American takes World title in Youth Olympic Games test

It was rather complicated just getting to the 2017 TT:R Youth Slalom World Championships but the stakes were high and 54 young kiteboarders from 11 countries that travelled to the paradise-like beach of Barra Grande on the north corner of Brazil.

On the table was the world championship title, some valuable practice and experience in the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) format, and the chance to earn extra berths for their country in the YOG qualifying events in early 2018.

With racing on November 27 to December 1, Barra Grande rewarded the racers with warm strong winds on a golden sandy beach and an excellent event organization. Challenging conditions ensured fast runs, high jumps and a lot of fun for the competitors, who seemed to come back after every heat with huge smiles on their face.

Just one rider from the USA was enough to bring the title to the country where kiteboarding first appeared.

15 years old Cameron Maramenides from North Carolina went kiting for the first time when he was just months old on his dad’s Dimitris’ shoulders. At the age of two he was standing on Dimitris’ board and at four he was riding his own board with a tiny kite, unhooked.

When his dad got a custom-made harness for him at the age of six, Cameron thought it was easy!
He has been freestyling since then until last June, when his stepmom Helen read something about the YOG and they decided to give it a go.

Support but also expectations for performance in school are the norm and Cameron ‘just’ made it to the Worlds, after scoring the ‘required’ grades in the first semester. Once he got to Barra Grande though, everything went his way.

He got a big lead with four first places in the first two days and that afforded him a few mistakes and tangles in the following days.

Final results: Boys – Girls

The next challenge for Cameron, as with many of the competitors in the event, will be to get a spot to compete in the YOG. With only 12 boys and 12 girls allowed, the intensity will continue through the qualification events.

YOG qualification events
North and South America: Cabarette, DOM, January 15-20 2018
Europe and Africa: Dakhla, MAR, February 20-25 2018
Asia and Oceania: Pranburi, THA, March 13-18 2018
2018 TT:R Youth Slalom World Championships: Boao, CHN, April 10-15 2018 (TBC)

Buenos Aires will host the third Olympic Summer Youth Games. It is a multi-sport event, accompanied by an educational and cultural program. Young people between 15 and 18 years old will compete in 28 sports. Approximately 3800 participants from 206 countries are expected in October 2018.

More information about IKA TwinTip:Racing Class: www.twintipracing.com