On Wednesday, the fifth edition of the Gran Canaria Air Battle Festival kicked off at the sandy shores of Las Burras in Gran Canaria, bringing together athletes from around the world to compete in the last chance to qualify for the Global Wingsports Association (GWA) World Circuit and the Open Kitesurfing Championship of the Canary Islands.
Organized by the Canakite Experiences Sports Club in collaboration with the Royal Canarian Sailing Federation and the Sports and Tourism departments of the Gran Canaria Council, the festival has seen participation of around hundred athletes from over 5 different countries, including Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Morocco, and Spain.
Speaking at the official presentation, Javier Hipólito, the head judge of the competition, said, “it is the national kiteboarding event with the most participants I have seen, just like what happened in the last edition where we also exceeded a hundred athletes.” The organizer Manuel Martínez added that there are also many registered for the fan race scheduled for this Saturday and the free initiation courses in kitesurfing and wingfoil.
The festival featured the participation of some local rider favorites during the inaugural event, such as Ancor Sosa from Fuerteventura, who has just returned from the GWA Wingfoil Freestyle tour in Brasil, and Gran Canaria’s Daniela Moreno, who is already in the top 10 worldwide in the Waves category. Additionally, the youth kitesurfing world champion (sub19 Strapless), Noah Nicolas from Tarifa, and veteran kitesurfer Klaus Fietz, who has been participating since the first edition of the festival, were also present.
The Gran Canaria Air Battle will host the qualifying test for wingfoil in the Surf-Freestyle and Freefly-Slalom categories, as well as the Open Kitesurfing Championship of the Canary Islands in the Big Air (high jumps) and Strapless Freestyle (freestyle tricks in the air) classes.
In addition to hosting the competition, the festival also offers free initiation courses in kitesurfing and wingfoil, equipment giveaways, and water fun for all participants. There will also be a beach cleanup on Saturday, December 9, and a free workshop in the Strapless Freestyle technique conducted by Noah Nicolas.
The councilor for Tourism, Festivals, and Events, Yilenia Vega, welcomed the riders with a few words and expressed that this event is a “boost to the leisure and sports offerings that the municipality sorely needs.”
The Gran Canaria Air Battle Kite & Wingfoil Festival continues to maintain its essence as an event open to all ages and levels, bringing together riders from different corners of the world and offering them the opportunity to develop their skills in competitions like this.
