The KPWT in Dunkerque, France is on. During one week the best KPWT kiteboarders of the World will be competing in Freestyle, Course Race and Kiteloop. Ydwer.com will give you an up-to-date action photo report as fast as possible.
//COMPENTITION DAY 1, 2 AND 3
On the second day of the event we finally had wind and the Freestyle discipline started with the first round. The first riders showed some good action in minimal conditions. After a view heats the wind got to gusty and decreased so the eleventh heat (with JelleHak.com) had to be cancelled.
BasKoole.com and BramBast.nl from the Netherlands won their heats and went through the first round.Today there was no wind so I had some time to select some photo’s and share them on the web.
After a view hours they started course race.
Men race one:
1. Jesse Richman (HAW,CABRINHA)
2. Abel Lago (SPA, RRD)
3. Olivier Dansin (FRA, NORTH)
Women race one:
1. Kari Schibevaag (NOR, OZONE)
2. Ainhoa Garcia (SPA, AIRUSH)
3. Ania Grzelinska (POL, NORTH)
As soon as there is some KPWT kiteboarding action going on I will be shooting photo’s and put them on the web. So check it out and keep up-to-date.
//COMPETITION DAY 4
During the forth day the wind started to change direction and pick up a view knots. Than finally at about 16.30 o’clock we could continue with the KPWT Freestyle competition in Dunkerque, France. On the third day of the event the heat between JelleHak.com and Danilo Nacarato was cancelled because to less wind during the heat. This was the first heat to start with.
//COMPETITION DAY 5
For this they the wind forecast was really good. Freestyle was the priority and because the heat between ChristopheTack.com (BE) and Jesse Richman (HAW) was cancelled in the last minute the day before, this was the first heat to start with. Christophe already showed that he’s in really good shape and also during this heat he nailed it again. With some very clean tricks heat went through to the quatres.
BasKoole.com was fighting hard and did all he could against the hulk from Russia, Peter Tyukjevich wich is performing very consistant during the whole KPWT. BramBast.nl was too big for Thomas Dehaene (BE) so we ended up with Leander Vivey (BE) vs. Peter Tyukjevich (RUS), Bram Bast (NL) vs. Steve Verelst (BE), Vincent Tiger (FR) vs. Jelle Hak (NL) and Christophe Tack (BE) vs. Michael Schitzhofer (AUT) in the quatres.
During the quatres the wind was going up and down. Riders had to prepare their equipment really good and had to change kites a lot during their heat. A view times a heat got cancelled and started again after a view minutes. Sometimes the riders could really give a show and sometimes they had to be very creative during light wind conditions. During the semifinals the wind started to get really strong. Vincent Tiger and Michael Shitzhofer showed some powered stuff during their heat in the semi finals. This is what Freestyle is about. On the other side Peter Tyukjevich and SteveVerelst.com where fighting for the finals. Peter had been consistently strong throughout his heats, knocking out Leander Vyvey in the quarter-finals. His trick of the day must have been a front mobe with a very late rotation and an old school trick that looked to be 5 rotations!
For the women, Gisela Pulido (SPA) faced Sarah Demdoum (FRA) in the first quarterfinal. Gisela looked comfortable and seemed to have rested her knee well after her injury in the KPWT Sylt, Germany. She flew through Sarah, with an S-Bend Handlepass and a huge 360 near the end of the heat. She will go on to face Ania Grzelinska (POL) in the first semi final for the ladies single elimination.
Kari Schibevaag (NOR) was up against Hannah Whiteley (UK) on the other side of the table. They both did nice tricks an performed really well during some strong winds, but Kari landed a very stylish S-Bend to blind that looked to win her the heat, and into her first KPWT Freestyle Final against Gisela Pulido. Gisela again proved too strong for the ladies within the freestyle discipline and took the ladies single elimination in Dunkerque.
//Final results KPWT Duinkerque France 2009
Women Single Elimination:
1. Gisela Pulido (SPA, AIRUSH)
2. Kari Schibevaag (NOR, OZONE)
3. Ania Grzelinska (POL, NORTH)
Men Single Elimination:
1. Peter Tyukjevich (RUS, FLEXIFOIL)
2. Michael Schitzhofer (AUS, JN)
3. Steve Verelest (BEL, BEST)
//COMPETITION DAY 6
The final day the wind picked up the same as the day before. Because the wind kicked in slowly they decided to start off with racing. On the end Jesse Richman (HAW) seemed to be the fastest. At the women’s race it was Kari Shibevaag (NOR) who kicked some ass.
During the race the wind picked up to about 22 knots. Perfect to start the junior Freestyle and see what they had to offer. The juniors did great and sometimes the wind got really strong.
//Results Juniors Freestyle
1. Danilo Nacarato (POR, SLINGSHOT)
1. Julien Kerneur (FRA, TAKOON)
3. Blazej Ozog (POL, NORTH)
3. Etiennes Freydrich (FRA, CABRINHA)
The day ended at 18h00, and prize giving took priority on the main stage! Spectators gathered closely to see the Champions of the KPWT Dunkerque Kitesurf Pro 2009 receive their trophies! Thank you to Christophe Hugoo and his team for a highly successful event on the KPWT 2009. They have been nothing, but helpful, extremely well organized and professional in every aspect of the event.
The next stop on the 2009 KPWT is in Canada at the Shippagan Kitesurf World Cup, starting the 23rd September 2009 with registration.
