Kitesurfing is a thrilling multidisciplinary water sport that has gained popularity in recent years. There are several major kitesurfing competitions worldwide, most focusing on one discipline of the sport. Some of the disciplines in kitesurfing include big air, wave riding, course racing, and freestyle.
The Global Kitesports Association (GKA) organizes the GKA Kite World Tour, which includes a series of kitesurfing competitions in various locations around the world. The tour features some of the best kitesurfers in the world competing in freestyle, wave riding, and big air competitions.
Other top kitesurfing competitions in the world include Red Bill King of the Air, KiteFoil World Series, Kitesurfing World Cup, and Kiteboarding Pan American Games. Each competition focuses on a different aspect of kitesurfing. For this article, we’ll focus on the GKA Kite World Tour, which unifies fans and athletes in this multidisciplinary sport.
Table of Contents
GKA Kite World Tour: The Premier Kitesurfing Championship Series
The Global Kitesports Association (GKA) is a premier kitesurfing championship league sponsored by Qatar Airways. They host various events throughout the year, unifying the many disciplines within the sport.
What Is The GKA Kite World Tour?
The GKA Kite World Tour is the only official kitesports tour that holds professional competitions in all the expression disciplines of international kitesports. It is a world-famous competition series attracting the top professional kiteboarders from all over the world.
The GKA Kite World Tour comprises several events at different sites around the globe. These events feature a variety of kitesurfing disciplines, including the following:
- Freestyle,
- Wave Riding, and
- Big Air competitions (surf and hydrofoil).
Each of the events in the GKA Kite World Tour is scored separately. Then, the overall tour champions are ranked based on their performance across all events in the tour. The winners of the tour each win a lucrative cash prize. For example, the total prize money for the 2023 Tarifa Big Air event sits at €40,000. It is equally divided between the male and female champions of each discipline.
How Many Events Are In The GKA Kite World Tour?
The number of events in the GKA Kite World Tour can vary from year to year. Still, typically there are ten to twelve events in various locations around the world. The tour usually starts at the end of Winter or early Spring and wraps up in the Fall.
The specific dates and locations of the events change from year to year as they are dependent on the following factors:
- Wind conditions,
- Weather conditions,
- Local support, and
- The availability of suitable venues.
Who Are The Top-Ranked Kitesurfers In The World?
The top-ranked kitesurfers for the 2022 GKA Kite World Tour are tabulated below:
| GKA Kite World Tour Ranking 2022
Discipline: Kitesurf Men |
|||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | Total Points |
| 1 | James | Carew | 2000 |
| 2 | Matchu | Lopes | 1470 |
| 3 | Pedro | Matos | 1450 |
| 4 | Sebastian | Ribeiro | 1450 |
| 5 | Gabriel | Benetton | 1190 |
| 6 | Hendrick | Lopes | 1000 |
| 7 | Reece | Myerscough | 1000 |
| 7 | Matt | Maxwell | 1000 |
| 9 | Med Ali | Beqqali | 840 |
| 10 | Camille | Delannoy | 840 |
| 10 | Yaris | Dell’omo | 840 |
| 10 | Francesco | Cappuzzo | 840 |
| 10 | Artur | Morais | 840 |
| GKA Kite World Tour Ranking 2022
Discipline: Kitesurf Women |
|||
| Rank | First Name | Last Name | Total Points |
| 1 | Capucine | Delannoy | 1770 |
| 2 | Maria Kesiane | Rodrigues | 1580 |
| 3 | Frances | Kelly | 1450 |
| 4 | Camille | Losserand | 1280 |
| 5 | Johanna-Catharina | Edin | 1190 |
| 6 | Marcela | Witt | 1160 |
| 7 | Bruna | Kajiya | 870 |
| 8 | Sonja | Bunte | 840 |
| 8 | Charlotte | Carpentier | 840 |
| 8 | Daniela | Moreno Rodriguez | 840 |
| 11 | Zoe | Bazile | 700 |
Upcoming GKA Kite World Tour Events
To date, four events have been completed in the 2023 GKA Kite World Tour season. The upcoming events for the rest of the 2023 season are as follows:
| Event | Location | Date |
| Big-Air | Tarifa, Spain | 26 May – 16 Jun 2023 |
| Youth Freestyle & Youth Kitesurf | Tarifa, Spain | 20 – 25 Jun 2023 |
| Kitesurf | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 31 Jul – 11 Aug 2023 |
| Freestyle | Dunkerque, France | 16 – 20 Aug 2023 |
| Kitesurf | Sylt, Germany | 22 – 27 Aug 2023 |
| Kitesurf | Dakhla, Morocco (TBC) | 26 Sep – 1 Oct 2023 |
| Freestyle | Ceara, Brazil | 7 – 11 Nov 2023 |
| Kite-Surf & Hydrofoil-Freestyle | Ceara, Brazil | 14 – 18 Nov 2023 |
| Freestyle | Fuwairit, Qatar | 5 – 9 Dec 2023 |
Kitesports Association: Uniting and Promoting the Sport
The Global Kitesports Association (GKA) strives to unite and promote the interests of all professional and recreational kite riders under one inclusive banner. The kite disciplines they support and promote include kitesurfing, freestyle, park-style, and racing.
What Is The Global Kitesports Association?
The GKA is a united, independent body formed by kitesurfing’s most established brands. They advocate that kiting as a sport can be enjoyed in all countries and in harmony with nature. As such, the GKA focuses on maintaining high safety standards on kiting equipment. They also assess the feasibility of suitable beaches for hosting professional kiting competitions.
Additionally, GKA provides reliable information regarding developments in the market, plus the opportunity for kite riders to achieve GKA goals. They do this by creating positive relationships with various national kiting associations and professional kite sports organizations.
A Short History
The GKA wasn’t founded to run competitive world tours. However, at the end of 2016, they were granted the right to run World Championship tours in the expression disciplines of kitesurfing. So, after three successful seasons of running the Kitesurf World Tour (wave and strapless freestyle), they launched the GKA Kite World Tour in 2018.
Kiteboarding Riders United (KRU) held the official freestyle competitions (World Kiteboarding Championships) under the license of the GKA. The racing classes are run by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA).
However, 2019 saw significant changes in the world of professional kiteboarding. All competitions of expression disciplines are now managed by the GKA, including Wave/Strapless Freestyle (with a surfboard) and Freestyle (with a twin-tip kiteboard).
How Does GKA Promote And Support The Sport?
GKA promotes and supports kitesurfing in the following ways:
- Working with all the major brands in kite sports.
- Overseeing global kitesurfing competitions, ensuring they are run successfully and transparently.
- Being inclusive: encouraging people of all ages, nationalities, and abilities to safely partake in the sport.
- Ensuring the safety of all participants and fans.
- Maintaining high safety standards for equipment (e.g., ISO Standard 21853:2020)
- Performing Environmental Impact Assessments to ensure kitesports work in harmony with nature.
- Working with governments to identify and preserve safe, open spaces for kitesports.
- Collaborating with various water safety and government rescue services.
Benefits Of Being A Member Of The Kitesurfing Association
Being a member of the GKA has many benefits. Not only are the members part of a rapidly growing community, but they are privy to the latest developments and requirements in the sport. Other benefits of being a GKA member include the following:
- Updates on safety measures, e.g., tracing stickers for kites and ISO Standards.
- Knowing and understanding local laws regarding beach access.
- Having the legal support of an international organization, should you face restrictions in your area, e.g., beach access cases.
- Access to studies, e.g., Kitesurfing and Birds
- Member support and advice relevant to your involvement in the industry.
Who Can Be A Member Of The GKA?
GKA membership is open to the following role players in the industry:
- Manufacturers of kitesports equipment and apparel,
- Distributors of kitesports equipment and clothing,
- Organizers of kite events and kite travel, and
- Regional authorities and legal entities (public and civil law).
Kitesurfing in the Olympics: The Future of the Sport?
Kiteboarding on water is deemed a sailing discipline and thus falls under the authority of World Sailing. World Sailing is the International Federation for Sailing, and all its forms are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). So, what does this mean for kitesurfing? Is it an Olympic sport?
Is Kitesurfing Going To The Olympics?
At long last, kitesurfing will make its first appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. A recent meeting with the IOC and World Sailing presidents reaffirmed this. All the Olympic sailing events will be held at Marina de Marseille, on France’s Mediterranean south coast. The kitesurfing class at the Olympics is called Formula Kite.
Benefits And Drawbacks Of Kitesurfing Being An Olympic Sport
Of course, it’s exciting that kitesurfing is finally considered an Olympic sport. But what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of this?
Benefits of kitesurfing being an Olympic sport
- Millions of people will learn about kitesurfing at the Olympics.
- We can expect an increase in people starting kitesurfing for recreational and competitive purposes.
- The kitesurfing industry will grow.
Drawbacks of kitesurfing being an Olympic sport
- Kitesurfing relies on wind. Since wind can’t be planned, kitesurfing risks being a “non-event” at the Olympics.
- Some of the governing bodies of kitesports and sailing have differing views on some issues regarding the governance of kitesurfing. Their continued public disputes might lead to the IOC excluding kitesurfing as an Olympic Sport.
- Only one pair (male and female) of kitesurfers may represent a nation at the Olympics. In addition, not all countries have professional male and female kitesurfers, excluding many nations from participating in the event at the Olympics.
- There are many disciplines in kitesurfing, all requiring different equipment. This makes defining competition rules more challenging.
- The IOC supports sports that can be enjoyed by millions. However, kitesurfing is an expensive sport, making it inaccessible to many.
Who Are The Top Kitesurfers To Watch For In Olympic Competitions?
The participants of Formula Kite in the Olympics have yet to be selected as they are still going through the qualifying process. However, the top 10 men’s and women’s rankings to date are as follows:
Formula Kite Men Rankings
- Benoit Gomez, France
- Riccardo Pianosi, Italy
- Lorenzo Boschetti, Italy
- Florian Gruber, Germany
- Maximilian Maeder, Singapore
- Bruno Lobo, Brazil
- Theo De Ramecourt, France
- Martin Dolenc, Croatia
- Toni Vodisek, Slovenia
- Alexander Ehlen, Monaco
Formula Kite Women’s Rankings
- Lauriane Nolot, France
- Gisela Pulido Borrell, Spain
- Gal Zukerman, Israel
- Poema Newland, France
- Daniela Moroz, USA
- Eleanor Aldridge, Great Britain
- Jessie Kampman, France
- Leonie Meyer, Germany
- Katie Dabson, Great Britain
- Madeleine Anderson, Great Britain
Kitesurfing Competition 2023: What To Expect
With the Summer Olympics looming, we can expect intense competition in the Formula Kite ranks in 2023. However, there are plenty of other competitions and events among the other kitesurfing disciplines.
| Formula Kite 2023 Major Class Events | ||
| Dates | Event | Location |
| 14 Jan – 16 Jan | US Open Miami | Miami (USA) |
| 1 Feb – 5 Feb | US Open Clearwater | Clearwater (USA) |
| 7 Mar – 12 Mar | Pan American Championships | Cabarete (DOM) |
| 31 Mar – 8 Apr | Princesa Sofia (SWC) | Palma de Mallorca (ESP) |
| 22 Apr – 29 Apr | SOF Hyeres | Hyeres (FRA) |
| 22 May – 28 May | Youth (U21) European Championships | Torregrande (ITA) |
| 30 May – 4 Jun | Allianz Regatta (SWC) | Lelystad (NED) |
| 16 Jun – 20 Jun | Kiel Week | Kiel (GER) |
| 7 Jul – 16 Jul | Paris 2024 Test Event | Marseille (FRA) |
| 17 Jul – 23 Jul | Youth (U21) World Championships | Gizzeria (ITA) |
| 10 Aug – 20 Aug | Sailing World Championships
(Olympic Qualifier) |
The Hague (NED) |
| 16 Sep – 24 Sep | European Championships
(Olympic Qualifier) |
Portsmouth (GBR) |
| 27 Sep – 4 Oct | Asian Games
(Olympic Qualifier) |
Hangzhou (CHN) |
| 25 Oct – 5 Nov | Pan American Games
(Olympic Qualifier) |
Santiago (CHI) |
| 30 Oct – 5 Nov | Asian Championships | China |
| 9 Dec – 16 Dec | World Sailing Youth (U19) Worlds | TBA |
| 11 Dec – 17 Dec | Sail Sydney
(Olympic Qualifier) |
Sydney
(AUS) |
| KiteFoil World Series Season 10 – 2023 | ||
| Dates | Event | Location |
| 23 May – 28 May | Masters Worlds Sardinia | Torregrande (ITA) |
| 4 Oct – 8 Oct | World Series Traunsee | Ebensee (AUT) |
| 10 Oct – 15 Oct | World Series Sardinia | Cagliari (ITA) |
| 8 Nov – 12 Nov | World Series Yas Island | Abu Dhabi (UAE) |
| 22 Nov – 3 Dec | World Series China | Zhuhai (CHN) |
Who Are The Top Contenders For KiteFoil Championship Titles In 2023?
The top contenders for KiteFoil championship titles in 2023 are based on the 2022 rankings. Below are the men and women who ranked in the top 10 in 2022.
| Men | Women |
| 1.     Denis Taradin
2.     Axel Mazella 3.     Theo De Ramecourt 4.     Toni Vodisek 5.     Markus Edegran 6.     Florian Gruber 7.     Connor Bainbridge 8.     Jannis Maus 9.     Tiger Tyson 10.  Dvir Azulay |
1.     Daniela Moroz
2.     Ellie Aldridge 3.     Lauriane Nolot 4.     Leonie Meyer 5.     Jessie Kampman 6.     Katie Dabson 7.     Jemima Crathorne 8.     Lily Young 9.     Sofia Tomasoni 10.  Justina Kitchen |
Kiteboarding World Rankings: The Best Of The Best
The kiteboarding world rankings list the top performers in each discipline of kiteboarding. According to the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), the following athletes rank the best in their respective divisions:
| Freestyle | |
| Men | Women |
| 1.     Carlos Marios
2.     Youri Zoon 3.     Alex Pastor 4.     Aaron Hadlow 5.     David Tonijuan |
1.     Karolina Winkowska
2.     Bruna Kajiya 3.     Annabel v. Westerop 4.     Paula Novotna 5.     Hannah Whiteley |
| Slalom | |
| Men | Women |
| 1.     Bryan Lake
2.     Julien Kerneur 3.     Oswald Smith 4.     Paul Serin 5.     Ariel Corniel |
1.     Katja Roose
2.     Annelous Lammerts 3.     Bibiana Magaji 4.     Christine Boenniger 5.     Eliska Parma |
| Waveriding | |
| Men | Women |
| 1.     Keahi de Aboitiz
2.     Pedro Henrique 3.     Sebastian Riberio 4.     Mitu Monteiro 5.     Ralph Boelen |
1.     Jalou Langeree
2.     Moona White 3.     Ines Correia 4.     Kari Schibevaag 5.     Dominiquen Cartan |
| Big Air | |
| Men | Women |
| 1.     Kevin Langeree
2.     Marc Jacobs 3.     Ariel Corniel 4.     Marius Hoppe 5.     Reno Romeu |
1.     Gisela Pulido
2.     Hannah Whiteley 3.     Annelous Lammerts 4.     Annabel van Westerop 5.     Bruna Kajiya |
How Are The Rankings Determined And Updated?
A kiteboarder’s rank is calculated by adding up their points from the events in which they participated. For example, first place gets 100 points, second place gets 99, and third place gets 98 points, etc. However, each event is star-rated up to six stars, with the star grading being a multiplicator for the ranking points.
For example, if the winner of a 3-star event gets 100 points, they will get 100 x 3 = 300 points added to their ranking. And a kiteboarder earning second place at a 2-star event will earn 99 x 2 = 198 points.
The rankings are updated with each event, so professionals should partake in as many events as possible.
Conclusion
The 2023 calendar for kitesurfing is packed with many events and competitions for different disciplines. The competitions are organized by international kiteboarding associations such as GKA and IKA. In addition, there is much anticipation and competition in the Formula Kite class to determine who will represent their respective nations at the 2024 Olympics.
G’day, my name is Luke and I’m the proud Founder of Surf Hungry. I am a former xxx athlete. I’ve worked in the surf industry and lived at many of xxx’s best surf spots, sparking a life-long love of the ocean and a passion for surf sports which also rubbed off on my two young sons! I am also lucky to spend a lot of ocean-time in my favorite second home,xxx. In addition to SurfHungry I have founded several other websites in my areas of passion, namely xxx and am also a regular xxx.
