The WOO Worlds 2024 results are in! You’ll have undoubtedly heard of WOO Worlds, and if you haven’t, you’re in luck; we’re about to tell you all about to tell you all about it!

Woo Worlds is an event open to anyone, no matter where you're from. It's all about bringing kiteboarders from every corner of the globe together for a bit of friendly competition and a lot of fun. Now, to make sure everyone has a great time, there's a big focus on keeping things fair and square. Like any competition, there will be rules and a referee to keep things in check. The guys at WOO Worlds 2024 do take this role as referees seriously. They're dedicating lots of effort to make sure they do the best job possible, making sure the game is fair for everyone involved. So, if you're all about kiteboarding, this is definitely something you won't want to miss! 

The Main Rules:

  • Fair Play & Cheating: Zero tolerance for cheating, including misuse of the WOO sensor or submitting incorrect data. Violations result in disqualification or bans.
  • Water-Based Activities Only: Kitesurfing or wingfoiling sessions over water are valid. The use of external propulsion, such as boats or cars, is prohibited!
  • Profile Accuracy: Riders must ensure the correct age, gender, and nationality information is provided before the competition starts.
  • Session Upload: Sessions must be uploaded immediately after completion with the proper WOO settings, including board type and location.
  • Safety & Conduct: Safety is a priority. Riders are expected to maintain good sportsmanship and respect the competition rules.

But with all these rules, the prizes rise!

Disciplines, Categories and Winners! 

Highest Kite Jump (Men, Women, Junior, Senior)

  • Men: Hugo Wigglesworth (36.7m)
  • Women: Cassandra Coverley (20.0m)
  • Junior: Toby Wigglesworth (27.3m)
  • Senior: Toddo #WOOlfs (25.4m)

Kite Distance (1 Hour)

  • Lukas Walton-Keim

Creative GPS-based Drawing Challenge

  • TBC

Team Challenges:

Total Distance

  • Team Progresywna (5467.3 km)

Total Height

  • Team Guardians of the Galaxy (77.2km)

Max Height

  • Team The Flying Kiwis (137.9m)

Hugo Wigglesworth - Highest Kite Jump (36.7m)

The Flying Kiwis and I had one clear goal for our one-day Woo Worlds strike mission to Plimmerton: go big or go home! The forecast called for increasing winds throughout the day, with gusts reaching up to 45 knots in the afternoon. We knew we had to pace ourselves for the heavy winds to come. When we first arrived, it was blowing around 20 knots—manageable. But just two hours later, some 35-knot gusts started ripping through. I headed out for a short 30-minute session on my 8m SONIC, and right away, after a few jumps, I could feel the wind was incredibly lifty. It was a great sign that bigger jumps were on the horizon as the wind picked up. I switched over to my 8m ERA to prepare for the real action.

At first, the wind wasn’t as strong as I hoped, but it ramped up fast in the last 30 minutes. Gusts were now hitting near the 45-knot mark, and I managed a few jumps over 25 meters. I was completely overpowered on the 8m, so I made the call to switch down to my 7m. Meanwhile, the rest of the Flying Kiwis boys stayed out. By the time I had rigged my 7m and refuelled, the boys had come in for a late lunch break. The water was empty—no other kiters in sight—but I wasn’t about to miss the chance to catch a good gust. So I headed back out on my 7m and instantly felt just as powered on it as I had been on my 8m just 30 minutes earlier. Now, the gusts were cranking over 50 knots.

In my first five jumps on the 7m, I struggled to time a gust with a kicker. Then, on my next attempt, I spotted a perfect left-foot forward kicker, launched off it, and sheeted in like I’ve done thousands of times before. But this time was different—my kite shot above me and accelerated upward at an insane speed. It kept lifting me until I hit the peak of the jump. When I looked down, I realised just how high I was. I wanted to descend fast! The kite kept pulling with a strong vertical lift, so I threw in two back-hand heliloops, then switched to two front-hand heliloops to get down quicker. I landed cleanly between the waves, looked at my watch, and saw 36.7 meters. I’ve never been more stoked in my life!

I rode back upwind to the beach, shouting with pure adrenaline. The boys on the shore had seen the jump and knew it was massive! They rushed to the water’s edge to grab my kite while I yelled, “WORLD RECORD!!” Everyone was buzzing with excitement. This is a day I’ll never forget.

Max Height - Team The Flying Kiwis (137.9m)

Once a year, a dedicated group of Kiwi senders embarks on a pilgrimage to one of the most unique spots in the country, chasing the fierce, distinctive winds that hold the promise of Woo Worlds glory. Wellington, known as the windiest major city in the world, sits just south of the Porirua Harbour—a small, narrow opening where, on certain special days, cold, dense wind funnels through the cliffs on either side of the harbour. The result? A uniquely powerful and loft-inducing wind, perfect for launching massive jumps.

Last year, this very spot helped the Flying Kiwis secure multiple podium finishes in the Woo Worlds, so this year, the team had high hopes of repeating that success. However, one elite member of the crew had his sights set even higher: a new World Record. Thankfully, the winds delivered. They built steadily throughout the day, and during his fourth session, Hugo Wigglesworth struck gold, pulling off the boost of a lifetime, soaring to an astonishing 36.7 meters and claiming a new Woo World Record. That same day, Clark Robertson secured 3rd overall in the senior division for the highest jump, while the rest of the team posted solid scores that pushed the Kiwis into first place overall and helped New Zealand climb into the top three of the Nations Cup.

As we left Wellington, we knew we’d had a strong start, but it wouldn’t be enough to lock in a podium finish. We had to bide our time in Auckland as we faced a lull in the wind, slowly watching our team and country slip out of first place.

But the wind gods smiled on us again this year, and Auckland got its moment to shine. Muriwai Beach—famous for having the most Woo sessions and jumps over 20 meters in the country—delivered classic conditions. Gusts reached up to 50 knots, and Hugo’s younger brother, Toby, smashed his Woo record with an insane 27-meter jump, taking the junior section of the competition. New Zealand was back on top in both the Nations Cup and the Team Max Height divisions, thanks to massive efforts from riders like Mark Harrison, Mark Roosenbrand, John Adams, Grant Payne, and Jason Montreal.

The wind may have favoured the Kiwis this year, but we definitely made the most of it.

By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.

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