Carlos Mario And Slingshot RPM Win World Title
Fri 23rd Dec, 2016 @ 3:00 am
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The uber-talented Brazilian, Carlos Mario, has clinched his first world title. Mario’s riding is undoubtedly a glimpse into the future of freestyle kiteboarding. Read the news below, from Slingshot Sports, about Mario’s achievement.
Carlos Mario’s dream of becoming a world champion has finally come true. With a final win in New Caledonia Dec. 14-20, the humble Brazilian prodigy and Slingshot team rider secured the inaugural World Kiteboarding League championship over a packed field of the best freestyle kiteboarders on the planet.
Although a lifetime achievement for Mario, the win didn’t come as much of a surprise for the rest of the field, or anyone who had witnessed him compete throughout the series. Mario’s jaw-dropping amplitude and technical ability went unmatched by any other rider, and as the series went on, it became obvious that Mario was setting a new standard for the future of competitive freestyle kiteboarding.
“When we talk about Carlos Mario, the reaction is always the same- a shake of the head and an utter disbelief for his savage talent,” said Alex Fox, Slingshot Kiteboarding brand manager. “Mario’s pursuit for the title hasn’t been easy. He comes from the humblest of origins and has faced a plethora of challenges on his road to victory. The fact that he overcame such adversity makes his victory even sweeter.”
Over the last few years Mario has shown an uncanny ability to not only progress technically, but to evolve as a competitor and manage the often unseen challenges of traveling the world tour. He joined the tour three years ago, as a wide-eyed teenager who had hardly traveled outside of his home village of Cauipe Lagoon.
“The challenge for a young rider like Mario is not limited to simply learning more tricks,” Fox said. “It’s also learning how to compete on a world stage. He has gone from an inexperienced rookie to the future of competitive freestyle kiteboarding. It has long been his dream to win the world title, and the fulfillment of that dream has made everyone at Slingshot proud.”
Mario competes with the Slingshot RPM kite and Vision board. Slingshot teammate Youri Zoon, who has two world titles under his belt, finished runner-up in the series and was on Mario’s heels at each contest. Zoon also uses the RPM.
WKL action picks back up in April with the first contest of the 2017 season scheduled for April 11-17 in Leucate, France. More info at http://www.worldkiteboardingleague.com
