History made as Duotone Wave Team complete the podium at the GKA Kite-Surf World Championship

Bel Ombre, Mauritius, hosted one of the most memorable kite-surf showdowns in the history of the GKA Kite-Surf tour since its debut back in 2016. That year, Airton Cozzolino surprisingly lost out to local rider Jeremy Chan with a lucky punch and Matchu Lopes swooped in to steal the world title in Dahkla. 2017, saw Airton once again stopped in his tracks, this time by Duotone team mate Sebastian Ribeiro in the semis and the world title going to Keahi de Aboitiz.

James Carew advanced over South Africa’s Oswald Smith in the semi finals of the single eliminations and Cozzolino left Riveras in his wake as the Duotone dual commenced in the final of the singles.

Gaunt says of the final; “the wave size, structure and power were perfectly suited for these two to put everything into their performances. Airton charging frontside / James hacking on his back hand – this would be one to savour. Right at the start Airton dropped in and James followed suit on the big wave following directly behind; the two white Duotone’s marching down-the-line together. Airton turned first, super fast, careering out of his bottom turn propelling maximum speed to the lip… one, two, three times he battered the peeling peak, squeezing everything out of every wave. James couldn’t match him on that one.” Airton: 15.16 James: 14.43

“The highlight of the day came in heat 9A: a battle between Duotone team mates, both backsiders; James Carew and Sebastian Ribeiro. James’ wave count was not only high, but expertly selected – and he scored an outstanding 9.5 for a very deep barrel. Brave! Somehow Sebastian’s wave selection just never panned out, whether it was down to wrong position, poor luck, or James just being a wave magnet.” say’s Gaunt.

The final showdown for Airton and James was spectacular. Matchu Lopes, sadly not competing due to an injury, says of team mate Cozzollino; “he’s powerful, radical, always positive – he’s full-send all the time; success or failure. Whether he’s ill or injured, it doesn’t matter, he’s a powerhouse that takes a huge force to take down.”

In the Women’s event, Jalou Langaree took no prisoners from the start as she turned potential threat and local rider, Nina, away from the competition in the first heat. Back from injury and stronger than ever, the water-woman was on fire. Duotone rider Sophia couldn’t match Langaree’s performance and neither could Carla Herrera who settled for 2nd place in the Singles. 3rd place was claimed by Maria Kinkina, Duotone, with a 0.4 lead over Sophia Abreu, Duotone.

The gauntlet was thrown down in the Double eliminations. Catarina Edin, Duotone, has been biting at the ankles of the worlds best over the last few seasons, progressing through the rounds of this epic event with style and easy. There was also the arrival of a new face, Duotone’s Olivia Jenkins, who’s known to charge the monster wave, Jaws, and the world-class breaks of her backyard, Maui, Hawaii. Both advanced through three heats, and both were shut down by Nina Ricot who was on a second-chance mission to face Jalou in the finals.

As in the men’s, Ninja repeated the performance of Duotone team mate Sebastian Ribeiro, taking the grinding effort in her stride and making it to the finals against Langaree.