Spain Kiteboarding League: 2023 Spanish Big Air Championship in Tarifa 🏄♂️🌬️🏆
The Spain Kiteboarding League has concluded its exciting 2023 season with the impressive Spanish Big Air Championship, a discipline that has gained notoriety in the kiteboarding world thanks to its spectacular and high-altitude acrobatics, performed in winds of over 30 knots. 🌟💨
The event took place last Sunday, September 24th, in Valdevaqueros, Tarifa, after a waiting period that began on September 11th. The Technical Team brought together the best national athletes, highlighting the participation of junior world champions such as Javier López and Keanu Merten in the Surfboard category, as well as international athletes Joss de Pfyffer and Scott Barendsen, residents of Tarifa and specialists in the Twintip modality. Also participating was Alicante native Carlos Aldaravi, holder of the "hangtime" world record. 🏄♂️🏄♀️🌍
The competition started at 10:30 a.m., after all the technical meetings with riders and safety teams. The easterly winds gusting over 35 knots presented a challenge for all competitors. The most experienced local riders in these erratic winds advanced in their rounds. 🏁💪
In the TWINTIP category, local youngsters such as Valentin Hoenderop, Sander Van Zut and Luca David Ludke made it to Round 3, but the tricks and jumps of veterans Joss de Pfyffer and Carlos Aldaravi left the juniors with no chance, with the exception of Valentin Hoenderop from Tarifa, who reached the final demonstrating his excellent physical form. 🤙🌊
In the final, Valentin Hoenderop defeated Joss de Pfyffer to become the 2023 Spanish Big Air Twintip Champion, while Scott Barendsen secured third place by defeating the almighty Carlos Aldaravi in the mini-final. 🏆🥈🥉
In the SURFBOARD category, Keanu Merten, the current Spanish Strapless Champion, dominated from start to finish, proving himself to be one of the riders with the greatest international reach and with outstanding performances in World Cup events. 🌊🌏🥇
Despite the efforts of the young Huelva native Javier López in the final, Keanu Merten remained unstoppable and was proclaimed 2023 Spanish Big Air Champion. Javier López, just 15 years old, obtained the 2023 Spanish Big Air Runner-up title, closing out a successful season in which he had already been crowned Junior Strapless World Champion in June and U16 Strapless and Freestyle Champion of the 2023 Spain Kiteboarding League in September. 🌟🤙🏆
The Surfboard podium was completed by veterans Ruben Cano and Alfonso Delgado, in third and fourth place, respectively. 🏄♂️🥉🏄♂️🏄♂️
RESULTS OF THE SPANISH BIG AIR CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆🌬️
TWINTIP:
1.- Valentin Hoenderop 🥇
2.- Joss de Pfyffer 🥈
3.- Scott Barendsen 🥉
4.- Carlos Aldaravi.🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️
SURFBOARD:
1.- Keanu Merten 🥇
2.- Javier López 🥈
3.- Ruben Cano 🥉
4.- Fonsy Delgado 🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️🏄♂️
The 2023 Spanish Big Air Championship stood out for the intensity of the competitions and the talent of the riders, bringing the Spain Kiteboarding League season to a spectacular close.
