Formula Kite - Kampman & Maeder lead after four races

Jessie Kampman leads the women and Max Maeder leads the men after a four-race opening day of the Formula Kite World Championships in Sardinia. Taking place out of Poetto Beach in the district of Quartu Sant’Elena, the Worlds has attracted 96 riders, representing 29 countries and five continents. There was a nervous tension in the air as the riders got ready for the first day of competition. This is the first time the big names have all gathered in one place since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games more than a year ago.

It would be hard to predict who’s going to be fast out of the blocks, because some have trained hard while others have taken time away from kiteboarding to focus on other things in life since the Olympics.

The female Olympic gold and silver medallists have done limited training over the past year, but Ellie Aldridge from Great Britain and Lauriane Nolot from France would surely be able to rely on their past experience again. Jessie Kampman, who used to race for France, has now switched nationalities to the Netherlands and is keen to prove she’s as fast as ever.

In the men’s fleet, Olympic silver medallist, Toni Vodisek from Slovenia, and bronze medallist from Singapore, Max Maeder, are looking to continue their old rivalry. Maeder is the current World Champion but there are some up and coming talents, notably Gian Stragiotti from Switzerland and Sam Dickinson from Great Britain.

The fleet left the beach with their biggest kites, looking to harness as much power as possible from the light to medium onshore breeze blowing from the south.

After four races in the women’s fleet, Jessie Kampman from the Netherlands had taken the early lead. She crashed in the last race, finishing in 21st place, but her earlier scores of 2,1,1 are enough to put the Dutch rider five points ahead of France’s Olympic silver medallist and defending World Champion Lauriane Nolot in second. Six-time World Champion from the USA, Daniela Moroz holds third place overall, just ahead of Britain’s Olympic Champion Ellie Aldridge in fourth.

Kampman is relieved to have come out of the day with some good results. Two years ago she was severely injured in a kiting accident. She made a phenomenal recovery to take part in the French Olympic trials last year, even if Nolot beat her to selection. Racing continues on Wednesday with a forecast of stronger offshore winds set to throw a new challenge at the riders.

Racing takes place out of Poetto Beach in Quartu Sant’ Elena from 30 September to 5 October. Results are updated as they happen, racing is being tracked, and the final days will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. For all the updates, and exclusive content, follow @kiteclasses on social media.