2023 KiteFoil World Series Austria – Day 1

Return of the Traunsee King

  • Three opening heats in 6 to 9 knot soft breeze
  • Martin Dolenc leads overall and looks comfortable on Traunsee
  • Breiana Whitehead (AUS) is the top placed female rider
  • Lauriane Nolot learns the lesson of ‘instant karma’

After three light-air races on day one of KiteFoil World Series AustriaMartin Dolenc opened his scoresheet with a strong defence of last year’s victory on Lake Traunsee. “We call him the Traunsee King,” said Swiss rider Karl Maeder of his Croatian friend and rival.

Martin Dolenc soars ahead of the pack
Martin Dolenc soars ahead of the pack

There is a particular style of riding and racing that is required for the soft and mysterious breeze at the southern end of the Austrian Lake, and Dolenc does appear to be the master while others struggle with the conditions.

Chased hard in the first two heats by his training partner, the reigning World Champion Max Maeder from Singapore, Dolenc always looked in control and took two winner’s guns. In the third race it was Jannis Maus of Germany who leapt to the front, with Maeder again in second and Dolenc across the line in third but still leading overall.

Karl Maeder leapt out to a new personal best today
Karl Maeder leapt out to a new personal best today

Even Dolenc himself can’t quite identify the winning ingredient. “I don’t think it’s speed, but obviously it doesn’t hurt,” said the Croatian. “Really I think it’s that I read the course really well, and I made some good decisions about when to tack.”

On such a short two-lap race course where the races lasted around seven to eight minutesevery decision had to be spot on if you were going to make it around the course in good shape. Aside from Dolenc’ssolid performance it was a good outing for the Maeder brothers with 17-year-old Max currently in second and 15-year-old Karl in fifth. Sandwiched between the brothers in third and fourth respectively are Denis Taradin of Cyprus and local talent Valentin Bontus of Austria.

Julia Damasiewicz loves being back where she won in 2022
Julia Damasiewicz loves being back where she won in 2022

The women were racing off the same start line as the men and like Dolenc, last year’s winner Julia Damasiewicz is feeling happy to be back on the tricky waters of Traunsee. “I feel really comfortable, I like it a lot and after winning here last year the place has happy memories for me,” said the Polish rider whose 2022 victory in Traunsee marked the first time that USA six-time World Champion Daniela Moroz had been beaten in competition for six years.

That was like a huge deal. I was so impressed with myself and I will always remember it as a really good memory. It gives you confidence on days like today. It was good fun racing with the boys too, but it’s very difficult on the start line because they are faster and then you are fighting to keep clean air on your kite. So I am tacking away on to port earlier than I would do normally.”

Breiana Whitehead is quickly learning the tricks of Traunsee
Breiana Whitehead is quickly learning the tricks of Traunsee

While Damasiewicz had a very good day in the women’s fleet, Australia’s Breiana Whitehead did even better. She sits in ninth overall in the combined rankings and is the top placed female rider, a remarkable achievement considering this is her first time visiting Traunsee. “I really wanted to keep looking for the best bits of [wind] pressure, moving from one bit to the next, trying to keep good pressure on the foil,” said Whitehead, keen to avoid the pitfalls of sinking into the water or even letting the kite drop out of the sky.

This was easier said than done, even for the best in the world like Lauriane Nolot. “I am hurting,” grinned the new women’s World Champion from France. “I need to remember how to race again,” she said, reflecting on a well-earned holiday away from kiting and competition. Nolot is deliberately not taking the competition too seriously, so she’s unfazed by only being fourth best in the women’s fleet.

The women's World Champion's not winning, but she doesn't care
The women’s World Champion’s not winning, but she doesn’t care

At one point she laughed at her friend’s failure to complete a tack as British rider Sam Dickinson crashed into the water. Five seconds later Nolot committed the same error. Crashed and burned. “I learned not to laugh at other people when they screw up,” she giggled. “I learned the lesson of bad karma, instant karma!

Racing is scheduled to continue at midday on Friday with the Medal Series set to take place on Sunday 8 October. The final two days of competition will be live streamed this Saturday and Sunday.

Keeping the kite flying high is sometimes the biggest challenge
Keeping the kite flying high is sometimes the biggest challenge

RESULTS MEN

1. Martin Dolenc            CRO    5.0

2. Maximilian Maeder  SGP     10.0

3. Denis Taradin            CYP     12.0

RESULTS WOMEN

1. Breiana Whitehead   AUS     32.0

2. Julia Damasiewicz   POL     39.0

3. Alina Kornelli             AUT     40.0

Kiting paradise
Kiting paradise

Text Credits: KiteFoil World Series Austria
Photo Credits:IKA media / Robert Hajdu
Video Credits:ICARUS Sports

Keep up to date with KiteFoil World Series Austria, please visit https://www.kitefoilworldseries.com or follow on:
Facebook: @kitefoilworldseries

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