2024 GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt: Defender Championship Event
2024 Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt – All Smiles for Delannoy on the Podium
20-25 August 2024
The sun shone brightly on day six of the 2024 Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt after an exhilarating week of competition. With the winds pumping, the mini-final featured France’s Clémence Derrien going up against Brazil’s Kesiane Rodrigues to determine third and fourth place.
Derrien noted, “We’ve got nice wind like yesterday. It’s more onshore, so it’s a bit difficult for the waves, but at least the wind is powerful. I’m gonna give everything and go for it.”
Mini Final Dynamics
Rodrigues executed her tactics flawlessly, landing a rodeo for the first score of the heat, while Derrien faced challenges, crashing her kite during a front roll attempt. Rodrigues then scored the highest freestyle trick with her tic tac flip and rodeo, securing her lead before switching to the wave segment.
The onshore wind allowed athletes to choose their direction on the wave, favoring their preferred stance. Facing an uphill battle, Derrien needed to deliver two strong wave scores after only managing one in freestyle. Meanwhile, Rodrigues secured a solid 4.67 wave score, ultimately claiming third place and leaving Derrien in fourth.
The Climactic Final
With excitement in the air, the buzzer signaled the final heat between Losserand and Delannoy. Losserand, aiming to improve on her second-place finish from the previous year, stated, “To be in the final again against Capu is going to be pretty interesting. I trained a lot for this, so let’s see if I can manage to take the win this time.” Delannoy, ranked second, was in a prime position to reclaim her title after winning the world championship in 2022.
Losserand went all out but lost her board during a daring move, allowing Delannoy to start strong.
A Historic Achievement
Delannoy was having the heat of her life when she landed an incredible front roll shove it three—an unprecedented feat in women’s competition. The judges rewarded this with a perfect ten-point score, giving Delannoy a considerable advantage. Losserand responded with an impressive double back roll board off, but it was not enough to make up the deficit.
In the wave segment, Delannoy quickly established her lead with a 4.2 score, while Losserand searched for the perfect wave. Unfortunately, the conditions weren’t as favorable as in previous days, leaving Losserand with limited options as her wave closed out with only foam to ride. As the final minute approached, it became clear that Delannoy had done enough to secure victory.
With smiles emerging on her face, Delannoy clinched the win with a score of 22.97, outperforming Losserand, who scored 19.67, creating a gap of just 3.31 points.
Emotional Victory for Delannoy
The beach erupted in celebration as Delannoy, overwhelmed with emotion, shared a touching moment with her family after scoring that perfect ten. “I landed it before,” she shared, “but in these conditions, it was pretty hard. I am super happy to win another title, and Sylt is such a special place for me.”
The podium was filled with smiles as fans gathered to cheer for the athletes. The final standings were as follows: Capucine Delannoy took first place, Camille Losserand came in second, Kesiane Rodrigues finished third, and Clémence Derrien placed fourth.
Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 Results
Results Women
- 1. Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
- 2. Camille Losserand (SUI)
- 3. Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA)
- 4. Clémence Derrien (FRA)
Results Men
- 1. James Carew (AUS)
- 2. Gabriele Benetton (BRA)
- 3. Lorezo Casati (ESP)
- 4. Nicola Abadjiev (BUL)
Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air World Cup Sylt 2024 Results
- 1. Charles Brodel (FRA)
- 2. Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
- 3. Peer Schnyder (SUI)
- 4. Joselito del Rosario (DOM)
GKA Hydrofoil Big Air European Championships 2024
- 1. Charles Brodel (FRA)
- 2. Lorenzo Casati (ESP)
- 3. Peer Schnyder (SUI)
Sarah Mitchell, an experienced sailor and marine journalist from Sydney, has nurtured a love for the ocean throughout her life. After earning a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Sydney, Sarah quickly made a name for herself with her compelling and vivid storytelling. Her work captures the thrill of sailing and the unique culture of maritime life, making her a respected figure in the sailing community. Outside of writing, Sarah spends her time exploring Australia’s stunning coastlines and competing in local regattas, always on the lookout for her next great adventure.