Legends, Drama, and Progression

In the men’s competition, Valentin Garat had a breakthrough event, making it to the final for the first time. His semifinal performance set him up for success, but drama struck when a massive back-edge crash left him needing to switch his board due a broken boot. “I had to switch out my board right before the final,” Valentin explained, “and by the time I started, I was completely exhausted.” Despite the setback, he landed several solid tricks, though his newly trained double moves didn’t stick. With his family, including his Dad who taught him to kite 15 years ago, watching from the beach, Valentin reflected on the significance of the moment: “To make it to the final with them watching was incredible and to get this result has only fueled my hunger to push harder and get on that podium.”

In the women’s event, Rita Arnaus proved she’s back stronger than ever. After securing a solid second place in Dunkirk, France, she repeated the feat in Caipe with another podium finish. “I enjoyed the final so much,” Rita said. “I knew I had to go full power, and that’s what I did.” With two consecutive second-place finishes under her belt, Rita’s comeback from injury has been nothing short of impressive. Her riding was both stylish and calculated, displaying a new level of maturity. Her Duotone teammate, Francesca Bagnoli, rounded out the top three, continuing her full-time return to competition after shifting careers to allow more focus on training. “I’m at about 80% of my potential right now, so I’m happy with third, but I’m definitely hungry for more,” Francesca noted, underscoring the level of competition between the tour’s top female riders.

The men’s semifinals were where the true heartbreak unfolded. Heavy hitters like Gianmaria Coccoluto, Davi Ribeiro, and Karim ‘Kimo’ Mahmoud, each a potential favourite to win, were edged out in two of the most nail-biting heats of the event. Davi Ribeiro’s semifinal was a rollercoaster,  landing two of the highest-scoring tricks of the heat, but a brutal crash left him with a broken boot, derailing his run of form. “I’m proud of the tricks I put down,” Davi said. “It’s frustrating I didn’t make the final, but I’m grateful for the support from everyone. I’ll take the positives and come back stronger.” In the other semifinal, the intensity hit another level, with Gianmaria and Karim in a four-man heat battle that felt more like a final.

Gianmaria’s hopes took a hit when he realized he had chosen the wrong kite size, costing him his first trick score and heat momentum. “In the semis, I went with my 11-meter kite, but the wind was lighter than I expected. I missed my first Front Blind Mobe 5 and only managed a regular one. Then I had a heavy crash on a grabbed KGB 7. I switched tactics, aiming for solid scores, but missed the final by just one point to Maxime. Sometimes it’s about luck, and I didn’t have it in those gusty conditions. Still, I’m proud to have thrown down some of the best tricks of the competition—style, power, and clean execution.” he said. Kimo, meanwhile, made history by landing the first-ever Blind Fruitloop Rewind in a kiteboarding contest, marking a personal best result and a bold statement.

Despite the narrow losses, Gianmaria, Davi, Kimo, and Valentin delivered some of the event’s standout moments. Gianmaria’s 9.10 Front Blind Mobe 540 was a masterclass in technical mastery, showcasing why he remains a perennial favourite. Davi’s perfect 10.0 Blind Judge 7 Rewind brought the crowd to its feet, cementing his growing reputation as one to watch. Kimo showcased his Blind Fruitloop Rewind, scoring 9.33 in the semifinal, an extremely technical move and a world-first in freestyle kiteboarding.

This year’s event had massive scores, unexpected upsets, and iconic moments. Cauipe lived up to its reputation, delivering a showcase of kiteboarding at its most intense and unpredictable. The energy on the water was electric, and the Duotone team, fueled by a mix of experience and determination, was at the centre of the action.The final stop of the season in Qatar is primed to be a pressure cooker of intense action. With everything on the line, riders will battle for podium spots and the overall title, an exciting finale full of drama awaits.