The Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) has released the 2015 PKRA World Tour schedule. Ideally, the circuit will feature 12 stages.
The world's best kiteboarders will compete in four category titles - Freestyle, Big Air, Wave and Slalom - and for the prestigious "Overall PKRA Title." The riders' best three end of year results will count towards the global standings.
In order to be entitled to the "Overall Title," the kiteboarder has to finish the year in the top 5 in, at least, one of the above disciplines. The PKRA has also introduced changes in the Freestyle, Big Air, Wave rules.
Freestylers will have one qualifier challenge before the first stop of the year and another one halfway throughout the season. The division will adopt a new ladder of 24 men and 12 women, a reduced competition area, new interference rules and penalties, and a revamped scoring system.
In the Big Air division, the PKRA plans an exciting competition in the windiest venues of 2015. The judges will be looking for amplitude and technical difficulty of the jump, but also commitment, duration and physical challenge of the air tricks.
The Wave kitesurfing tour will feature 24 men and 12 women, and it will also have qualifying series. Judges will be watching riders' surfing and jumping skills. Riding and jumping strapless, switch, unhooked or displaying any combination is considered more technically demanding.
The PKRA has not revealed any changes in the Slalom division.
2015 PKRA World Tour | Provisional Calendar
Dakhla, Morocco | 18th-29th March
Leucate, France* | 18th-25th April
Egypt* | May
Cabarete, Dominican Republic* | June
Juniors World Cup - Costa Brava, Spain* | 26th May - 2nd June
Tarifa, Spain* | July
Fuerteventura, Spain* | July
St. Peter-Ording, Spain | 21st-30th August
Brazil* | September
Argentina* | October
Hainan, China* | November
Cape Town, South Africa* | December
*To Be Confirmed