Overview
“I was definitely in tricky conditions, but you know, I love new spots, I love the challenge, And although I competed a lot, every win is like so unique.”
Serving as the season opener for 2026, this event marked the first time the GKA Kite World Tour hosted a competition in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. As an emerging market for kite sports, the local community showed immense enthusiasm and support for the event.
Location and Conditions
Nuevo Nayarit debuted as a new destination on the GKA tour, welcoming the world’s top riders. Despite encountering choppy and tricky water conditions at times, the athletes adapted to the environment and executed highly technical freestyle tricks.
Format and Participating Riders
The competition featured 15 men and 8 women. The men’s division saw finalists Finn Flügel, Arthur Guillebert, Maxime Chabloz, and Leo Verracchia, joined by Davi Ribeiro, Karim Mahmoud, and Japan’s Hironobu Nakano, forming a deep and competitive fleet. Anthar Racca also drew significant attention, thrilling the crowd with massive airs. In the women’s division, reigning queen Bruna Kajiya, Claudia León, and Martyna Konkel were joined by local Mexican rider Aleksa Sanchez, sparking intense battles on the water.
Highlights
In the women’s division, Bruna Kajiya, who already holds multiple world titles, posted dominant scores from the very first heat and never relinquished her lead, claiming a decisive victory in the season opener. Additionally, local wildcard Aleksa Sanchez achieved the incredible feat of advancing to the final with the support of her home crowd, securing an impressive 4th place finish.
The men’s final was fiercely contested, with each rider hungry for a win in the grueling conditions. Arthur Guillebert threatened the top spot with a massive 9-point score, but Finn Flügel answered with an outstanding 32.37 points, refusing to back down and sealing a spectacular victory.
Show Detailed Competition Results (Spoiler Alert)
[Men’s Division]
1st: Finn Flügel (GER)
2nd: Arthur Guillebert (FRA)
3rd: Maxime Chabloz (SUI)
4th: Leo Verracchia (AUS)
[Women’s Division]
1st: Bruna Kajiya (BRA)
2nd: Claudia León (ESP)
3rd: Martyna Konkel (POL)
4th: Aleksa Sanchez (MEX)
Search Aliases: 2026 Nuevo Nayarit, 2026NuevoNayarit, Mexico: GKA Kite World Tour, Mexico:GKAKiteWorldTour