final. “I felt at home in these stormy conditions and was able to show the spectators and judges everything I can do,” said the beaming winner, who celebrated the second success of his career at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt. The favored Airton Cozzolino from Cape Verde secured the third podium place ahead of Reece Myerscough from Canada.
The best German competitor was Keanu Merten from Saarbrücken, who flew straight into the hearts of the spectators with his carefree manner. The 16-year-old Spaniard by choice impressed with spectacular tricks and rapid wave rides and finished 9th overall. “It was extremely cold at the beginning. We only have such conditions in Spain in winter. But the water was relatively warm, and I felt very comfortable on the North Sea. The competition has shown that I’m not far from the world’s top. I want to be in the top three in the next few years,” promised the exceptional talent. Six-time German Freestyle Champion Linus Erdmann from Hamburg and Jörn Donat from Borkum also showed strong performances and fought their way to the fourth round. Alex Middeler from Lübeck did not get past the second round.
The Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt started on Tuesday morning in fantastic conditions. Up to eight Beaufort winds swept across Brandenburg Beach as the world’s best kitesurfers ignited their trick fireworks over the North Sea with waves over two meters high. The only stop of the GKA World Tour in Germany featured the Kite-Surf discipline with a prize purse of 30,000 Euros, where the athletes had to demonstrate their skills in Strapless Freestyle and Wave. The spectators were treated to a great show with meter-high jumps, sophisticated tricks, and elegant wave rides, which were commented on by expert moderators. During the competition breaks, the kitesurfing acrobats gave interviews, signed autographs, or showed their skills on the water in spontaneous sessions. Well-known manufacturers presented the latest kitesurfing equipment on the event grounds in Westerland, the visitors could participate in competitions and refresh themselves at the food and drink stands.
The Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt was also a complete success in the media. In addition to numerous publications worldwide, over 60 TV reports about the water sports highlight were broadcast in Germany alone. Matthias Neumann from the organizing agency Act Agency from Hamburg: “Due to the circumstances, we had very little time to set up this event. Thanks to the great partnership with the Insel Sylt Tourismus-Service GmbH and our partners, we succeeded in offering the spectators at Brandenburg Beach and the fans all over the world a great event with absolute top-class sport. We have already had a total reach of well over 130 million, which we can all be proud of.” The elaborate and implemented hygiene concept, which was developed due to the Corona situation, worked optimally, so that the first major event in times of the pandemic in Schleswig-Holstein could be carried out without any incidents.
The Final Standings at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt
Women
- Capucine Delannoy – France
- Peri Roberts – Australia
- Charlotte Carpentier – France
Best German in shared 5th place: Giulia Böhmerle (Lübeck) and Sonja Bunte (Hamburg)
Men
- James Carew – Australia
- Pedro Matos – Brazil
- Airton Cozzolino – Cape Verde
Best German in shared 9th place: Keanu Merten (Saarbrücken)
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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.