Dunkerque, France
- Bruna Kajiya triumphs in tricky final in France after current world champion pulls out injured
- Men’s contest advances to semi-finals after stellar battles in near perfect conditions in Dunkerque
- Men’s Division Grand Finale LIVE: Don’t miss a second of the action!
Day two of the GKA Freestyle-Kite World Cup in Dunkerque, where the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour is making its first appearance, dawned with a building north-easterly breeze that provided the 24 men and 10 women from 11 nations with the first opportunity to battle it out in the North Sea kickers.
After patiently waiting for the wind to pick up on the first day of competition, day two showcased perfect wind conditions from as early as 10 am in the morning. This allowed us to progress through the men’s heats up to the semi-finals and facilitated the completion of the women’s fleet.
Brazil’s Bruna Kajiya secured her second victory of the year at the tour’s third stop, the GKA Freestyle-Kite World Cup France in Dunkerque, following an almost flawless performance that propelled her through the strong field.
Kajiya, who is the most seasoned female competitor on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour, savored the victory even amidst the challenging conditions, securing two out of three stops, with the next one taking place in her home waters in Brazil.
“I’m beyond happy,” said Kajiya. “I’ve been working so hard for this, so it means a lot to me. I was really confident with my riding, and that’s a major step for me in this past year. The competition went really well. I didn’t find it overly tricky. I wasn’t super-powered; the water was a bit choppy, but we train for these conditions. I love the puzzle.”
“I’m really looking forward to the next one because it’s in my home country. I will be representing my flag. That’s a dream for any athlete. I’m excited. The title has been on my mind since the beginning of the year, and I’ve been working tirelessly towards it.”
This Saturday marks the pinnacle of excitement: the Grand Finale of the men’s division. Be sure to follow all the action on the livestream and check out our Instagram for all the behind-the-scenes moments.
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WOMEN’S RESULTS
1 Bruna Kajiya (BRA)
2 Claudia Léon (ESP)
3 Francesca Bagnoli (ITA)
4 Therese Taabbel (DEN)
Photo: Samuel Cardenas
Words: Ian MacKinnon
