John Heineken from the San Francisco Bay Area and going to school in Santa Barbara, is dominating the racing so far.
From PKRA Media:
Sunshine and warm weather welcomed competitors of the 2011 world kite racing championships in Sylt, Germany, today, and after the opening ceremony it went straight to racing.
The wind blew offshore with 17-22 knots, but that meant that racing took part a few kilometers outside which made communication and handling the fleet of 70 racers a tricky job.
Men and women were sent out on a trapezoid course with 1.5 km upwind length with a sequenced start, and right from the beginning it was Johnny Heineken (USA, Ozone, Mike Lab) who dominated the fleet, sometimes with a margin of more than a minute to the second placed rider — there was only a tangle in race 4 that was able to stop him.
Four races were run in total in two sessions and the fleet was brought safely back ashore before the wind dropped in the evening. Several protests had to be heard until everybody was satisfied and the results stand.
Defending World Champion Adam Koch (USA, Ozone, Mikes Lab) is in close second ahead of Sky Solbach (USA, North). In total there are six US boys in the top 10 and 4 French riders, the best being Julien Kerneur (FRA, RRD, Takoon) in 5th position.
In the womens fleet it looks like it is coming down to a battle between Katja Roose (NED, Airush) and Steph Bridge (GBR, North), being only one point apart after 4 races.
Racing will commence tomorrow, the forecast is for the wind to swing from the offshore direction to the usual onshore winds with big chops and waves which might mix up the whole fleet. If conditions permit, the freestyle competition for the European Championship Tour will also commence later in the evening. The event runs through July 3.
Course Race Men (after 4 races)
1. John Heineken (USA)
2. Adam Koch (USA)
3. Sky Solbach (USA)
4. Bryan Lake (USA)
5. Julien Kerneur (FRA)
Course Race Women (after 4 races)
1. Katja Roose (NED)
2. Steph Bridge (UK)
3. Nayara Licariao (BRA)
4. Adrien Cardine (FRA)
5. Melissa Gil (USA)