Hello, kiteboarding fans! 🪁🏄‍♀️ Today on SUELTALABARRA, I'm bringing you an article that will make you feel the 2024 Paris Olympics from your couch. 🛋️💨

Fuerteventura put the kitefoiling elite to the test ahead of Paris 2024.

More than 40 participants from 15 countries were already training on the beaches of Corralejo to compete in the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup from February 15 to 18, with Gisela Pulido, who represented Spain at the Olympic Games, standing out.

Corralejo, February 13, 2024.- The beaches of Corralejo on the island of Fuerteventura were the stage for more than 40 riders from 15 countries to compete. They were already training on the island before beginning their journey of international competitions, as many of them aspired to reach the 2024 Paris Olympic Games if they were selected by their countries. This event was requested by the riders training in Corralejo and will surely be seen competing in Paris, declared Manuel Martínez, president of the Canakite Experiences Sports Club and organizer of the event.

Currently, 10 of the countries competing in this event have already qualified for the Olympics, as well as athletes who already have their places secured, such as Gisela Pulido, a 10-time world kitesurfing champion, who will represent Spain in this new Olympic event, Formula Kite. Among her main rivals is Lauriane Nolot (France), the current world champion and second in the Formula Kite world rankings , who also leads the overall ranking of the 2023 KiteFoil World Series. "There are many participants from the top 20 in the World Sailing rankings ," added Martínez.

Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup presentation video with images from 2021.

Among the male competitors, Italian Riccardo Pianosi and Frenchman Maxime Nocher have already registered for the competition. They currently hold the second and third places in the Formula Kite world rankings . Additionally, the current leader of the 2023 KiteFoil World Series, Singaporean Maximiliam Maeder, will also be present. Among the veterans, German Florian Gruber, eight-time world kitesurfing champion, will stand out. Representing Spain will be Valencian Alejandro Climent, who was recently crowned winner of the 2023 Formula Kite Spain Series in Tarifa, among other riders.

For the Spanish rider , this will be his first contact with practically the entire fleet, so he hopes to showcase all the work they've been doing since November, despite his back injury. "I hope to be up to scratch. We've been here for two winters, in addition to the kitefoil cup we held in 2021 in Jandía. The conditions are spectacular," Climent said before the event. Among the confirmed participants is Catalan Bernat Cortés, among other competitors who could surprise during the day.

Since the first KiteFoil World Cup was held in Fuerteventura in 2021, competitors have discovered the ideal conditions the island offers for their winter training. Thus, from November to the end of February, "some of the best riders in the world conduct their annual training on these beaches, which represents a significant investment in the destination for the municipality and also for the island," commented Manuel Martínez.

Particularly due to their perfect wind conditions 365 days a year, the Canary Islands are positioned as a preferred destination for many athletes and organizations like the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA). “Fuerteventura is the perfect location for kitefoil racing, as representatives from more than 20 countries spend the entire winter training in Corralejo,” said Mirco Babini, president of the IKA. He hopes to “make a big splash to bring back the World Series of the sport in 2025.”

This first edition of the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup, organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club in collaboration with the Royal Canary Islands Sailing Federation, is sponsored by the Tourism Department of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Promotur Islas Canarias, and is also subsidized by the Canary Islands Government. The event has also enjoyed the unwavering support of the La Oliva City Council from the very beginning, through several of its departments, including the Mayor's Office, Sports, Tourism, and Beaches, among others.

Kiteboarding becomes more professional after being included in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games .

Over the past 20 years, kiteboarding has been a rapidly growing outdoor activity, and with its inclusion in the Paris 2024 Olympic Program, its performance has reached elite levels. According to the event organizer , by coming to Fuerteventura, the " elite riders " are "confident" of participating in a professional event that will be communicated to the world and showcase an ideal location with "unbeatable" conditions to kiteboarding enthusiasts around the world.

DAY 1: Epic start to the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup

The world champions of the discipline, Maximilian Maeder (Singapore) and Lauriane Nolot (France), lead the classification during the first day in which more than 60 riders from 21 countries compete, 14 of them Olympians.

Corralejo, February 17th.- The competition kicks off on the beaches of Corralejo, living up to expectations for the world's best kitefoilers, with strong gusts of wind (around 20 knots) and unbeatable weather. After the first races, Singaporean Maximilian Maeder, the current 2023 KiteFoil World Series champion, and Frenchwoman Lauriane Nolot, world champion and second in the Formula Kite world rankings , are leading the pack, as well as leading the 2023 KiteFoil World Series overall rankings .

For Gisela Pulido, Spain's Olympic representative, organizing this event is "incredible, since it's almost like a world championship." In her opinion, there are very good sailors in Spain who will compete for a spot in France. "People have come from all over the world for this regatta," said the 10-time world kitesurfing champion, who remains in the top five in the women's category.

For the Catalan-born rider , Fuerteventura is one of the best places for practicing wind sports, especially during the winter. "It's February and we're in short sleeves. I don't want to return to the peninsula. I'm considering coming to live here," added Pulido, who currently lives in Tarifa.

To ensure the smooth running of the events, Mirco Babini, president of the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), is serving as the competition director . "I'm sure it will be a wonderful event, with optimal conditions for the discipline. Each day we'll have five races for the boys and five for the girls, alternating between them so they can rest in between," Babini explained.


Registration closes with more than 60 riders from 21 different countries

This weekend, Flag Beach will be the prelude to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the Formula Kite discipline will debut. Registration closed this Friday with a total of 62 competitors from 21 different countries, 14 of whom have already qualified for the next Olympic Games. In addition to Maximilian Maeder and Lauriane Nolot, European champion Riccardo Pianosi (Italy) will also be among the top riders, among other internationally renowned riders .

Fuerteventura is committed to consolidating aquatic sports events.

During the official presentation held this Friday, the mayor of La Oliva, Isaí Blanco, guaranteed that they will continue working to ensure that international teams return year after year to train and compete. Blanco pledged to improve facilities and services to make their stay on the island "more comfortable," adding that "Fuerteventura's goal is to be recognized as a tourist destination, not only for its sun and beaches, but also for hosting sporting events chosen by elite athletes."

The opening ceremony was also attended by the Councilor for Tourism and Environment, David Fajardo, who reiterated the importance of making La Oliva a tourist destination: "Getting to know our landscapes and the excellent nautical conditions is essential for you to come and practice this sport. The goal is for our coastline to become even more well-known to athletes from top competitions, like Gisela Pulido, who has decided to set up her training camp here."

For her part, Marlene Figueroa, Island Councilor for Tourism, the Blue Economy, and the Biosphere Reserve, thanked the athletes who have been training on the island for several months and highlighted the efforts to consolidate the island as a training base. "Our intention is to support this consolidation of water sports, which generates significant local activity and also a local economy for everyone," she stated.

The Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup, organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club in collaboration with the Royal Canary Islands Sailing Federation and the Canary Islands Latin Sailing Federation, was made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Tourism Department of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Promotur Islas Canarias, and a grant from the Canary Islands Government. The event also has the unwavering support of the La Oliva City Council, through several of its departments.

DAY 2: Successful second day of competition at the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup

Corralejo, February 17, 2024. This morning at 10:30 a.m., the organizer of the Fuerteventura Kitefoil International Cup, Manuel Martínez, accompanied by Olympic judge David María, has convened the athletes at Flag Beach for the skipper meeting.

Gisela Pulido

Although the second day of racing was scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m., unfavorable wind conditions forced Race Director Mirco Babini to postpone the event. This break allowed the 62 competitors to enjoy a well-deserved rest on the beautiful white sand beach of Corralejo.

Finally, the green light was given at three in the afternoon, allowing four of the five scheduled races to take place.

After an exciting day of competition, the provisional men's standings featured figures such as the current world champion, Maximilian Maeder of Singapore, followed by Brazilian Bruno Lobo and Jannis Maus of Germany.

In the women's category, English athlete Elle Aldridge sits atop the provisional podium, followed by Frenchwoman Jessie Kampman and Italian Maggie Pescetto. Gisela Pulido, the Spanish team's chosen candidate to represent her nation at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, is currently in fifth place.

Formula Kite is, without a doubt, an adrenaline-fueled discipline, where tactics play a fundamental role. Knowing how to choose the most favorable side of the racecourse is essential, which requires more than just speed, but also a solid strategy.

The event continues to be an exciting spectacle that combines strength, speed, and skill in the water, and competitors are eager to showcase their talent tomorrow, on the final day of competition.

The Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup was organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club in collaboration with the Royal Canary Islands Sailing Federation and the Canary Islands Federation of Latin Sailing. It was made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Tourism Department of the Fuerteventura Island Council, Promotur Islas Canarias, and a grant from the Canary Islands Government. The event also enjoyed the unwavering support of the La Oliva City Council from the very beginning, through several of its departments, including the Mayor's Office, Sports, Tourism, and Beaches, among others.

Jessie Kampman

DAY 3: Maximilian Maeder and Ellie Aldridge, champions of the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup

Corralejo, February 19, 2024.- After an exciting weekend of competition, Singaporean Maximilian Maeder, current champion of the KiteFoil World Series 2023 , came out undefeated and was proclaimed champion of the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup together with the British, Ellie Aldridge, who won the last races against the French Lauriane Nolot, world champion and second in the Formula Kite world ranking , in addition to leading the general ranking of the KiteFoil World Series 2023. Nolot stopped competing after having achieved 4 victories during the first 4 races.

“I'm very happy to have competed here in the first event of the year. The spot is incredible. I'm very happy to have come because it's a great place to train, especially if you want to gain consistency due to the strong and consistent conditions,” said Maeder. For the Singaporean rider , Fuerteventura has become an ideal place to train and practice water sports alongside a “very friendly community.”

Following Maeder closely with 12 points, second place on the men's podium was held by Brazilian Bruno Lobo with 15 points, followed by German Jannis Maus with 18 points, and Italian Riccardo Pianosi, the current European champion, with 28 points. Although the Singaporean was the fastest in four of the nine races, it was the disqualifications of other riders that gave him the advantage in the overall standings, especially Lobo's during the final race. Representing Spain, Catalan Bernat Cortés achieved a creditable eleventh place.

In the women's category, Jessie Kampman (France) finally took the podium with 20 points and Maggie Pescetto (Italy) with 32 points, although Aldridge showed no respite in the final rounds, finishing first in four of the five races in which Nolot did not compete. However, behind the British rider (who accumulated 12 points), the results were close, demonstrating the high level of competition among the female riders , many of whom will compete in Paris 2024.

For Spain's Formula Kite representative at the Olympic Games, Gisela Pulido, it was an intense few heats, but she managed to stay in the top 5. "I'm really excited to be going to the Olympics, there's not much time left, I'm really looking forward to it and I'm looking forward to the day when I can fulfill my dream," said the 10-time World Kitesurfing Freestyle Champion .

The favorable wind and wave conditions allowed for a total of nine races. However, competition director Mirco Babini announced that the large waves posed a very high risk to the safety of the athletes, prompting the decision to suspend racing on the third day of competition, primarily due to the risk involved in entering and exiting the water. "Safety is a priority, especially considering that many of the competitors have important commitments in the coming months, and it is necessary to maintain their physical condition," Babini commented.

From the Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup to Paris 2024

The 2024 sporting calendar promises a series of highlights, including the European Championships in Murcia in March and the renowned Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca in April. Following this, the Paris Olympic Games will be held in July, with Marseille as the main venue for sailing. "This event marks the end of an extensive winter training cycle on the island, which has provided the opportunity to test skills, measure speed, select appropriate equipment, and assess skill level and readiness for the Olympic Games," said Babini, who will also serve as the Kitefoil and iQFOiL Race Director during the Games.

Fuerteventura was chosen as the competition's venue at the request of the athletes themselves, an event that the more than 60 participants from over 20 different countries hope to repeat. "The event has been a success and we want to repeat it next year. The institutions have shown their support, and that is essential to positioning the island globally as the preferred location for kitefoiling , " argued organizer Manuel Martínez during the trophy presentation ceremony, which took place at the Corralejo Nautical School and was attended by representatives of the main institutions involved.

The Fuerteventura KiteFoil International Open Cup, organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club in collaboration with the Royal Canary Islands Sailing Federation and the Canary Islands Federation of Latin Sailing, is sponsored by the Tourism Department of the Fuerteventura Island Council and Promotur Islas Canarias, and is also subsidized by the Canary Islands Government. The event also enjoys the unwavering support of the La Oliva City Council, through several departmental offices.

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