VKWC Prince Moulay el Hassan Kiteboarding World Cup Round Up
There are now just 24 men and 14 women competing on the VKWC Tour!
A thrilling Finals Day of the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships at the Prince Moulay el Hassan Kiteboarding World Cup Dakhla 2015 saw Liam Whaley (ES) and Karolina Winkowska (PL) claim the Freestyle victory at Dakhla Attitude in perfect conditions. The Big Air titles go to Kevin Langere (NL) and Gisela Pulido (ES) after winning their super finals. Already on Tuesday Keahi de Aboitiz and Jalou Langeree became winners of the wave discipline. Overall it has been a magical start into the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships season 2015.
The level of the freestyle riding was exceedingly high again this year!
Freestyle:
A sensational Finals Day at Dakhla Attitude saw Liam Whaley (ES) claim the first Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Freestyle win against current world champion Christophe Tack (BE) while World Champion Karolina Winkowska (PL) took down last year’s Dakhla’s winner Gisela Pulido (ES).
Liam put on an unbelievable performance throughout the competition and delivered the highest heat total of the event in the semi-final today, a 39.6. Entering his 5th year on the Tour, Liam consistently delivered mind-blowing tricks and great variety to become the first to win the men’s Freestyle competition under the new Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC). On his way to the Final, Liam previously dispatched Paul Serin (FRA) and Youri Zoon (NL).
The VKWC saw Karolina Winkowska (PL) battle Gisela Pulido (ES) in an epic clash. Karolina looked composed and stylish, claiming the win at the first event of the season. The win today is Karolina’s 2nd victory in Dakhla (having previously won the event in 2013).
Karolina was patient and put together a well-constructed heat with a variety of powerful manoeuvres, including a KGB (a difficult trick seldom seen in the women’s competition). She put on a display many crowd-pleasing moves and at the end of the heat she won with a commanding lead over Gisela.
The women’s podium was completed by Bruna Kajiya (BR) on third place and Annelous Lammerts (NL) finishing fourth.
The big air event is new, but needs some tweaking, it would be fair to say the air wasn’t that big!
Big Air:
Kitesurf Legend Kevin Langeree (NL) claimed victory today at the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Big Air competition battling in 25 knots winds and a field of the world’s best riders to take out the first event of the 2015 VKWC season.
Langeree’s “go-for-broke” approach in the Final saw the star achieve the highest scores of the entire event, showcasing commitment, strength and confidence. Marc Jacobs (NZ) powerful riding style earned him a second spot in the podium followed by young Hawaiian Jesse Richman (US), and Oswald Smith (ZA).
Gisela Pulido (ES) dominated the big air discipline proving as she did in Tarifa 2014 that she knows how to go big. A close second was earned by Hanna Whiteley (UK) who deserves the title of most improved rider of the 2015 season. Annelous Lammerts and Therese Taabbel earned third and fourth respectively
It’s great to see the wave event being looked after properly!
Wave:
On Tuesday perfect wind and wave conditions enabled strong heats at the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Wave competition in Dakhla. The wave discipline winners are Jalou Langeree and Keahi de Aboitiz. Both of them fought their way to the final where Jalou was able to win against Moona Whyte and Keahi managed to succeed against Pedro Henrique. The women’s podium was completed by Ines Correira on third place, and Kari Schibevaag finishing fourth. Sebastian Ribiero became third on the men’s mini final after winning against Mitu Monteiro who finished fourth.
Over the course of two weeks in magical Dakhla we had near perfect conditions for all disciplines for an excellent first event of the 2015 Virgin Kitesurf World Championships.
Photos: Hugo Valente
Tue 31st Mar, 2015 @ 1:43 pm
