Virgin Kitesurf and Armada Riders Get World Tour Lucky

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour in German Stop 2015: Riders pushed the limits of the Sport

There are three top things that any sport needs to reach international standards, funding, international exposure and recognition. Virgin Kitesurf World Tour now has all three of these. If Kitesurf used to be the renegade sail sport now the young sport has grown to obtain deserved respect. Still filled with vital energy kitesurf is poised to reach yet another peak.  

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour has had its ups and downs this year but since Virgin took over the International Kitesurf organization PKRA World Tour they have done more for the sport than any other organization out there. Virgin has put the sport in the map and has secured an ISAF World Tour Special Event Status recognition. 2016 promises world wonders for Kitesurfing. 

Still Virgin has to close the 2015 World Tour. The organization is head to head with IKA which has been given by ISAF the power to grant World Champions in diverse divisions. Kitesurf is now off the ground and flying high in hands of both organizations. The sport will make an Olympic debut at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games with the finest youth riders racing on out of the Argentinean capital.

Meanwhile in 2015 Virgin Riders continue to take it day by day and with pleasure. Hayling Today reported on November 11 that the Virgin “Armada” brought out the “Crowds for Kitesurfing Action”. What was the fuzz all about? UK Hayling´s West Beach played host for the Third Virgin Kitesurfing Armada Festival. 

Over 400 riders signed up to break the World Record of the largest number of people kitesurfing for a mile. Riders found bad luck and bad weather and could not break that record this year but still gathered and accomplished wonderful things. 

British Kite Sports reported that the Kitesurfing Armada raised over 150 thousand pounds for charity at the event. 

“It’s been another phenomenal effort from the kitesurfing community. We’re delighted to have passed the £150,000 mark over three years, which makes a massive difference to the fantastic causes we support. We know it’s difficult to fundraise and we really appreciate everyone’s effort and willingness to get involved in this important part of the event,” Event Director Dan Charlish told British Kite Sports. 

The Virgin Kitesurf World Tour just as riders at Hayling´s West Beach event also saw recent bad luck and a down turn of events. Two of its main World Tour were recently canceled. The Argentine Stop scheduled for October was cancelled due to organizational issues linked to general Presidential Elections in Argentina and the China Hainan Stop scheduled for November was also canceled with no official reason yet made public for the reason of the cancellation. Still the South Africa Stop is on stand-by hoping to end the year on a peak celebration for the sport and it's ranked riders.  

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour set the record straight for anyone out there who is still confused on the recent recognitions made by the International Sailing Federation ISAF. Previously this year ISAF granted rights and Special Event Status for the sport of Kitesurfing some went to IKA and others to Virgin Kitesurf World Tour. 

ISAF granted IKA the International Kiteboarding Association the right to award 2016 World Championship titles in their events and granted Virgin Kitesurf World Tour the Special Event Status recognition its World Tour including all disciplines Freestyle, Big Air, Wave and Slalom disciplines.  

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour explained that the Special Event Status -used for prestigious events such as Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup and the PWA Windsurfing World Tour and which is awarded to events with a high profile commercial character was granted to Virgin Kitesurf World Tour formerly known as PKRA. The Status was granted for the World Tour which PKRA is running for the past 15 years. 

“We are glad to leave the chapter with IKA and the resulting confusion behind us and look forward to developing the future of the sport together with all stakeholders. IKA has no further jurisdictional power over the Virgin Kitesurf World Tour which it is looking at a fascinating 2016 season with the traditional tour stops alongside new events,” Virgin Kitesurf stated. 

ISAF assures that they are working with both organizations for the development of the sport around the World. ISAF added that the Sport “will make its Olympic debut at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games with the finest youth riders racing on out of the Argentinean capital”.

“IKA has got the new right to run one-off World Championship events to crown a World Champion in their classes (IKA Formula kite, IKA TT Racing and IKA Open) at a single event. (Virgin)...wishes IKA success for these single events. For the future and development of the sport, (Virgin)...is always open to discussing a possible cooperation between the (Virgin) World Tour and the single World Championship events managed by the IKA,” Virgin opened doors for dialogue or take overs. .

Having all said and done 2015 will end with high and 2016 is promised to be huge for the sport on all sides. 

South Africa Cape Town World Championship 2015 of Virgin Kitesurf World Tour is scheduled for December 4 to December 13. After witnessing what top Virgin Kitesurf Riders  can do -specially made evident at the latest event in Germany the Pringles Kitesurf World Cup St. Peter-Ording fans and riders want more. 

Virgin Kitesurf World Tour communicated on November 23 that top riders are training. Some of the biggest name in the sport take to Brazil for its perfect training conditions. 

Liam Whaley, Hannah Whiteley, Paula Novotná, top Gisela Pulido, Jerome Cloetens and other top riders are at Brazil now, riding hard and pushing the limits. 

New talented kitesurf riders are joining the lines of the Teams riding at Virgin World Tour. 15 year old Anthar Racca from Mexico recently joined Airush International team and young rider Noè Font recently joined the North Kiteboarding International Team. 

If Cape Town delivers what St. Peter Ording delivered for the sport then we are for “outstanding conditions” for days at a time. The Global Kitesurfing Elite will once again gather to complete full Trials, Freestyle Elimination, and Full Slalom Eliminations.