| Fuerteventura welcomes kiteboarders for the 2009 PKRA World Tour |
| Monday, 15 June 2009 14:13 |
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For eight years in a row, the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) – the world’s leading professional kiteboarding organization – is bringing the events back to Fuerteventura soil. The event dubbed “Fuerteventura PKRA Kiteboarding Grand Slam 2009,” will be a five-day event of extreme kiteboarding action. The highlights will include Freestyle and Kite-Loop Competition to be participated in by professional riders from more than 18 different countries. Organized by Pro Center René Egli through its owner René Egli, featuring €33,000 in total prize money, the Fuerteventura event is well-known as the most extreme PKRA Kiteboarding World Tour event be cause of guaranteed strong winds. The kick-off games will start on July 17, 2009 with the Inscription & the Welcome Party and will run until July 22. Expect to see some of the best freestyle kiteboarders live in action performing their biggest jumps and difficult tricks, push ing themselves in the extreme conditions. In addition to the freestyle this year will feature a kite-loop competition which guarantee spectacular extremely high jumps as the riders get that extra lift created as they loop their kite while in mid-air. The venue will be Playa Sotavento, without a doubt the best beach in Fuerteventura and a paradise of immense ecological prosperity. The area abounds with sunny weather condition and strong winds blowing at an average of 18 to 35 knots. These, combined with an average water temperature of 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and a general wind direction of side offshore to side shore makes the beaches of Sotavento a perfect and spectacular setting for the PKRA Grand Slam event. Reigning Fuerteventura men’s freestyle champion Aaron Hadlow (Flexifoil, GBR), who also won the title here in 2006 is the top favorite, while top challengers Kevin Langeree (Naish, NED) and Sebastien Garat (RRD, FRA - who won second place last year) may give Hadlow a run for his money. In the women’s division, 3-time Fuerteventura champion Gisela Pulido (Slingshot, ESP) is the favored rider to win this year but with the likes of Bruna Kajiya (Best, BRA) and Susi Mai (Cabrinha, GER) at the helm, the young Spaniard would have to push herself to the limit once again to retain the title. The Fuerteventura PKRA Kiteboarding Grand Slam is organized and presented by Pro Center René Egli in cooperation with the townhall of the municipality of Pájara, the government of Fuerteventura & the Canary Islands, and through the sponsors Hotel Meliã Gorriones, Tropical, Cabrinha and Neil Pryde.
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