Overview
The 2019 GKA Freestyle World Cup Fuerteventura was held in Sotovento on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura, as part of the historic 34th annual Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup. The event served as an official stop for the freestyle discipline on the GKA, bringing together the world’s best riders for a spectacular showdown.
Location and Conditions
Competitors faced nuking, gusty conditions with wind speeds of 30 to 35 knots and gusts exceeding 35 knots. The women were forced into a grueling survival battle, riding their smallest 5m to 7m kites and enduring terrifying crashes.
Format and Competitors
The official main event, which awarded world tour ranking points, was strictly a single-discipline “Twin-Tip Freestyle” competition. Meanwhile, professional strapless riders were specially invited as exhibition guests purely for the accompanying “Big Air Invitational” and “Best Trick Super Session.” This fresh approach of blending twin-tip and strapless riders successfully thrilled the crowds.
Highlights and Showdowns
In the Men’s division, the Dominican Republic’s Adeuri Corniel, also known as “La Pantera Negra” (The Black Panther), fully unleashed his overwhelming physical prowess. He consistently landed powerful, spectacular tricks in the nuking winds to claim his first-ever GKA event victory, a monumental achievement. Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz closely followed in 2nd place, while Italy’s Gianmaria Coccoluto secured 3rd.
The Women’s division saw major upsets. The previously invincible queen, Mikaili Sol, suffered an ear injury during the final heat, a massive blow that significantly affected her standings and left her in 3rd place. Demonstrating overwhelming consistency in the harsh conditions, Czech Republic’s Paula Novotná captured the first freestyle tour victory of her career, with the Netherlands’ Pippa van Iersel taking 2nd place.
During the final day’s “Best Trick Super Session,” Pippa van Iersel stole the show in the women’s division by landing a massive megaloop on a 7m kite. In the men’s twin-tip division, France’s Arthur Guillebert took the win, while Spain’s Kiko Roig Torres won the men’s strapless division. Furthermore, the “Big Air Invitational”—a mixed team event combining twin-tip and strapless riders—was won by the team consisting of Oswald Smith, Kiko Roig Torres, Joselito Del Rosario, and Reece Myerscough.
Detailed Event Results
Men’s Freestyle (Twin-Tip) Final Results
- 1st: Adeuri Corniel (Dominican Republic)
- 2nd: Maxime Chabloz (Switzerland)
- 3rd: Gianmaria Coccoluto (Italy)
- 4th: Carlos Mario (Brazil)
Women’s Freestyle (Twin-Tip) Final Results
- 1st: Paula Novotná (Czech Republic)
- 2nd: Pippa van Iersel (Netherlands)
- 3rd: Mikaili Sol (Brazil)
- 4th: Bruna Kajiya (Brazil)
Best Trick Super Session Winners
- Men’s Twin-Tip: Arthur Guillebert (France)
- Men’s Strapless: Kiko Roig Torres (Spain)
- Women’s Twin-Tip: Pippa van Iersel (Netherlands)
Big Air Invitational (Team Event) Winning Team
- Oswald Smith / Kiko Roig Torres / Joselito Del Rosario / Reece Myerscough