Event Overview
From December 12 to 16, 2018, the final stop of the 2018 GKA Kite-Surf World Tour was held at Point Danger in Torquay, Victoria, Australia. The event featured the Kite-Surf discipline, combining Wave Riding and Strapless Freestyle, and served as the critical title-deciding stage for the 2018 World Champions.
Location and Conditions
The competition was characterized by the challenging conditions typical of Torquay, the starting point of the Great Ocean Road and a world-renowned surfing mecca. Competitors faced cold water, strong winds, and heavy, powerful Southern Ocean swells. As event commentator Jo Ciastula noted, one could truly feel the rich surfing heritage of the country, making Torquay a fitting stage for the finals.
The early stages of the event were plagued by a lack of wind and waves, halting the main event on Day 1. Day 3 saw only light onshore winds, making for highly tricky conditions. However, Day 4 delivered a dramatic shift for the finals. The grueling nature of the day, which started at 5:00 AM, and its cinematic conclusion were perfectly captured from the scene:
“We’ve been here since five o’clock in the morning. We’ve gone all the way through the day. We’ve had clouds, we’ve had rain, turning into the sun, ending up with beautiful conditions with a perfect sunset, really nice Cross Offshore way for the finals.”
— Jo Ciastula
Format and Participating Riders
After days of waiting, the relief among the competitors was palpable once the wind finally arrived. Keahi de Aboitiz expressed his thoughts on getting back on the water:
“Stoked to finally get on the water, it’s been a lot of waiting the last few days but finally had a little bit of wind, it’s been pretty tough… stoked to have a heat, have a decent heat and get through one.”
— Keahi de Aboitiz
Highlights and Iconic Matchups
Numerous local Australian riders who know the waves intimately joined the event, challenging the international elite fighting for the world title. Local rider Bo Pilgrim put on a highly praised, spectacular show for the spectators.
The perfect Cross Offshore wind that formed at dusk beautifully groomed the wave faces, allowing for ultimate Wave Riding. Catching this wave perfectly, Keahi de Aboitiz displayed outstanding control in critical sections, scoring an 8.1—the highest score of the entire event. The heats deciding the World Champion were shrouded in intense suspense until the very last moment as the beautiful sun set.
Show Event Results (Spoiler Alert)
Men’s Event Results
- 1st Place: Keahi de Aboitiz
- 2nd Place: Airton Cozzolino
Women’s Event Results
- 1st Place: Jalou Langeree
- 2nd Place: Carla Herrera Oria
- 3rd Place: Johanna-Catharina Edin
- 4th Place: Jenny Milton
2018 GKA Kite-Surf World Champions
- Men: Airton Cozzolino
- Women: Jalou Langeree