Team Dust Dominates Kite Park League

Leading the charge was Team Dust, captained by the seasoned and precise Noe Font, with an all-star lineup including Maxime Chabloz, Nina Font, Isaak van der Velde, Kaya Gravens, and Xander Raith. The team poured everything into their video, ultimately taking the top spot.

“It feels great to be picked as the best video by the KPL riders,” Font said after their win. “It was a huge week of riding, and we all pushed hard to get the best footage. Coming into the awards, you have no idea what everyone else has done, and it’s nerve-racking to watch them back-to-back. The Red team’s video was incredible; I’m a huge fan of Rami, Coco, and Lucas, so it was an easy choice for me to vote for them. But in the end, the votes were in our favor.”

Font credits much of their success to the unique synergy among the riders. He put together Team Dust with a clear intention: kiteboarding talent, yes, but with the camaraderie to fuel long days and creative risks. “Everyone brought their own vision and helped each other bring it to life,” added Raith, Font’s teammate. “The team dynamic was fluid, and it was an honor to be awarded the top spot.”

With just seven days to film and edit their video, the pressure was real. Each rider had a list of must-hit tricks, and the ticking clock added an urgency that pushed them to new heights. “A week might seem like enough time,” Raith said, “but those last few days always feel like an all-out sprint.” Font agreed: “You have a list of shots to check off, and you’re fighting the wind, the time, and your own exhaustion. You’re tempted to go all-out every day, but you also have to pace yourself.

For Xander Raith, who had a trick list ready to go before the event even began, the Team Battle meant working in harmony with his teammates to create a fluid narrative, rather than riding solo. He said the experience showed him a new side of kiting: “This win feels different because it’s the result of everyone carrying their own weight as riders and filmers. We all cherish the video we created.” For Raith, it’s these team-driven experiences that transform kiteboarding from a personal pursuit to something far bigger.

While Team Dust took the win, individual performances shone across the board. On another team, Gianmaria Coccoluto—better known as Coco—emerged as the event’s breakout star. For only his second park event ever, Coco’s style and tricks turned heads and earned him four awards, including Best Line, Best Trick, Best Photo, and the coveted Most “Skitz” rider—an accolade for the most high-energy and intense riding throughout the week.

“Honestly, I still felt the pressure,” Coco admitted. “We were filming all day, every day. Kicker, freestyle, park—it was non-stop. But even though it was tough, this team battle felt right. I’ve only done one other park event, but I feel like there’s a real crossover with freestyle, and I love the creativity of it.”

Coco’s unique freestyle-to-park approach captivated not only his teammates but the whole Kite Park League crowd. With strong winds challenging even the most seasoned riders, Coco proved his versatility, drawing on his freestyle background to land jaw-dropping tricks that made every gust and lull in the wind an opportunity. “This week in Brazil was wild,” he reflected, “but I managed to perform and get those awards. Now, I’m thinking about doing more KPL events.”

The Kite Park League Team Battle isn’t your standard competition. It’s judged by the riders themselves, using a mix of peer review and respect for technical execution. “In the end, it’s riders judging riders,” Font explained, “so the results feel very on-point. We all have a clear idea of what’s good riding, and the different perspectives add a layer of respect to the awards.”

Raith summed up the event’s uniqueness: “It’s a competition where riders get to be both contestants and judges. It’s a privilege to be part of something so progressive.” And while the awards are thrilling, the event’s real takeaway is how it pushed each rider to unlock something new. For Font and Raith, it was the thrill of being on a winning team. For Coco, it was discovering a passion for park riding.

As the lights on Taiba’s lagoons fade, and the wind continues to whip through, the Kite Park League riders pack up knowing they’ve captured something special—something that transcends the awards and the clips. It’s a testament to what happens when wind, waves, and world-class riders collide in the spirit of pure, relentless creativity.

Check out Team Dust and Team Reds videos on www.kiteparkleague.com