Overview
“If the wind doesn’t blow, there’s no competition.” In a sport that pits athletes against Mother Nature, the 2019 season was exceptionally cruel, dramatic, and beautiful.
This year, the previously separate “Freestyle” and “Kite-Surf (Wave & Strapless)” tours merged under the single banner of the GKA. However, what fans witnessed was far from a peaceful integration. It was an epic saga of reigning champions defending their pride, unpredictable violence from nature, and the continuous emergence of extraordinary mavericks.
First Half: Nature’s Fury and the Rise of Rising Stars
2019 Cape Verde
The tour kicked off at Ponta Preta, where perfect waves curled over an exposed, shallow reef. Right from the start, a massive upset occurred as reigning champion Airton Cozzolino was defeated by James Carew. However, Airton fought his way back to the finals through the double elimination. Waiting for him was local legend Mitu Monteiro, who secured a massive 9.2 on a single wave, riding a huge barrel to defend Cape Verde’s honor. Amidst a fierce environment described by commentators as “the Brazil of the surfing world right now, a breeding ground where rippers feed off each other,” Moona Whyte took the women’s title. Meanwhile, Ines Correia displayed incredible tenacity, battling her way through the double elimination to snatch 2nd place.
2019 Leucate
For the first time in the event’s 23-year history, an abnormal “southerly rainstorm” struck. In a hellish sea where riders “disappeared behind the spray the moment they unhooked,” absolute champion Carlos Mario gritted out a survival victory. On the women’s side, Italy’s Francesca Bagnoli pulled off a massive upset by defeating the undefeated queen, Mikaili Sol.
2019 Gran Canaria & 2019 Sylt
In stark contrast to the previous storm, riders were now mocked by the despair of “no wind.” In Gran Canaria, the men’s freestyle division was mercilessly cut short due to fickle winds, ending in an unprecedented situation where “all top 8 riders tied for 1st place.” At the following event in the chilly North Sea of Sylt, the women’s Kite-Surf division saw all top 3 seeds absent. While commentators noted that “the absence of the top 3 actually highlights their presence,” Spain’s Carla Herrera Oria seized this golden opportunity, dominating the field to claim a flawless victory.
2019 Tarifa
Although intended as a mega-event hosting both disciplines, Tarifa was plagued by a heatwave that brought a complete lack of wind. In the Kite-Surf division, heavyweights like Airton sank one after another. Laughing in the face of this dreadful light wind was Spain’s “Eel,” Kiko Roig. Stating, “My home Valencia is also always like this, so it’s perfect,” he brilliantly broke into the top 8. Meanwhile, in the barely-progressing Freestyle division, young Cohan van Dijk, who would later lead the kiteboarding world, was baptized by fire in a heat packed with top pros.
2019 Fuerteventura
The conditions completely flipped to a “washing machine” of rough seas with gusts exceeding 35 knots. Amidst a brutal survival battle where women’s queen Mikaili injured her ear and bled, Adeuri Corniel overpowered the gale with sheer strength to claim his first victory. Meanwhile, in the Big Air event that combined twin-tip and strapless riders, South African maverick Oswald Smith (Ozzy) boldly declared, “Everyone can bring their own flavor,” and went on a rampage, leading his team to a spectacular victory.
Mid-Season: The Title Race Picture
Past the halfway mark of the 10-stop tour, the title race had reached a point of extreme tension heading into the final events.
- Kite-Surf Division: In the men’s, defending champion Airton Cozzolino led the pack, but was fiercely chased by Mitu Monteiro and Australian beast James Carew. In the women’s, with top riders making spot appearances or missing events, Carla Herrera Oria, who competed in every stop with incredible consistency, was pulling away into a solo lead.
- Freestyle Division: The men’s race, initially thought to be a duel between Carlos Mario and Adeuri Corniel, turned into a chaotic four-way battle as Maxime Chabloz and 17-year-old Valentin Rodriguez rapidly racked up points. In contrast, Adeuri showed no signs of pressure, radiating confidence as he declared, “I came here to have fun. Even if I don’t get the world champion this year, I’m gonna be the next one because I’ll get even stronger. So I’m not scared of anything.” On the women’s side, absolute queen Mikaili Sol defended her lead, but returning veteran Bruna Kajiya and rising stars threatened her throne.
Second Half: Champion’s Pride and Extraordinary Mavericks
2019 Mauritius
With a record-breaking 90+ entries, the event turned into a bloody battle over the sharp, shallow reefs of the deadly “Belombre” break. Holland’s Jalou Langeree returned from a severe herniated disc to claim a cinematic victory. In the men’s Kite-Surf, James Carew secured his long-awaited first victory, roaring, “Now I’m the world champion. I’m going for two in a row, three, four, five in a row. Let’s go!”
But the biggest madness came from Ozzy. Right after pulling off a giant-killing by defeating heavy favorite Mitu in the wave division, he abruptly entered the freestyle division after a spot opened up. Armed with massive airs honed in South Africa, the home of KOTA (Red Bull King of the Air), he obliterated professional freestylers using a “borrowed twin-tip,” reaching the top 8 and leaving the world stunned by his extraordinary talent.
2019 Dakhla
Dakhla saw the clash of legends’ souls. In the Freestyle division, 2014 World Champion Christophe Tack suddenly returned to the scene, defeating current top riders like Maxime to break into the final 4. However, tragedy also struck. Absolute champion Mario crashed heavily on the landing of a “Slim 7,” forcing him to withdraw from the competition. Capitalizing on this, 17-year-old Valentin claimed his first victory.
In the Women’s Kite-Surf, British legend and wildcard Kirsty Jones suddenly appeared and stole the win, smiling as she said, “It’s very emotional. It makes me want to practice freestyle too.”
2019 Prea
A paradise spot where strong winds blow like a hairdryer every day. Local French-raised Camille Delannoy engaged in a death match, pushing champion Airton to a razor-thin margin of “just 1.57 points.” But what shocked the world most was 15-year-old Mikaili Sol. With only two weeks of strapless practice, she suddenly entered the Kite-Surf division and scored back-to-back 9s from day one to win the event flawlessly, delivering the shock of a “dual-wielder.”
Also here, Carla Herrera Oria, who clawed her way up from poverty in Tarifa, secured the annual queen title. The commentator praised her monumental achievement, saying, “A girl who didn’t even know what a wave was, pushed herself, and is now a pioneer of this extreme sport.”
2019 Cumbuco
The final stop for the Freestyle division. Local hero and absolute champion Carlos Mario was heartbreakingly absent due to his injury in Dakhla. On the beach, a memorial service was held in tears for his brother, the late Carlos Madsen.
As if to shake off the sorrow, 11-year-old prodigy Davi Ribeiro, raised in the local lagoon, electrified the venue. Showing absolutely no fear against the world’s top pros, he landed a perfect “Hinterberger 5” to advance, showing the world the bright future of Cumbuco.
However, the women’s final saw a gruesome accident when invading regular surfers caused Bruna Kajiya’s knee to be deeply slashed. Mikaili, who rushed to rescue her, fell into a panic, bringing the event to a chaotic climax.
The Final Trick for the Annual Champion (Detailed Results / Spoilers)
The men’s freestyle showdown in Cumbuco came down to a final duel between Adeuri Corniel and the 17-year-old Valentin Rodriguez, who had been fiercely chasing him. It was literally a battle where “whoever places higher in this final becomes the annual champion.”
While Adeuri pushed him to the absolute limit with a staggering score of 9.73, Valentin staked everything on his one remaining attempt. He unleashed a flawless “Heart Attack 7.” The scoreboard lit up with a “9.63,” marking the exact moment the 17-year-old new champion was born. With a beautiful scene of the defeated Adeuri immediately rushing to embrace and congratulate his best friend, the turbulent 2019 season came to a close.
2019 Kite-Surf Annual Final Ranking Top 3
Men
- Airton Cozzolino (Italy / Cape Verde)
- Mitu Monteiro (Cape Verde)
- James Carew (Australia)
Women
- Carla Herrera Oria (Spain)
- Charlotte Carpentier (France)
- Johanna-Catharina Edin (Sweden)
2019 Freestyle Annual Final Ranking Top 3
Men
- Valentin Rodriguez (Colombia)
- Adeuri Corniel (Dominican Republic)
- Liam Whaley (Spain)
Women
- Mikaili Sol (Brazil)
- Bruna Kajiya (Brazil)
- Pippa van Iersel (Netherlands)
Search Aliases: 2019 GKA Kite World Tour, 2019GKAKiteWorldTour, Season Wrap-Up, SeasonWrap-Up