Mexico to launch KiteFoil Gold Cup 2015

Hydrofoiling Kiteboards will be on display at the world’s premier sailing destinations beginning in March 2015. Marking the second year of the KiteFoil Gold Cup tour, kiteboard racing has gained popularity with a variety of athletes. Sailboat racers, trick riders, and speed demons have gravitated toward this fleet due to its raw performance and good natured competition.

The 2015 tour will be comprised of four stops including: La Ventana Mexico, San Francisco USA, Townsville Australia, and a European event to be announced shortly. The planet’s best competitors will vie for the overall title won by Johnny Heineken (USA) on the inaugural tour in 2014.

With over seventy riders from nineteen countries, last year’s tour was highly contested as a different sailor won each of the three tour stops. Rapid development of equipment and athleticism have enabled these sailors to perform at speeds which rival the finest America’s Cup sailing yachts.

Californian sailor Joey Pasquali has been training against Oracle’s turbo foiling AC45 in San Francisco Bay. “We’re (foilboards) a touch faster up the track and they’re (AC45 Turbo) a touch faster off the breeze,” observed Pasquali.

The tour is run under the guidance of the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and Technical Director Robbie Dean. IKA has partnered with Playa Central Beach Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, and Townsville Sailing Club to provide the backbone for each of the events. A French tour stop had originally been in the planning but unfortunate circumstances inside the French federations prohibited a tour stop in the motherland of hydrofoiling kiteboards.

2015 Schedule
March 24-28, La Ventana, Mexico
TBD, Europe
July 30-August 2, San Francisco, USA
October 8-13, Townsville, Australia

Hydrofoiling Kiteboard statistics:
Top Speed: 42.8 knots
Upwind speed: 21 knots
Downwind Speed: 32 knots
Upwind VMG: 14 knots
Downwind VMG: 20 knots
Sailors: Top notch

Information regarding the KiteFoil Gold Cup tour can be found at www.kitefoilgoldcup.com

Report by IKA.