Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt Opens
- World-class international field featuring 24 men and 10 women
- World Cup leader Matchu Lopes aims to extend his lead
- Reigning World Champion and defending Sylt champion Capucine Delannoy leads the women’s competition
- Eight German riders in the mix
- Atmospheric opening ceremony held at Brandenburger Beach
- Crowds enjoy stalls, pop-up stores, and a wide range of food and drink options along the promenade
- Competition yet to start due to unsuitable conditions
(Sylt) The stage is set for the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup on Sylt! For the third time, the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour is making a stop at Brandenburger Beach in Westerland, bringing with it the best kite-surf riders in the world. 24 men and 10 women will battle it out over the coming days for victory on Germany’s largest North Sea island in the Kite-Surfing discipline. Depending on the weather, this will consist of Strapless Freestyle and Wave categories, some of the most spectacular watersport disciplines around.
The men’s field is led by the current number one, Matchu Lopes (Spain). He’s already won the first two stops of the series in Cape Verde and Brazil and has a good chance of becoming World Champion again for the first time since 2016. Trying to stop him will be the current world number two, three-time World Champion Airton Cozzolino (Italy), and Junior World Champion Hendrick Lopes (Chile). Also keep an eye on Pedro Matos (Brazil). Notably, Alex Middeler, Keanu Merten, Linus Erdmann, Daniel Weber, Lance Krüger and Bennet Hoop, six German riders, are also competing.
In the women’s competition, the field is headed by France’s Capucine Delannoy. The 17-year-old is both the reigning World Champion and the defending champion on Sylt. Her biggest rivals are expected to be her fellow Frenchwomen Zoe Bazile and Charlotte Carpentier, as well as Switzerland’s Camille Losserand. Sonja Bunte and Susanne Schwarztrauber are the two German women competing.
Competitions are scheduled daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. When and in which of the two disciplines – Wave or Strapless Freestyle – the competition will start is weather-dependent. Spectators can certainly look forward to exciting competitions.
Event Officially Opened at Brandenburger Beach
The world’s largest Kite-Surf event kicked off on Tuesday with a spirited opening ceremony on the beach. Watched by Jörg Elias (Event Director of Insel Sylt Tourismus-Service GmbH), Tom Hartmann (GKA Tour Manager), and Christian Okon (Organizer of MMP Event), all the athletes marched onto Brandenburger Beach with their national flags. All this happened to the applause of numerous visitors, especially loud, of course, during the entry of the German team. “We are thrilled to compete here on Sylt in front of a home crowd and hopefully use this special atmosphere to our advantage,” said Susanne Schwarztrauber after the official starting signal.
The public also took advantage of the first day to get a first impression on the beach and promenade. You are always close to the athletes, who give interviews, sign autographs or show their skills on the water during spontaneous training sessions. In addition, numerous stalls, pop-up stores and a wide range of gastronomic offers attract visitors on around 500 meters. Admission to the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup is free on all days.
Competition Yet to Start
The official competition could not start on Tuesday due to unsuitable conditions (as of 5:00 PM). Competitions are scheduled again for Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
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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.