Kitesurfing is great, but attending competitions to watch the real pros perform can also be great fun and a great way to learn. And if you feel like a kiteboarder, why not take part in these competitions? We tell you more about these events.
The main competitions
If you want to attend the main kiteboarding competitions, you’ll need to budget a little. There are competitions all over the world. And for all tastes: freeride, freestyle, wakestyle, speed, long distance…
Let’s start with the competitions on the French maritime territory. In June (mid/late June), you can go to Marseille to attend the Freestyle Cup – King of Air. During the same period, the Engie Kite Tour Lorient-Gâvres takes place.
At the beginning of July, you can go to Dunkerque to watch the competitors of the Kite Boarder Cross of Dunkerque. At the beginning of September, the IKA Formula Kite European Individual Championship takes place in Montpellier. At the end of the month, you can go to La Grande Motte where the Engie Kite Tour takes place around the 25th. The end of the year is marked by the continuation of the Engie Kite with a competition at the end of October and another around mid-November. This partnership between Engie and the Fédération Française de Vol Libre does not take place every year in the same cities. In October 2022, for example, the competition took place in Saint-Jean-de-Monts and in November in Cannes (in 2021, it took place in Arcachon and Marseille). To make your best programme, you can consult the official website of the Engie Kite.
As far as Europe is concerned, several events are also very important. You can discover Spain by going to the GKA Freestyle World Cup Tarifa (end of June) and Italy at the IKA KiteFoil Word Series Gizzeria (first half of July) which takes place in Calabria. Germany hosts two competitions from mid-August: the GKA KiteSurf World Cup Germany and the GKA Hydrofoil World Cup Germany. This takes place every two years and the next events will be in 2023. At the beginning of September you will have to go even further north to see the next World Championship with the GKA KiteSurf World Cup Denmark (in 2023). While in Denmark, don’t miss the Cold Hawaii Big Air, which takes place in mid-September. It is one of the craziest kiteboarding competitions.
Then back to the “South” with the IKA KiteFoil World Series Traunsee in the second half of September on Austria’s second largest lake.
At the beginning of October, you will return to Italy to follow the competitors of the IKA KiteFoil World Series Cagliari. Then you will finish the year by attending the IKA Formula Kite Mixed Team Relay Worlds Torre Grande in Sardinia.
If you want to leave the country, you can book a trip to Madagascar to attend the Festikite in May. Pros and amateurs can challenge each other in various events. The Red Bull King of the Air event is also a must. It takes place in South Africa, more precisely in Cape Town. You have probably already seen pictures of this incredible competition.
Kiteboarding events
You can also attend important events without feeling the emotions of a race.
The Mondial du Vent is an event where you can learn more about the latest developments in your favourite sport. It takes place in April in Leucate. There are also a few competitions as a bonus.
The Paris boat show can also be an excellent idea. It takes place in the first half of December at the Parc des expositions in Versailles. Of course, there is not only kiteboarding on the spot, but it is increasingly represented and you will be able to discover other enthusiasts looking for the latest innovations to practice at best. With more than 750 exhibitors and of course the best brands in the field of kitesurfing (Duotone or Ion for example), you will have everything you need in one place, whether you are a beginner or not.
You can also visit the Defi Kite show which takes place in Gruissan (dates may vary, please enquire beforehand). As part of the Defi Wind (a well known race that takes place in May), a show has been set up to showcase all the kite brands and professionals.