“I did also a good 319, I think one of the best. I took a 9.30. Yeah, man, after the landing, I did this. I don’t know why, it was automatic, but yeah, it was funny!”
Overview
Held from March 2 to 6, 2022, in Salinas del Rey on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast, the 2022 GKA Freestyle World Cup Colombia served as the opening round of the 2022 GKA Freestyle World Tour—marking the tour’s first-ever official stop in Colombia and the return to a full international competition calendar after two pandemic-shortened years. In front of a vocal Colombian crowd, the season opener delivered early quarterfinal upsets, breakout performances from pre-teen prodigies, and a fierce battle for the top of the podium.
Location and Conditions
Located near the small fishing village of Santa Veronica halfway between Barranquilla and Cartagena, Salinas del Rey made its GKA World Tour debut as one of South America’s premier wind sports destinations.
Throughout the week, steady morning breezes built into powerful 25-to-28-knot cross-shore trade winds in the afternoon. Combining flat inside water with natural outside wave kickers, the spot provided an ideal ramp for high-amplitude new-school freestyle.
Although no live broadcast stream was available on site—and event MC Jo Ciastula had to endure a 24-hour sleepless ordeal to replace a stolen passport—daily extended highlight reels captured the electric Caribbean atmosphere for fans worldwide.
Format and the Rise of the Next Generation
Contested under a “100% Pure Freestyle” format counting each rider’s best four out of seven trick attempts (for a maximum of 40 points), the event welcomed defending 2021 World Champions Arthur Guillebert and four-time queen Mikaili Sol alongside 2019 World Champion Valentin Rodríguez and fellow Colombian charger Juan Rodriguez.
The opening rounds also spotlighted the remarkable youth movement in freestyle kiteboarding, led by 11-year-old Brazilian Pierfrancesco Rizzello and 12-year-old German Finn Flügel, who went toe-to-toe with seasoned veterans in nuking winds by throwing down powered “Backside 313s” and “Backmobes.”
Highlights and Epic Battles
An All-Colombian Clash and Defending Champion Arthur Guillebert’s Quarterfinal Exit
In Men’s Round 3 (where heat winners advanced directly to the quarterfinals), 2019 World Champion Valentin Rodríguez clashed with compatriot Juan Rodriguez in an all-Colombian showdown. Having spent over 30 days training three sessions a day in Cabo de la Vela prior to the event, Juan Rodriguez rode with rock-solid kite control to defeat Valentin Rodríguez by just under two points (while Valentin Rodríguez fought back through Round 4 to reach the quarterfinals).
“You just hear the people cheering for you when you’re going for the trick. It really feels super nice. I’m really proud of everybody who made this event happen here in Colombia for the first time… Of course I’m so happy because I’m training really hard in Cabo de la Vela before time, more than 30 days, training three sessions all the time.”
— Juan Rodriguez
When the wind cranked to 25–28 knots for the Men’s Quarterfinals (Round 5), riders boosted massive airs on 9-meter kites.
In Quarterfinal Heat 1, Switzerland’s Maxime Chabloz landed a stylish “Seatbelt Mobe 5” (7.33 pts) on his way to a 30.43-point heat win, while Dominican powerhouse Luis Alberto Cruz launched a sky-high “Slim Chance 9” that judge Sam Medysky called the biggest move of the day. In the subsequent heats, local hero Juan Rodriguez advanced alongside Brazil’s Manoel Soares, and four-time World Champion Carlos Mario booked his spot in the final four.
The biggest shockwave arrived in the final quarterfinal heat, which pitted reigning 2021 World Champion Arthur Guillebert against Italy’s Gianmaria Coccoluto and 2019 World Champion Valentin Rodríguez. After Valentin Rodríguez stomped a clean “Frontside 319” for 9.00 points, Gianmaria Coccoluto immediately answered off an outside kicker with a massive “Frontside 319” of his own to earn the highest single score of the tournament—a 9.30. With Gianmaria Coccoluto and Valentin Rodríguez locking out the top two advancing spots, defending champion Arthur Guillebert was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Women’s Semifinals and a 3-Against-1 Final Lineup
In the women’s semifinals, Spain’s Rita Arnaus pulled off a last-second “S-Mobe” in Heat 1 to overtake Suami Cavallo and Bruna Kajiya for the heat win (with Bruna Kajiya advancing in 2nd). In Heat 2, Brazilians Estefania Rosa and Mikaili Sol defeated Spain’s Claudia León, setting up a 3-against-1 final pitting three Brazilians (Mikaili Sol, Bruna Kajiya, and Estefania Rosa) against lone European finalist Rita Arnaus.
Show Detailed Competition Results (Spoiler Alert)
“I honestly don’t really have a goal in how many world titles I want to get. I know Gisela Pulido has 11 and I only have four right now, but every single time I win it’s just like more motivation for me to get better and keep going and like keep pushing the sport. So I really just see winning as like stepping up the game basically.”
— Mikaili Sol
The Women’s Grand Final was a tight tactical battle through the opening half.
While Mikaili Sol suffered early crashes, three-time World Champion Bruna Kajiya—riding a fast 6-meter kite and landing every single attempt—linked an “S-Mobe” and a textbook “Back Mobe” to lead at the halfway mark, with Rita Arnaus sitting in 2nd ahead of Mikaili Sol after a clean “Slim Chance.”
In the second half of the heat, however, Mikaili Sol shifted into another gear. Unleashing a “Slim Chance 5,” a “315,” a “Hinterberger Mobe 5,” and a decisive 7.20-point “Backside 313” on her sixth attempt, Mikaili Sol surged to a 31.76-point total to claim the season-opening victory ahead of Bruna Kajiya (28.93 pts), Rita Arnaus (24.97 pts), and Estefania Rosa (19.67 pts).
In the men’s semifinals, Manoel Soares and Gianmaria Coccoluto knocked out Maxime Chabloz in Heat 1, while Carlos Mario and local hero Juan Rodriguez (scoring 29.70 pts with a Double Hinterberger Mobe 5, 317, and Slim Chance 7) advanced past Valentin Rodríguez in Heat 2.
In the Men’s Grand Final (Manoel Soares, Carlos Mario, Juan Rodriguez, and Gianmaria Coccoluto), Italy’s Gianmaria Coccoluto put on the most explosive aerial display of the heat. Opening with a massive 9.20-point “Slim Chance 7″—the highest single score of the final—he went all-out on every attempt. However, crashes late in the heat left him one trick short of a full four-score tally, placing him 4th with 26.51 points from just three tricks. Remarkably, his three landed maneuvers averaged an astonishing 8.84 points per trick (26.51 ÷ 3); had he landed even a basic 4-point trick (3.64 or higher) on his fourth score, he would have won the event outright—a warning shot that foreshadowed his eventual 2022 World Title.
With Gianmaria Coccoluto unable to complete his fourth score, the battle for the trophy came down to Manoel Soares, Carlos Mario, and local favorite Juan Rodriguez. Feeding off the roaring Colombian crowd, Juan Rodriguez assembled a smooth four-trick total of 29.07 points (7.27 average per trick) to claim 3rd place on home soil, while Carlos Mario stomped a massive 7.90-point “Backside 317” on his final run to finish 2nd with 29.77 points (7.44 average).
Standing atop the podium was Cumbuco standout Manoel “Piçarrinha” Soares. Competing in his first-ever GKA final, Manoel Soares landed a “Slim Chance 7,” “Frontside 319,” “Backside 317,” and “Heart Attack 5” with flawless kite control to post a 30.14-point total (7.54 average per trick) and celebrate the first GKA World Cup victory of his career.
[Men’s Division]
1st: Manoel Soares (Brazil) — 30.14 pts (4 tricks / 7.54 avg per trick)
2nd: Carlos Mario (Brazil) — 29.77 pts (4 tricks / 7.44 avg per trick)
3rd: Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) — 29.07 pts (4 tricks / 7.27 avg per trick)
4th: Gianmaria Coccoluto (Italy) — 26.51 pts (3 tricks landed / 8.84 avg per landed trick, 9.20 high)
[Women’s Division]
1st: Mikaili Sol (Brazil) — 31.76 pts (4 tricks / 7.94 avg per trick)
2nd: Bruna Kajiya (Brazil) — 28.93 pts (4 tricks / 7.23 avg per trick)
3rd: Rita Arnaus (Spain) — 24.97 pts (4 tricks / 6.24 avg per trick)
4th: Estefania Rosa (Brazil) — 19.67 pts (4 tricks / 4.92 avg per trick)
Search Aliases: 2022 GKA Freestyle World Cup Colombia, 2022GKAFreestyleWorldCupColombia