The first ever GKA World Kitesurfing Tour event in Australia was held at Point Danger, Torquay in Victoria from 12 to 16 December.
The world's best kitesurfers waited patiently for the right combination of wind and waves. A tropical cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria disrupted weather conditions right down Australia's eastern seaboard, resulting in several days of very heavy rain, storms and no sea breezes.
However, it all came together late on Saturday afternoon when the wind picked up at around 4:30pm and the sun shone with big swells rolling in.
I arrived at 4 pm on Day 4 with not much going on. Keahi De Aboitiz was playing table tennis.
I spoke to Mike Walker of Kitethrills from the Sunshine Coast who we met on our recent kitesurfing trip there. Mike got 4th place in the Australian Kitesurfing Wave Championships that were held at Torquay just before the World Tour event, with James Carew getting 1st place.
Keahi headed out on a 15m Contra at when cross offshore wind picked up at 4:30 and caught some big waves. Matchu Lopes followed him out and they both were going well.
The mens final event between Keahi Aboitiz (Australia) and Sebastien Ribeiroo (Brazil) then started. They were both catching big waves, smashing lips, getting good rides in and making it look easy.
The mens mini-final between between Mitu Monteiro and Matchu Lopes (both from Cabo Verde) for 3rd and 4th place was equally dramatic.
Further womens events started after these but they were called off when wind conditions changed.
Presentations were held for the following places:
Mens singles finals results:
This event will be held in Australia for the next 2 years. The skills are superb, the vibe is great and competitors are very friendly. Its well worth attending.
See also
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| Mens Final - Jan Marcos Riveras (front) & Keahi De Aboitiz (rear) |
However, it all came together late on Saturday afternoon when the wind picked up at around 4:30pm and the sun shone with big swells rolling in.
I arrived at 4 pm on Day 4 with not much going on. Keahi De Aboitiz was playing table tennis.
I spoke to Mike Walker of Kitethrills from the Sunshine Coast who we met on our recent kitesurfing trip there. Mike got 4th place in the Australian Kitesurfing Wave Championships that were held at Torquay just before the World Tour event, with James Carew getting 1st place.
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| Point Danger, Torquay |
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| Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Point Danger, Torquay |
Keahi headed out on a 15m Contra at when cross offshore wind picked up at 4:30 and caught some big waves. Matchu Lopes followed him out and they both were going well.
The mens final event between Keahi Aboitiz (Australia) and Sebastien Ribeiroo (Brazil) then started. They were both catching big waves, smashing lips, getting good rides in and making it look easy.
The mens mini-final between between Mitu Monteiro and Matchu Lopes (both from Cabo Verde) for 3rd and 4th place was equally dramatic.
Further womens events started after these but they were called off when wind conditions changed.
Presentations were held for the following places:
Mens singles finals results:
- Keahi De Aboitiz
- Sebastian Ribeiroo
- Matchu Lopes
- Mitu Monteiro
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| Sebastian Ribeiroo (2nd) Keahi De Aboitiz (1st) Matchu Lopes (3rd) Mitu Monteiro (4th) |
Womens singles finals results:
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| Jennie Milton (4th), J - Catharina Edin (3rd), Jalou Langeree (1st) Carla Herrera Ori (2nd) |
This event will be held in Australia for the next 2 years. The skills are superb, the vibe is great and competitors are very friendly. Its well worth attending.
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| Everyone at Day 4. Credit: Ydwer van der Heide |
See also
- Single eliminations wrap up at KSWT Torquay - Day Four - Global Kitesports Association
- GKA KSWT Australia is set-up for wave action in this week's World Tour climax
- GKA World Kite Surfing – Point Danger, Torquay 2018 Event site
- GKA Kite-Surf World Tour Torquay – Day Four - IKSURFMAG
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| Keahi waxing his board |
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| The launch site |
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| Matchu Lopes from Cabo Verde. |
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| Matchu Lopes |
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| Matchu Lopes |
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| Matchu Lopes |
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| Matchu Lopes |
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| Matchu Lopes |
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| Jalou Langeree, Camille Delannoy and Charlotte Carpentier |
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| Airton Cozzolino |
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| Matchu Lopes and Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Mens super and mini final |
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| Matchu Lopes and Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Matchu Lopes and Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Mens Final - Jan Marcos Riveras (front) & Keahi De Aboitiz (rear) |
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| Mens Final - Jan Marcos Riveras (front) & Keahi De Aboitiz (rear) |
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| Mens Final - Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Mens Final - Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Mens Final - Keahi De Aboitiz |
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| Mens Mini Final - Matchu Lopes |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro |
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| Mens Final - Mitu Monteiro |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro (rear) Matchu Lopes (front) |
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| Mens Mini Final - Matchu Lopes |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro (rear) Matchu Lopes (front) |
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| Mens Mini Final - Mitu Monteiro |
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| Womens event |
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| Camille Delannoy (L) Mitu Monteiro (3rd right) Airton Cozzolino (4th right) and Vivi (5th right) |
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| Jalou Langeree and J - Catharina Edin |
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| Jennie Milton and J Catharina Edin |
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| Matchu Lopes and Mitu Monteiro |
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| Hanging with Matchu |
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| Hanging with Keahi |
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| Hanging with Jalou |
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