The PKRA World Tour is dead. Meet the new Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC).
Yes, it's been confirmed. Richard Branson has taken over the professional kiteboarding world circuit. The new organization is run under the Virgin brand, with multiplatform digital entertainment company ZED as a main co-sponsor.
"I have been a passionate kitesurfer for many years. It's a sport I really love and I find the challenge of the wind and waves gives me a great opportunity to test myself against the elements," explains Richard Branson, CEO at Virgin.
"I am looking forward to developing this wonderful sport together with Javier and creating an even brighter future. We want to make the Virgin Kitesurf World Championships well known across the world, and build a vibrant platform for the sport so its partners, athletes and venues can flourish."
In 2014, the tour was taken over by Javier Perez Dolset, an entrepreneur and founder of ZED. Like Richard Branson, Javier is a dedicated kitesurfer and wants to drive the sport's worldwide growth.
"We are delighted to partner with the Virgin Group in what will be another vital step in making the Tour a bigger global operation and look forward to working with Virgin and Sir Richard on a new chapter of kitesurfing history," adds Javier Perez Dolset.
Both brands promise to "improve kitesurfing and make it much more popular." There will be "new public events at great kitesurfing locations with superior media exposure."
The 2015 Virgin Kitesurf World Championships will visit 12 venues: Dakhla, Leucate, Egypt, Cabarete, Costa Brava, Tarifa, Fuerteventura, St. Peter-Ording, Brazil, Argentina, Hainan and Cape Town.
The official VKWC website is already up and running.