Virgin World Kite Tour On a Roll

World Kite Tour Youth Cup 2016 Costa Brava Spain -Young Talents take Airs at Pro Level -Stop 1 of the World Tour 

After a slow start of the year the Virgin World Kite Tour is finally on a roll. With new scheduled stops and confirmed dates the Tour has back to back events spreading the Continents. Riders are gearing up for competition.

Lets face it there are several Kitesurfing events in the World and several global organisations working the sport but none of them have the magic and upbeat spirit of the World Kite Tour. For riders and for the fans to see them roll once again is like a breathe of fresh air, lots of airs. 

“The kiteboarding circuit formerly known as PKRA World Tour has risen from the ashes of the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships to become the World Kite Tour. After several months in absolute obscurity, the WKT is ready to kick off a brand new season,” Surfertoday reported. 

Because the World Kite Tour is just getting started all Rankings Men, Women, Freestyle, Wave, Slalom and Big Air are clear and open for the taking. Open Season is here!

On June 27 World Kite Tour reported on the kickoff day of the Youth Cup 2016 -the first stop of the World Kite Tour. Stops that will follow the Youth Cup go from Germany to Spain to Brazil, Argentina and China. 

At Costa Brava, Spain 47 Young Riders representing 18 Nations seized the optimal wind conditions to take on first action of the World Kite Tour. The event in its Fourth Edition made noise from spot at La Ballena Alegre which literally translates to the Happy Whale.

Aged from 10 to 19 riders battled from June 27 to July 2 at the great Mediterranean spot, taking to the air like big riders.

“After registration wind was really light and thanks to the thermal wind, action started around 17:00 with Girls Under 15 Category. Great moves from this shredders. We enjoyed a tight final of single elimination between Mikhail Sol from Brazil and Osaia Reding from Spain, they landed great tricks like a slim by the Brazilian and a sick blind judge by the Spanish. Once again the Brazilian pulled it off in the end,” World Kite Tour blasted away on the first day filled with action at the Youth Cup 2016. 

Winds continued allowing Girls under 17 to move on navigating fast. Riders changed to larger kites to accommodate a drop in thermal wind conditions during Heats and the final for the Girls Under 17 was taken on Nina Font and Claudia Leon both from Spain. Claudia León won the single elimination final for the U17 at the very end.

Young riders went through the first heats and rounds and would continue to unfold kite action in the last days. 

The Royal Federation of Sail of Spain reported that the Fourth Edition of the Youth Cup could not have had a better start. 3 full hours of competition made possible the showdown between the 46 new young guns who are being followed closely and trained by experts in eyes of the promising career they can find ocean waters ahead. New Junior Kite World Champions will emerge from Costa Brava.

“This Cup is the only one in the World in which we can see the projection of young promises of the spectacular sport in Male and Female Categories before they become part of the Professional Circuit. The playoffs (of the first day) have revealed that kitesurfing is a sport in constant evolution and that some young athletes are already capable of completing the maneuvers required to compete at professional level,” Royal Federation of Sail of Spain reported. 

"Welcoming a Stop of the World Kite Tour here is really significant because it highlights the Spirit of the camping. We love sports and family...The success of this competition is to create a spot that allows children and their relatives to enjoy riding together in a safe place with great conditions to practice watersports,” Organizer of the event Panxo Pi Suñer described the emotions on the ground. 

“I deeply believe in the philosophy of sharing, integrating and learning that will be a cornerstone of their future athlete lives," shaping athletes the organizer said. 

World Kite Tour used the Youth Cup as a platform for the youngest athletes to receive the best information on the sport. “The idea is to raise awareness among the rising generations,” World Kite Tour added. Experts and legendary riders will give “informative sessions” and show off their talents. The Young Rookies and fresh talents will get a grip on their rich careers ahead, hands on necessary skills and essential sporting strategies as well as receive direct inside secrets of the machinery which makes kitesurf run today at a professional level...the kitesurfing industry. 

Just days before the Youth Cup started off giving way to the coming stops of the World Kite Tour Virgin Kitesurfing Community got busy and broke another World Record. 

On Mid June Kiteworld Magazine reported that the Virgin Kitesurf Armada with a strong 423 riders at Hayling Island Seas broke the Guinness Record once again. 

“It's Officially Amazing. The Virgin Kitesurfing Armada has broken the Guinness World Record for the largest parade of kitesurfers,” Surfertoday jumped into the news. 

Having no concern for grey skies nor rain the 423 bravely chopped the cold waters of Hayling in the UK to complete the one mile course. Once it was over they took the new record from South Africa to the Britain. 18 knots at its peak served the kitesurfers well for a long 3 and half hour of raw kitesurfing navigation. 

"A huge thank you to everyone who has come down and supported the festival this weekend. It's been an amazing experience. 423 kitesurfers is a fantastic total, and everyone should be really proud. It's been an awesome weekend," Dan Charlish Director of the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada told those who supported the event. 

After the new young rookies declared the Youth Cup over the legendary star kitesurf riders will give way to their own show on the World Kite Tour.  

Still there is much more to come for the rest of 2016. “With a twelve-year career, we announce once again the World Kite Tour which will bring together the Kiteboarding Elite,” World Kite Tour assured. 

Enjoying a Special Event “World Tour” Status and with the approval to set high sails off given green light by the International Sailing Federation ISAF the World Kite Tour will feature this year two of the Most Emblematic Kitesurfing Stops in the World: Tarifa and Germany.

“Between 20 and 24 July, Tarifa, the European Wind mecca, will host for the third consecutive year one of the stops of the Tour. Tarifa challenging conditions will test the best riders in the World and the 10th edition of the well-known event in Germany will be held from August 26 to September 4 in a new location: Fehmarn Island,” World Kite Tour kicks it. 

It is exciting to see the World Tour Calendar light up hopes once again in 2016. From Costa Brava Kiteboarding Youth Cup 2016 to Tarifa to Germany, Brazil, Argentina and China all looks good and ready for take off. Kitesurfing Season is Back!