DESERT MIRAGE

After two years in Patagonia, the KPL crew shifted gears, moving the Argentina Invitational to a new venue: Nihuil in Mendoza. “Patagonia was really nice,” says Noè Font, fresh off his second consecutive win, “but it was a bit of a mission with the boats and getting to the spot. This place is just way more accessible, more kite-friendly, and better conditions.”

That might be an understatement. The new venue delivered an arena of knee-to-waist deep, butter-flat water—ideal for park riding, with rails sitting perfectly in place thanks to the seabed’s unique structure. “It’s kind of like the Argentinian version of Sicily,” Noè explains, “really shallow, crazy flat water, and it made setting up the park super easy.”

But the new spot wasn’t just about convenience. It threw its own curveballs. The weather was a spectacle in itself—rolling thunderstorms, walls of hail, sunsets that turned the sky into a Nat Geo fever dream. And the wind? Well, it had a mind of its own.

“We had a lot of hot thermic wind,” Noè says. “It would turn on and off by the minute—like you’d have a solid 10-minute session, and then it would just disappear. A lot of the guys were stuck on the beach, playing soccer or napping in the shade, just waiting for it to fill in.”

Not Noè. He and Nicolas Giloman came prepped with Duotone Juice D/LABs, giving them an undeniable edge in the light wind. “We were riding every day, as much as we wanted,” Noe admits. “By the time the contest started, we’d already clocked so many hours in the park. It really made a difference.”

When the wind finally lined up and the contest got underway, the riding was next level. Argentina’s local scene came out in force, blending seamlessly with international heavy hitters. The finals were a mix of calculated precision and all-out style, with riders pushing the limits of what’s possible on rails in kiteboarding.

On the women’s side, Aleksa Sanchez put on a dominant performance, locking in the win with a mix of technical rail hits and effortless flow. She made it clear from the start that she was the one to beat, riding with a level of confidence and control that set her apart from the rest of the field.

The men’s final was a war of inches, with the top riders battling through the tricky wind conditions to put down standout lines. Nicolas Gilman rode his way to third place, representing Duotone and proving his ability to adapt and execute under pressure. But it was Noè Font who once again claimed the top spot, defending his title with a masterclass in park riding—clean, technical, and completely dialed in.

With another successful Argentina Invitational in the books, the momentum behind park riding in kiteboarding keeps building. “Every year, it’s getting better,” Noè says. “More people are getting into it, and Rami does such a good job putting this event together. Hopefully, we get to do it a bunch more times, with more support, and keep making it happen.”

"Argentina, once again, delivered with its unique landscape and a community that embraces the adventure. The level of riding continues to elevate year after year, showing how the KPL is shaping the future of park kiteboarding."