An exciting event on the KPWT 2009 schedule began today with registration. 50 international riders made the trip North to Dunkerque in France and registered for their respective disciplines.
Dunes de Flandre boasts 700 hectares of dunes and is blessed with a 15km beach of fine sand and great conditions for kitesurfing. Rotonde du Kursaal, the first European Kite Park, will host the KPWT team and its riders for the week ahead.
Local rider Antoine Auriol (FRA, KITELOOSE) registered today and has only fond memories of Dunkerque after coming second in the national competition for Windsurfing when he first started his love affair with wind many years ago! Jesse Richman (HAW, CABRINHA, OVERALL TITLE 2008), Leander Vyvey (BEL, JN, FREESTYLE VICE-CHAMPION 2008) and Peter Tyushkevic (RUS, FLEXIFOIL), were also amongst the internationals that came to compete for the title and overall points on offer!
Gisela Pulido (SPA, AIRUSH, 5X WORLD CHAMPION) performed really well in Germany and Spain, taking the overall freestyle title and sitting nicely on the top of the freestyle rankings. She will face fierce competition from Ainhoa Garcia (SPA, AIRUSH, FREESTYLE VICE CHAMPION 2008), Hannah Whitely (UK, JN) and Ania Grzelinska (POL, NORTH, OVERALL TITLE 2008) who are all looking really good this year! The level of women riding is at a high standard and we all look forward to seeing how they do in France.
The opening ceremony was held this evening at 18h00 in front of the Rotonde du Kursaal and all the riders, local organizers and the KPWT team attended, to celebrate kitesurfing in Dunkerque!
Thank you again to all the sponsors and the city of Dunkerque for hosting the French leg of the KPWT 2009! A special thanks to Christophe Hugoo and the Dunkerque Flysurfing Club for all their hard work in organizing this fantastic event.
SOURCE: KPWT