Men’s European champion Toni Vodisek and Women’s reigning world champion Daniela Moroz finished the Opening Series of the Sardinia Grand Slam – Formula Kite World Championship (Olympic Class) in the lead on Thursday, October 13th. Twenty-five boys and as many girls qualified for the Gold Fleet scheduled from Friday to Sunday, October 14th-16th.
Also on Day 3 of the event organizers and athletes had to deal with the whims of the wind and a mistral first unstable and then too weak. Only eight heats were completed, allowing men to finish six series (Q6) and the women to finish five qualification series (Q5).
Toni Vodisek ends the day with a smile, after placing twice second behind Polish Maksymilian Zakowski and Benoit Gomez. “The sirocco made everyone competing in stable wind conditions, while the mistral is always an unknown factor. I’m very happy for today’s second results, I’m not a magician in wind reading, at least not like Gomez who was very good in Q6. We hope we’ll have stable winds in the next days, as well as I hope to have fun and to aim for the best result, of course”, the Slovenian commented.
Axel Mazella can look at the glass half full too, thanks to a runner-up and a fifth spot that allowed him to finish the opening series with the same net score as Vodisek, even if in second place overall so far. “This is the sixth time I compete here in Cagliari and every time I enjoy it a lot. Today there was the classic mistral wind and it was not easy to compete, because the wind was gusty and shifty. But this is also the kite, I always enjoy it. “Difficult to say who’s the favorite for the final win, in a few races everything can happen”.
Also, Denis Taradin, third overall, Theo de Ramecourt, Florian Gruber and Riccardo Pianosi took a heat win. The latter took the best-combined results of the day, climbing to eighth place overall: “It was a good day for me, I found two good and clean performances. I got off to a good start, I was able to read the wind as best I did. My shape is growing day by day”.
Daniela Moroz continues dominating the Women’s races, whilst Lauriane Nolot positive streak stopped, due to the great performance of Ellie Aldridge, another big gun of this World Championships. Leonie Mayer also performed well: the German enters the Gold Fleet in the third position, ahead of the British Katie Dabson and the Spanish Gisela Pulido Borrell. “I wished we could race more because I really like when it’s offshore shifty conditions, but hopefully tomorrow it will be stronger and hopefully stable. I feel good to go into first into Gold Fleet Race, we’ll see what happens in the next couple of days” Moroz commented.
BATTLE FOR THE MEDAL SERIES TO START TOMORROW
Tomorrow, Friday 14 October, the schedule includes Silver and Bronze Fleet races since 11.00, while the Gold Fleet will start competing at 13.00, with the best 25 athletes of each series chasing a Top-10 spot to enter the Medal Series on October 16th.
LIVE STREAMING FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY
The images of the Formula Kite World Championships will be streamed live on the Facebook and Youtube platforms of the event and of IKA, the international kiteboarding association, from Friday, October 14th (1.15 pm) to Sunday, October 16th. The event will reach over 140 countries around the World, with dedicated services and focuses. Daily highlights are also broadcasted on the Facebook and Youtube platforms of the event and IKA.
MEN – Ranking after 5 races
1. Toni Vodisek SLO – 6p
2. Axel Mazella FRA – 6p
3. Denis Taradin CYP – 12p
WOMEN – Ranking after 5 races
1. Daniela Moroz USA – 4p
2. Lauriane Nolot FRA – 4p
3. Leonie Mayer GER – 14p