Whaley and Winkowska Win Freestyle at Dakhla

The last day of the VKWC Dakhla delivered ideal conditions for the top riders on the hunt for their first win of the year. With fans and fellow riders on the beach cheering them on, the semi finals and finals were run in both the Freestyle and Big Air events. At the end of the day, both Liam Whaley and Karolina Winkowska took the top podium spots in Freestyle and are now the current leaders for the 2015 VKWV title race.

In the Big Air event, Kevin Langeree and Gisela Pulido beat out fellow competitors with the intensity and drive of a raging fire — both competitors had the desire to prove to the world that they still possessed that key element to win, which they both did with style and finesse.

Official Recap (VKWC):

Freestyle:
A sensational Finals Day at Dakhla Attitude saw Liam Whaley (ES) claim the first Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Freestyle win against current world champion Christophe Tack (BE) while World Champion Karolina Winkowska (PL) took down last year’s Dakhla’s winner Gisela Pulido (ES).

Liam put on an unbelievable performance throughout the competition and delivered the highest heat total of the event in the semi-final today, a 39.6. Entering his 5th year on the Tour, Liam consistently delivered mind-blowing tricks and great variety to become the first to win the men’s Freestyle competition under the new Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC). On his way to the Final, Liam previously dispatched Paul Serin (FRA) and Youri Zoon (NL).

The VKWC saw Karolina Winkowska (PL) battle Gisela Pulido (ES) in an epic clash. Karolina looked composed and stylish, claiming the win at the first event of the season. The win today is Karolina’s 2nd victory in Dakhla (having previously won the event in 2013).

Karolina was patient and put together a well-constructed heat with a variety of powerful maneuvers, including a KGB. She put on a display many crowd-pleasing moves and at the end of the heat she won with a commanding lead over Gisela.The women’s podium was completed by Bruna Kajiya (BR) on third place and Annelous Lammerts (NL) finishing fourth.

Big Air:
Kitesurf Legend Kevin Langeree (NL) claimed victory today at the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Big Air competition battling in 25 knots winds and a field of the world’s best riders to take out the first event of the 2015 VKWC season.

Langeree’s “go-for-broke” approach in the Final saw the star achieve the highest scores of the entire event, showcasing commitment, strength and confidence. Marc Jacobs (NZ) powerful riding style earned him a second spot in the podium followed by young Hawaiian Jesse Richman (US), and Oswald Smith (ZA).

Gisela Pulido (ES) dominated the big air discipline proving as she did in Tarifa 2014 that she knows how to go big. A close second was earned by Hanna Whiteley (UK) who deserves the title of most improved rider of the 2015 season. Annelous Lammerts and Therese Taabbel earned third and fourth respectively.