Kiteboarding has now become Kite Foilboarding

Hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club on October 11-13, the three day Kite Foilboard California State Championship featured a full variety of wind and water conditions on San Francisco Bay. The race management team set up a straight forward windward/leeward track and let the sailors go at it.

“The only sound you hear on the race course is hissing foils, the whistle of the kite lines, and the howling laughter of the sailor,” regatta Chair Jim Kiriakis explains from the mark set boat.

With recent developments in lifting foils, the class is moving at a rapid pace, and the sailors are moving fast too. “This is the fastest we’ve ever gone and we’re just getting started,” says kiteboarding legend Adam Koch. “The development of an open high-performance class like this is essential for our sport. We’ve always been pushing at front end of design and performance. Combined with the fun we’re having on the water this has to be one of the most exciting fleets in the world.”

Sailing in a field of 19 of the world’s best kite foilers, American Johnny Heineken proves once again that he is the fastest man on the racecourse. After winning back to back Kiteboard Course Racing World Championship titles, Heineken made the move to the burgeoning Kite Foilboard Class. And he is crushing that too, winning 10 of the 12 races to take the title.

Top competitors and foil designers traveled from Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii to further test and develop their technology. It is certain there will be larger, more significant events as early as next year on the San Francisco Bay.

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