Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024 - Winners crowned after finals' drama

by Ian MacKinnon 19 Nov 02:28 NZDT 12-15 November 2024

Switzerland's Maxime Chabloz broke his losing streak when he got his first victory at the Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe, while Bruna Kajiya made it back-to-back wins in front of ecstatic home fans in Brazil.

Chabloz had been feeling the strain of a run of consecutive second places and feared the win might never happen. But in the final he clinched an emotional victory with a perfect 10-point trick.

"I can't believe it," said Chabloz. "I'm really speechless. It's been a really tough, tough journey. It's four or five second places in a row and I almost stopped believing in it. It's really tough to keep in there mentally. I've worked really hard to get there. But I'm happy."

Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

Reigning world champion Kajiya now has consecutive wins that put her in the driving seat to retain her crown. But in Brazil she was savouring her victory on home waters before her adoring following.

"I don't have words to describe how I feel," said Kajiya. "This is a dream for me. Competing in Cauipe is a dream for me, and winning at home, there is nothing like it. Winning with Brazilian people; the feeling you get, the support you get, the energy you get—it's the pinnacle of sport and I get to live it. So I'm super-happy."

The closing day of the Cauipe world cup was finely poised with only the semi-finals and finals left to settle who would take the honours at the second of three scheduled Freestyle stops on the calendar.

Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

Buzzing grandstand

The first men's semi-final could have been the final on another day. Egypt's Karim Mahmoud faced off against former world champions Arthur Guillebert (FRA) and Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA), with Maxime Chabloz in the mix.

Mahmoud could not match the fireworks of his earlier heats. Even a big 9.33 for a Backside to Blind was not enough to get him over the line and he finished fourth. Coccoluto had a chequered heat despite some big tricks—and made his way out.

Chabloz was his usual precise and powered self, landing a massive Back Mobe 7 that the judges awarded 9.27, that was enough to take him forward. Guillebert opened with a big 8.63 for a Heart Attack and built with a 9.53 for a Front Blind Mobe 5 that saw him advace.

By comparison the second semi-final was a muted affair between France's Valentin Garat, Leo Verrecchia (AUS), Finn Flügel (GER) and 16-year-old local hero, Davi Ribeiro. The biggest surprise was Ribeiro. He opened with two massive moves, including 9.1 for a KGB7, before his inexperience told and the wheels came off to end his run.

Garat did enough with his Slim Chance for 7.9 to advance to the final along with Flügel. The German teenager's solid tricks that included a 7.6 for a Blind Heart Attack 5 earned him the win.

The men's final set Cauipe's grandstand buzzing with anticipation. Maxime Chabloz was matched with Valentin Garat, Arthur Guillebert and Finn Flügel. But nerves seemed to get the better of the athletes and it was a patchy encounter studded with crashes.

Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024 day 3 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

Did the damage

Garat put down a big 8.03 for a Slim Chance, but struggled for any consistency and ended in fourth. Flügel kept himself in the hunt with a 7.57 for a KGB7. But his biggest move, a massive Combo, went awry at the end and his kite finished in the restaurants. He took third place.

The real fight was a straight battle between Chabloz and Guillebert. Guillebert had the edge until deep in the heat. A Front Blind Mobe 5 for 9.07 appeared to do the damage, but he could not close it out.

"For sure I wanted to win, so it's a bit hard right now," said Guillebert. "But I'm happy because I injured my knee in Dunkerque a few months ago and I'm not 100 percent right now. I wanted the win, but this is good for the rest of the season."

Chabloz built on a perfect 10-point ride for a Back Mobe 7. The Swiss rider rider closed out the heat with a 7.9 for a Heart Attack 7 that gave him the win by a fraction of a point. It was the first world cup win of his career and put him joint top of the rankings.

The women's semi-finals were high-stakes affairs. Kaya Lehmann (GER) put together a solid heat that booked her a slot in her second successive final. Italy's Francesca Bagnoli threw down a massive Heart Attack for 8.23 in an otherwise spotty heat, but advanced.

The big guns, Spain's Rita Arnaus and local favourite Bruna Kajiya, faced off in the other semi-final. Arnaus was assured and consistent, knocking down some decent-scoring tricks, including a 6.6 for a Slim Chance.

Copa Kitley GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Cauipe 2024 - photo © Svetlana Romantsova

'Hard fight through injuries'

But Kajiya was relentless, landing every trick attempt and just going bigger and bigger. Her 9.0 for a Combo, followed by 7.7 for a Pete Rose added to another enormous 32.63 heat total.

The final in the strong breezes was a belter that pitted Rita Arnaus against Francesca Bagnoli, Kaya Lehmann and Bruna Kajiya.

Bagnoli was locked in a tussle with Arnaus. But in the end the Italian just lost out and she had to be content with third. Arnaus got her nose in front with her final trick for 6.6 that gave her second place.

"This competition has been unbelievable," said Arnaus. "Getting second place here in Cauipe, it's such a nice place. The level of all the girls is insane. I trained so hard mentally, because it's so hard to fight through the injuries. I enjoyed the final like never before and I'm super-happy."

Brazil's Bruna Kajiya was quite simply in a league of her own again. An 8.47 for a KGB was followed by an 8.23 for a Combo and 7.37 for a Front Blind that clinched the heat. In this kind of form Kajiya is untouchable and she took the victory for back-to-back season wins.