After a turbulent season the International Kiteboarding Association announces the final rankings for 2015, with the leaders of the world rankings being awarded the status of the official 2015 IKA World Champions.
Although the IKA World Rankings count every riders best 7 results from world, continental and national level events, this year the world championship race has been decided by the four major events of the season, namely Dakhla, Venezuela, Tarifa and Fuerteventura.
After the sanctioning agreement with the PKRA had come to an end, the event in St. Peter Ording did not count to the IKA world rankings anymore. All other events after St. Peter Ording had then be canceled by the now VKWC/WKT.
In the Freestyle discipline, Karolina Winkowksa (POL, Slingshot – 3055 points) defends her 2014 World Title. Second place is secured by Bruna Kajiya (BRA, Airush – 2900 points) only a mere 17 points ahead of Gisela Pulido (ESP, Best – 2883 points).
The mens freestyle competitions were dominated by Carlos Mario (BRA, Slingshot – 2661 points) ahead of 2014 world champion Christophe Tack (BEL, Liquidforce – 2490 points). Again in third place in 2015 is five time world champion Aaron Hadlow (GBR, North – 2460 points). Liam Whaley, Carlos’ strongest competitor, unfortunately missed the event in Fuerteventura due to injury, which put him outside of any medal contention for the 2015 season.
It is important to note that, as confirmed by ISAF / World Sailing, the former PKRA/VKWC/PKT/WKT is not entitled to award any world titles in the ISAF / World Sailing kiteboarding classes.
The 2016 IKA Kiteboarding World Championship rules, qualification system and calendar will be published shortly.
