Copa Kitley GKA Big Air Kite World Cup

In strapless freestyle, James Carew’s season couldn’t have been more dominant. Returning from a year-long recovery from injury, Carew didn’t just come back—he stamped his authority, Piloting his Rebel D/LAB to win every one of the year’s Big Air Strapless events to comfortably secure his fourth world title. He won every heat, and in the final, he put down a staggering heat score of 36.57 points out of 40, leaving second place a full 5.5 points behind. Carew’s total control and power in each round left no doubt he’s come back stronger than ever.

Sky Solbach, the designer behind Rebel D/LAB, shared his thoughts on how the specific design elements were built for these exact moments. "when the wind is only 30 knots, the difference in performance between different kites becomes a lot more clear, I think this kite gave James that crucial edge, with hang time and control that allowed him to fully express his powerful, technical style.

Mikaili Sol made a powerful return to competition at the Copa Kitley GKA Big Air Kite World Cup in Jericoacoara, Brazil, with a performance that felt like a statement: she’s back, and stronger than ever. After taking a year off, Sol showed up focused and composed, winning her opening heat and setting the tone for the rounds ahead. In a stacked semi-final against fellow standout Pippa van Iersel, the two battled it out and moved on to a final that delivered everything the fans hoped for.

But it was Sol’s final moves that sealed the day. With precise control, she landed two new tricks that had yet to be performed in women’s kiteboarding, owith a huge 9.8 and finishing with a perfect 10 when she needed it most—a Kite-loop Front-roll Board-off that sent the beach crowd into cheers.

As she was lifted by fans up the shoreline, it was clear that Sol’s comeback was more than a return; it was a promise of what’s to come. "Landing those two world-firsts felt really good… I’ve been training those moves for a while. Pulling them off in competition under pressure brought a huge sense of satisfaction," Mikaili said.

Conditions were variable all day, but the wind turned to solid 30-knot conditions for the showdown. Van Iersel, riding with the grit she’s known for, powered through a painful third-degree burn from a recent injury, landing a clean 8.6 Kite-loop Board-off to secure third place on the podium. "The final heat was super consistent, and I’m happy with my riding, especially after all the stress and challenges leading up to the comp," Pippa shared.

In the men’s twin-tip, Andrea Principi and Edgar Ulrich both had strong starts, each winning their first rounds and advancing with ease. After another pair of wins in round three, they met head-to-head in a stacked four-man semi-final. In an unexpected twist, Andrea’s run came to an end, despite a score that would have taken him to the final in the other semi-final. "The semis didn’t go well—sometimes it’s like this...now it’s full focus on King of the Air. I’m heading to Cape Town in a few days, and I can’t wait to send it!" Andrea shared, ready for the next challenge. Edgar seized the heat, then went on to deliver a career-defining performance in the final—his first major competition win at elite level. With his father on the beach to celebrate,

Edgar laid down an impressive array of moves, nailing an unhooked Kiteloop KGB and combining board-off Kite-loop and contra-loop variations with power and control. “I was out on the water trying to give my best performance, approaching the comp with the mindset I’d have sharing a session with friends—no pressure, just doing my thing. 

I felt total confidence riding the Rebel D/LAB, it gave me the stability and control I needed to mix things up with handle passes and go for it without holding back.” – Edgar reflected.

Sky highlighted, “one thing we really focused on with the Rebel D/LAB was control and predictability. Having the performance in more marginal conditions allowed Edgar to stay dynamic and execute under pressure”

Junior world champ Keanu Mertens had an impressive showing too, taking the win in his semi-final heat and keeping the heat on by throwing down a 9-point trick in the final to lock in an impressive third-place finish. "I’m really proud of my third-place finish, especially scoring a 9 on a trick in the final," Keanu shared. "I hope to be back on the podium again soon and aiming for one or two steps higher!"

With the King of the Air just two weeks away, all eyes are on Andrea, Edgar, and Pippa. Andrea, hungry for redemption, is primed to push his limits, while Edgar, riding high on the momentum of his breakthrough win, has proven he can bring the heat when it counts, and Pippa, one of the selected riders for the inaugural women’s King of the Air contest, is ready to make her mark. The stage is set for an explosive showdown as these riders prepare to leave it all on the water.