Richard Branson and friends set new kitesurfing record

Richard Branson and friends set new kitesurfing record

Tuesday, 17 September 2013 08:38

The Virgin Kitesurf Armada has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest parade of kitesurfers ever, at CBK Beach, Hayling Island, UK. Richard Branson and his Virgin Kitesurf Armada of 318 kitesurfers broke the world record for the largest number of kitesurfers sailing a one-mile (1.6 kilometers) course, under sunny skies. "Kiting is one of the best sports there is, if not the best sport. Kiters are always up for a challenge and so I suspect next year there will be 600 kiters, and the year after that 900, and so on", says Richard Branson, patron of the adventure. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. It was wonderful". More than 250 riders were needed at Hayling Island to break the Guinness World Record. Funds were raised for Snow-Camp, the RNLI and Virgin Unite. Lewis Crathern and Steph Bridge, probably some of the best kiteboarders in the UK, participated in the event. Bridge believes there's one man that can change the course of the sport. "Sir Richard Branson is really crucial for kitesurfing, right now, because the sport itself is really growing, and he is really helping that push", underlines Bridge. The Virgin Kitesurfing armada will return next year, and a weekend kitesurfing festival is being planned.

Francisco Lufinha sets world record for the longest kitesurfing journey

Wednesday, 18 September 2013 17:30

Francisco Lufinha has successfully set a new Guinness World Record for the longest kiteboarding journey, after sailing for 307.5 nautical miles (569 kilometers), along the Portuguese coastline. Lufinha left the Douro river mouth, in the city of Porto, on the 17th September, at 14h30, and reached Lagos, in the Algarve, on the 18th September, at 20h34. The Portuguese kiteboarder, 30, sailed past Aveiro (17h) and Nazaré (20h) in the first day. The record was broken in the next morning, with Francisco Lufinha riding more than 199 nautical miles, 20 hours after leaving the Douro Marina. "It was very difficult, but I'm glad I managed to beat the world record. When I was only two miles away from breaking the record, near Cape Espichel, wind died down. I thought it wouldn't be enough, but fortunately it picked up and it was enough to pass the mark", says Francisco Lufinha. The MINI Kitesurf Odyssey by Francisco Lufinha was completed without any stop. Food and water were delivered by the support boat. The previous record for the longest kiteboarding journey was of 199.63 nautical miles (369.71 kilometers) and was achieved by Phillip McCoy Midler, who travelled from South Padre Island, Texas to Matagorda, Texas, USA. http://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/9265-francisco-lufinha-sets-world-record-for-the-longest-kitesurfing-journey World wave kitesurfing champions to be decided in one-off event Friday, 20 September 2013 08:45 The Kite Surf Pro (KSP) World Championship Tour has decided to crown its season champions in a one-off competition, to be held Maui, Hawaii, between November 22nd and December 1st, 2013. The team behind the wave kitesurfing tour has already informed riders, members and partners that the event scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico, in the end of October had to be canceled. "The organization committee had done everything in their power to try and make an alternate event happen and negotiated with organizers and government bodies in Brazil and Ecuador, which seemed promising at first, but unfortunately did not work out in the end", explain the KSP. "The KSP will focus all its efforts on making the Hookipa Kite Surf Pro a spectacular event and re-focus to come back better and stronger in 2014". Wave kitesurfers had set up a crowd-funding plea, in order to run the last two events, but funds raised only reached $4,500 of the $30,000 goal. Hard times ahead for world kiteboarding? Best wave kitesurfers crowned at the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais Monday, 11 June 2012 09:39 The wind failed to appear in the dying moments of the EDP Kite Surf Pro Cascais, the first ever European tour stop of the 2012 KSP wave kitesurfing season. Thirty six of the world's top kite surfers from seventeen nations came together at Guincho Beach in Cascais, Portugal, but the during the ten-day waiting period, competitors only had a few opportunities to enjoy 2.5 meters high waves in side-to-onshore wind conditions. Although conditions did not allow for the entire elimination ladder to be completed and points to be distributed for the world ranking, the "Best Wave Awards" were delivered to the riders with the highest single wave scores. Guilly Brandao and Kristin Boese took the prizes. Explosive performances were delivered by several riders, including Keahi De Aboitiz, whose fin free hacks and air reverses secured him a first place win in his heat. Mitu Monteiro turned heads with his flowing turns and radical style. Top heat scores of the event included Guilly Brandao, up-and-comer Sebastian Ribeiro and Kari Schibevaag. The next stop of the 2012 KSP World Championship Tour will be held on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius from September 7th-16th. Best Wave Awards (Male): 1.Guilly Brandao (BRA) 2.Mitu Monteiro (CPV/F-One) 3.Paulino Perreira (POR) Best Wave Awards (Female): 1.Kristin Boese (GER/Best) 2.Kirsty Jones (GBR/North) 3.Kari Schibevaag (NOR/Ozone) //////////