Julien Kerneur doing the double at Kiteboard North Americans

San Diego, CA (October 9, 2014) – The third day of the Kiteboard North American Championship found the field enjoying the beach more than the bay as light winds limited racing. The formula boards got in one heat to up their total to five races, while the kitefoil boards complted two races to now have seven overall. The schedule allows for sailors to compete in both divisions, which Julien Kerneur (FRA) has done to lead both fields. Nico Landauer (USA) is standing nearly as tall, positioned third (formula) and second (kitefoil). Racing concludes Friday, October 10. Event website.

Additional report from event media…
His fellow competitors can’t stop talking about the high tides, large surf and light winds, but back on the beach Julien Kerneur was all smiles. The French native finished first in each of the three races on the third day of the 2014 Kiteboard North American Championships. “I’m good in the light wind,” Kerneur said. Unlike many of the fellow competitors used to racing in winds of at least 12 kts, Kerneur says he is very comfortable with the lighter breezes that have been present throughout the competition. “I practice in these conditions, so it’s familiar. Without the kelp on the course today is very clean racing. It’s easy for me to look and take the speed.”

Today’s race course was mostly kelp-free, a welcome sight to the many athletes who have spent the past two days getting tangled in the patches of green. “Once you get out there, it’s about as perfect as you can ask for,” Leif Given said after competing in the day’s two kitefoil races. Unfortunately for the kiteboarders, the breezes became patchy in the early afternoon and the Organizing Authority suspended all racing after the boards completed their first race of the day.

Those hoping to knock Kerneur out of his first place spots, which he currently holds in both kitefoils and kiteboards, will be crossing their fingers for stronger winds tomorrow. One of those hopefuls is British kiter Oliver Bridge, currently sitting in fourth for kitefoils and second for kiteboards. Bridge is no stranger to the top of the scoreboard, having recently won the 2014 Formula Kite European Championship in Poland.

After today’s racing, competitors in both fleets became eligible to throw out their lowest scores.