Nocher and Bridge crowned 2014 Formula Kite World Champions

Istanbul, Turkey (August 25, 2014) – Maxime Nocher (FRA, North) and Steph Bridge (GBR, North) have won the 2014 Formula Kite World Titles.

On the final day of competition in Burc Beach, Istanbul/Turkey, 4 medal races were run in both mens and womens fleets, in perfect conditions and winds averaging 12-15 knots.

Oliver Bridge (GBR, North) was on fire today after yesterdays equipment upset, winning all 4 medal races and earning himself the bronze medal in this years world championships, while Nocher had a commanding 14 point lead after the opening series and played it safe, staying out of trouble and finishing 5-3-5-7 to stay 3 points ahead of Silver Medallist Riccardo Leccese (ITA, ML/Ozone) who barely defended a 1 point lead over Bridge with a 3-2-2-2 score today.

In the womens fleet, Bridge won 3 out of 4 medal races, and extended her 3 point lead after the opening series. Last years world champion Erika Heineken (USA, ML/Ozone) dropped her kite in race 3 and could not finish the race, and with that 11 points on the scoreboard dropped down to third place. 17 year old Elena Kalinina (RUS, TMV/Elf) scored a solid 3-3-2-2 getting her up into second place.

Three more Gold Fleet races were run after the conclusion of the medal races, with Florian Trittel (ESP, UC/Ozone) claiming first place on a 2-1-1 score, Maks Zakowski (POL, UC/Ozone) coming second, and Torrin Bright (NZL, UC/Ozone) in third.

Prizes were awarded in front of thousands of spectators in the evening, before an impressive beach party finished off this years world championships.

MEN:
1. Maxime Nocher (FRA, North) – 34 pts
2. Riccardo Leccese (ITA, ML/Ozone) – 37 pts
3. Oliver Bridge (GBR, North) – 38 pts
4. Blazej Ozog (POL, North) – 52 pts
5. Florian Gruber (GER, UC/Ozone) – 57.8 pts

WOMEN:
1. Steph Bridge (GBR, North) – 21 pts
2. Elena Kalinina (RUS, TMV/Elf) – 29 pts
3. Erika Heineken (USA, ML/Ozone) – 37.7 pts
4. Aga Grzymska (POL, ML/Ozone) – 50 pts
5. Astrid Berz (SUI, ML/Ozone) – 59 pts

Full Results

Report by Event Media