The Final Stop: The GKA Air Games in Fehmarn, Germany

Thu 23rd Aug, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Kitesurfing News
The Final Stop: The GKA Air Games in Fehmarn, Germany

Check out the final GKA Kiteboarding World Tour stop of the season from the 24th August in Fehmarn!

This weekend will see the final fixture of the 2018 GKA Kiteboarding World Tour kick off in Fehmarn, Germany; one of Germany’s most popular kiting destinations that have played host to some legendary kiteboarding World Tour events over the years.

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After a stunning event in Cabarete last month, where Carlos Mario topped the men’s division podium for the first time this season, Jesse Richman still holds the overall lead but there are only 33 points between him and Carlos who was near-faultless in both the single and double elimination finals.

The GKA Cabarete podium placers / Photo: Genesis Reyes

Whichever of the riders wins in Fehmarn will take the title so it’s going to be a tense event for them both!

Jesse’s been ultra-strong at the last two events in Tarifa and Cabarete, and the mixture of big air and technical freestyle that this tour demands of the riders certainly suits his riding style, but a summer event in Europe could potentially spell light winds and Jesse himself will tell you that ‘Bebe’ can really pull ahead in those conditions so it’s going to be a tight one!

Jesse in Tarifa / Photo: Toby Bromwich

Posito Martinez, who’s 99 points behind Carlos in third after a strong event at home in Cabarete, would also have a shot at the title if Carlos was to finish fourth or lower and if Jesse was to only get as far as sixth place in Fehmarn.

There are other riders with potential routes to a podium finish as well. Nicolas Delmas, who has been very consistent this season to retain fourth overall, and Maxime Chabloz who managed second place in Tarifa could both still finish 2018 in third if things go their way.

Maxime Chabloz going HUGE during a tow-up session in Leucate / Photo: Toby Bromwich

In the women’s division, Mikaili Sol, Hannah Whiteley, and Pippa Van Iersel have all been unshakable in first, second and third respectively and Mikaili and Hannah have met in three final heats so far with Mika taking the win each time.

However, with Hannah holding such a tight grip on second, there are now only 66 points between her and first place and she could still clinch the title at the last minute if Mika was to finish third or lower.

Mikaili Sol – triple front roll / Photo: Genesis Reyes

There’s no clear indication that that’ll happen though. Mika’s been very consistent this season and the five-time Junior World Champion has proven that she can perform under pressure too but she doesn’t have Hannah’s experience on a full-scale professional freestyle tour and so an overall victory for her in the women’s division is far from a done deal just yet!

So it’s all still to play for in Fehmarn this month and neither of our current tour leaders is going to have an easy run at securing their World Titles if their fellow competitors have anything to say about it!