Italian Freestyle & Bigair Championship 2023 Campione del Garda
Italian Freestyle & Bigair Championship 2023
Campione del Garda (BS) – 14/18 Giugno 2023
This weekend, one of the most sought-after competitions for kiteboarding enthusiasts was held in Italy, the location chosen by the impeccable organization: The Campione del Garda spot is the only beach dedicated exclusively to kitesurfing on Lake Garda, offering the opportunity to practice with both the Ora and Peler winds, the two main winds on the lake. Campione del Garda is a lakeside town, part of the municipality of Tremosine in the province of Brescia, and is located within the beautiful coastal strip of the Alto Garda Bresciano Regional Park.
This area offers uniquely beautiful scenery, ranging from the Riviera with its characteristic Mediterranean climate to the mountainous interior, where altitudes of over 1,800 meters can be reached via spectacular trails. The climate is sub-Mediterranean, with average temperatures of 30°C in summer and 10°C in winter, which distinguishes it from other wetter and colder pre-Alpine lakes.
Sporting activities in Campione are closely linked to sailing, thanks to the winds that blow intensely from dawn to dusk, making it a paradise for kitesurfing and sailing.
Kiteboarding is an exciting and challenging sport that combines the skill of surfing with the thrill of flying. A one-of-a-kind competition takes place in Italy, where the country's most talented riders gather at one of the windiest and most famous spots in the region. This competition, divided into four disciplines, not only counts toward the national championship ranking but also awards the title in each of the disciplines.
The Disciplines:
1. Freestyle:
In this discipline, riders perform impressive jumps and maneuvers with both the kite engaged and unengaged. The first tricks consist of engaged rotations, such as the backroll and frontroll, combined with spectacular grabs. Competitors then unengage, extracting the chicken loop from the trapeze hook to achieve maximum kite power. Taking advantage of this, they perform intense rotations and maneuvers such as the handle pass and its variations, demonstrating incredible skill and energy on the water.
2. Big Air:
In this discipline, riders reach impressive heights while performing jumps with or without rotations. Megaloops and kiteloops are common maneuvers that add excitement to the spectacle. Some riders even detach one or both straps from the board while in the air, in a maneuver called "boards off." This discipline attracts renowned international riders and those who participate annually in the Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town, South Africa.
3. Strapless:
A few years ago, talented riders from Cape Verde developed surfboard freestyle, or "Strapless Freestyle." In this discipline, competitors perform rotations and evolutions, both hooked and unhooked, using a strapless surfboard. Their skills are astounding, and they appear to have their feet glued to the board. This discipline has gained popularity in the kiteboarding world and adds a unique dimension to competition in Italy.
The Italian kiteboarding competition is an exciting and spectacular event that brings together the country's best riders in one of the windiest and most famous spots. With four different disciplines, competitors demonstrate their skills and passion for this exciting sport. In addition to qualifying for the national championship, this competition awards titles in each discipline, recognizing the best riders in each specialty. Kiteboarding in Italy continues to grow in popularity and excite water sports enthusiasts.
The Italian Championships held this weekend in Italy featured exciting competitions in three disciplines: Big Air, Women's Freestyle, and Men's Freestyle. Below is a summary of the standings in each discipline. Final standings and images taken from social media:
1st Tappa Italian Campionato Bigair - Campione del Garda 2023
Bigair final classification:
1. PRINCIPI, ANDREA
2. BALBINOT, EROS
3. BANDELLI, SAMUELE
In the Big Air discipline, Andrea Principi stood out by taking first place, followed by Eros Balbinot in second place and Samuele Bandelli in third place.
1st Tappa Italian Freestyle Campionato - Campione del Garda 2023
Final classification Freestyle Men:
1. DOROTINI, MATTEO (Senior)
2. PINTUS, ALESSIO (Senior)
3. RIZZELLO, PIERFRANCESCO (U15)
In the Men's Freestyle event, Matteo Dorotini took first place in the Senior category. Alessio Pintus finished second in the same category, followed by Pierfrancesco Rizzello, who excelled in the U15 category.
1st Tappa Italian Freestyle Campionato - Campione del Garda 2023
Final classification Freestyle Women:
1. PICCIONI, GIULIA LUIGIA ILDE (Master)
2. BALBINOT, NAIS (U19)
3. ANANIA, GIULIA (Senior)
In the Women's Freestyle event, Giulia Piccioni took first place in the Master category. Nais Balbinot finished second in the U19 category, while Giulia Anania placed third in the Senior category.
The Italian championship in these three disciplines demonstrated the talent and dedication of the competitors, who strived to achieve the best results in each category.
Don't miss this incredible competition full of adrenaline and skill on social media!
