Virgin Kitesurf World Tour Stop 5 Shows ISAF How to Fly

Image Virgin Kitesurf World Tour Stop Five at Germany -Top Kitesurf Location

If Kitesurf if a sport that is still being born, Stop 5 of the Virgin World Tour Kitesurf was the crowning of this lovely creature which´s destiny is uncertain but sure filled with glory. The Virgin Kitesurf World Tour received recognition by the International Sailing Federation ISAF as Special Event and premiered their status in Stop Five of the World Tour in Germany where the international sails of riders flew majestically over a UNESCO area.  

In Germany the Stop 5 of the Virgin Kitesurf World Tour saw the Top World Riders flocking from all over the world to take part in two category Competitions. Slalom and Freestyle events closed with the entry of 125 airborne-kite riders from over 25 countries. 

But what is the fuzz all about at the Virgin Stop 5 Gernay World Tour? “Good Vibes, Flying Dreams and Fast Slalom Racing” sided by over 20 thousand spectators crammed the sunned tanned beach of Germany St. Peter Ording -location known for being one of the top locations for kite-surf showdown in the world. The event became a celebration blessed by winds blowing at over 40 knots. 

Sail World reported on August 23 that the event the 2015 Pringles Kitesurf World Cup got underway -and it sure did. 

A more than crowded beach, impeccable logistics, clear crystal adrenaline broadcasting, advanced tricks and falls, professional maneuvering and sponsorship, these are just some of the clear signs that the sport is on a one-track no-return path.

On August 20 the International Sailing Federation -ISAF assured to be “pleased” to confirm that the ISAF Special Event status was awarded to the Virgin Kitesurf series of worldwide events. The series will become ISAF's sixth Special Event, joining events such as the America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and Extreme Sailing Series as one of sailing's premier circuits. 

Virgin explains that Stop 5 of the event took place in the Natural World Heritage Site Wattenmeer, protected and honored by the UNESCO. 

On August 28 and August 30 after delivering 10 days of extreme kitesurf conditions including stormy weather and pristine seas the event was over. Aaron Hadlow and Gisela Pulido took Men and Women victories in the Freestyle Discipline and Slamon Category conclude ranking 1st Florian Gruber in Men Category and Katja Roose leading Women Slalom Rankings. 

“Today was certainly a day to remember for 5x World Champion Aaron Hadlow (GB/North) and 9x World Champion Gisela Pulido (ES/Best), who both put on performances that were nothing short of exceptional! Fighting their way up the freestyle ladder, they faced each opponent with outstanding strength and determination, giving each of them a truly deserved victory,” Virgin reported on the wrap.

The weather for the day was once again extremely tough, with the wind blowing up to 30 knots. The heats got underway at 9.15 am, with all the freestyle riders pushing hard in each intense battle.

Freestyling the final rounds names such as 2x World Champion Youri Zoon, Aaron Hadlow,  

recent qualifier Jerome Cloetens, Carlos Mario from Brazil and Posito Martinez also from Brazil were as Virgin said on “fire” for the duration of the competition. 

"Jerome Cloetens (BE/North) came face to face with Carlos Mario (BR/Slingshot) in the second heat of the quarter finals. There were perfect kickers and flat water on the inside, which created some optimal conditions for the riders. Both young guns went all in during their heat, throwing one huge trick after another. However, Cloetens soon crashed his kite and could not relaunch it successfully, allowing Mario to advance to the semifinals with a huge Back Side 317," Virgin reported. 

Posito Martinez “performed an unbelievable 317, scoring a perfect 10 in the intensity category during his quater final heat. He knew that he had to go big if he wanted to advance against the current World Champion Christophe Tack Tack answered back with a Frontside 7 and Toe Backside 5. Posito needed one last high scoring trick, and managed to nail a Backside 315 at the last seconds, which gave him the win.

The final round was defined by a succession of events and uncertainties. Rider Hadlow managed to secure a spot in the final by beating the young Brazilian Carlos Mario. “Liam Whaley then took the win over Posito Martinez, who unfortunately injured himself going for his massive 317 and had to drop out halfway through his heat. This meant that we were in for an action packed final featuring Liam Whaley and Aaron Hadlow!” 

After that it was just podium and celebration for the Men Category Freestyle. “Congratulations to Aaron Hadlow and Gisela Pulido for their well-earned victories in the Freestyle Discipline here at the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships in St. Peter Ording,” Virgin Kitesurf World Tour ended the report which also detailed the final rounds for Women Category. 

What can and can't be done in a Kitesurf is still to be proven and perhaps that is one of the most beautiful thing about the sport. Athletes are testing these limits on the water of the international events. In Stop Five St. Peter Ording we saw tangled up sails, hard spèed fall downs, cutting down kite-wind direction change, surface breaching tricks and freestyle open air fall downs. 

Virgin assured that the Stop at St. Peter Ording “was the biggest kiteboarding event of the year”. 

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour reported that the final heats of Slalom Elimination 5 were completed on the last day of the event. It was a beautiful and sunny afternoon at the beach. The wind conditions were somewhat lighter and the riders were competing on their largest kites. In the men's finals, It was the young Olly Bridge who raced his way to victory, followed by Julien Kerneur and Florian Gruber. On the women's side, it was Katja Roose who crossed the finish line first, with Steph Bridge and Annelous Lammerts close behind. 

"I'm delighted with this win, as it was tough competition with other girls such as Steph Bridge who has been training hard, and Annelous Lammerts who was racing extremely well. I'm very happy to see the hard work has paid off!" said Katja Roose.

Highlights of the Slalom final days include when rider Julien Kerneur from France and Marvin Baumeister from Australia battled the Heats but in “the final their rivalry ended in a climactic kite collision that took both riders out of the race!”

“With the freestyle already completed by Thursday, the final two days of the VKWC St. Peter Ording were dedicated purely to the slalom racers. The fastest men and women hit the water prepared to show us their pace and power in a fight to cement their positions at the top of the rankings,” Virgin explained. 

Virgin World Kitesurf Stop 5 is not just packing bags but setting new destinations. Still three more stops remain in the 2015 World Tour. International top riders will be setting sails in Argentina on October 12 later to fly-by all the way to China for November 21 dates and finally set to close the year in Cape-Town South Africa  on December 4.