GKA Big Air World Cup 2024 in Jericoacoara (BRA): New Big Air Kite World Champs crowned in Hydrofoil & Surfboard
The Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour hosted three Big Air disciplines – TwinTip, Hydrofoil, and Surfboard – on the shores of Jericoacoara, Brazil, from November 5th to 9th.
Making its debut at this iconic Brazilian kiteboarding spot, a total of 57 athletes competed for world champion titles in the Surfboard and Hydrofoil disciplines, while the TwinTip division featured a regular World Cup event, counting towards the 2025 season.the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Ibiraquera, Brazil, kicks off with a stop-start day at the iconic left-hand beach-break. Although the competition has yet to begin, the first day is still put to great use with the celebration of the opening ceremony and two heats of the opening round of the men’s competition were completed.
Hydrofoil Big Air:
The new World Champions in the Hydrofoil Big Air category are Swiss Andrea Zust and Charles Brodel from France, who claims his sixth title in Brazil. Zust and Brodel are both dominating their respective finals. Completing the women’s podium are Katerina Salandova (CZE) in 2nd andFrancesca Maini (GBR) in 3rd place, while in the men’s it’s Alex Soto (DOM – 2nd place) and Finn Flügel (GER – 3rd place).
Big Air Surfboard:
Australia’s James Carew retains his Surfboard Big Air world champion title after coming back from a year-long injury break. Spaniard Lorenzo Casati (ESP) in 2nd place and Keanu Merten from Germany in 3rd are tough rivals in the final, but favourite Carew is able to hold them off.
Big Air TwinTip:
Young Brazilian Mikaili Sol takes the win in the women’s TwinTip discipline, the only category which is counting towards the overall rankings of next year. On her final trick she scores a perfect 10, leaving Alice Ruggiu (ITA – 2nd place) and Pippa van Iersel (NED – 3rd place) behind. Edgar Ulrich from France claims his first ever Big Air World Cup event victory, giving him a great starting position to continue at the next Big Air events in 2025. Lorenzo Casati (ESP – 2nd place) and Finn Flügel (GER – 3rd place) are his closest rivals for the next stops.
| Results Hydrofoil Big Air Men | Results Hydrofoil Big AirWomen | Results Big Air SurfboardMen | Results Big Air TwinTipMen | Results TwinTip Women | |
| 1 | Charles Brodel (FRA) | 1 | Andrea Zust (SUI) | 1 | James Carew (AUS) | 1 | Edgar Ulrich (FRA) | 1 | Mikaili Sol (BRA) | |
| 2 | Alex Soto (DOM) | 2 | Katerina Salandova (CZE) | 2 | Lorenzo Casati (ESP) | 2 | Lorenzo Casati (ESP) | 2 | Alice Ruggiu (ITA) | |
| 3 | Finn Flügel (GER) | 3 | Francesca Maini (GBR) | 3 | Keanu Merten (GER) | 3 | Finn Flügel (GER) | 3 | Pippa van Iersel (NED) |
