Barcarès Turns It On

Mika, in her first contest back since Lords of Tram last year, looked like a seasoned professional, showing total control and composure in the extreme conditions. She landed some of the most technical tricks of the event, making it all look effortless. That may have worked against her in the final, as despite executing highly technical moves with power and precision, she surprisingly came up just short on the scorecard to finish second in the women’s final.

Finn Flügel in the men’s division showcased not only his riding ability, but also his heat strategy, contest IQ, and mental fortitude. His approach, preparation, beach backup, and strategy were all on point, carrying him confidently through to the finals.

The final was the first moment he faced real adversity. In a stacked heat, he crashed his first three of seven trick attempts, putting him in a must-land situation for the remainder of the final. With a timely kite swap from teammate Edgar Ulrich on the beach, he reset and showed championship level composure under pressure, delivering a series of high-scoring technical moves for the remainder of the final to shoot him into second place.

Taking the win in the men’s division was Jaime Overbeek, who applied pressure from the outset by building a strong base score from his first three tricks. He then secured the final with four incredible moves, including a perfect 10-point trick aboard his Rebel D/LAB, sealing a commanding win. 

Finals day in Barcarès kicked off with a solid 40-knot wind, pushing the limits of what was rideable. The women’s heats were set to kick off the days action but were called off, as riders struggled to hold down 5m kites, shifting the focus to the men’s division.

Andrea, fresh off his Dubai jump, put in a strong performance in round three, edging out current world champion and fellow countryman Lorenzo Casati. He advanced to the semifinals, where his run came to an end after falling short of putting together the heat he was capable of.

15-year-old Aya Kasabova showed impressive progression, demonstrating a solid range of technical tricks and control. Showcasing that she is one to watch for the upcoming events.

One of the biggest standouts was Baptiste Jacquemain, who showed he has what it takes to compete with the elite. Beating Stijn Mul in Round 1 and dispatching with seasoned riders Giel Vlugt and Jason Van Der Spuy to advance him into round three, where Baptiste was narrowly edged out in a stacked heat against eventual finalists Jaime Overbeek and Finn Flügel.

With Jaime Overbeek and Finn Flügel taking first and second in the men’s, and Mika Sol securing second in the women’s, the Rebel D/LAB stood out as the kite of the day, dominating the podium in the most extreme conditions. From breakout performances to seasoned composure under pressure, the opening stop set the tone for the season ahead, with all eyes now turning to round two in Mykonos, Greece scheduled for June.