Kiteboarding, hailed as the fastest sport in the Olympic Games, is set to make its debut on Sunday, promising action-packed racing as kite sailors navigate the course at breakneck speeds. With separate events for 20 women and 20 men, kiteboarding represents two of the 10 disciplines within the sailing program being staged off the coast of Marseille, France.
The high-speed foiling version of kiteboarding, selected for the Olympics, has evolved from various kiteboarding styles. Athletes, donning helmets for safety, stand on a short board with foot straps and soar above the water on foils. Using a harness, they lean backward, their boards tilting at seemingly impossible angles, as they race at speeds exceeding 80 kph (50 mph). A long keel with a foil at the bottom is attached to the board, aiding in lifting it out of the water. The kites are steered using a control bar.
Similar to other sailing events, kiteboarders race around buoys, maneuvering to avoid entanglement with each other’s lines or dipping their brightly colored kites into the water. The Olympic equipment, Formula Kite, is classified by World Sailing as a high-performance hydro-foiling kite-racing class. Unlike some sailing classes, the equipment is not standardized, allowing competitors to choose from approved production gear. This discipline, often referred to as foil racing, is not the largest segment within the sport, but it has become the equivalent of Formula One, according to Max Blom, CMO of North Actionsports Group and Mystic co-founder.
In the men’s event, Max Maeder of Singapore, the world champion and top-ranked in the latest World Sailing rankings, describes kiteboarding as driving a racing car while playing a game of chess. Other top contenders include Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi, Cyprus’ Denis Taradin, Croatia’s Martin Dolenc, and Austria’s Valentin Bontus. France’s Axel Mazella, ranked ninth, is also attracting attention due to his potential home advantage. Among the women, Daniela Moroz of the United States leads the World Sailing rankings, followed by France’s Lauriane Nolot, Britain’s Eleanor Aldridge, Australia’s Breiana Whitehead, and Spain’s Gisela Pulido Borrell.
The race format is somewhat complex. The opening series consists of 16 races on a short course, typically encompassing two laps. The top two finishers in this series automatically qualify for the final, while those ranked third to tenth proceed to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, as explained by the International Kiteboarding Association, the goal is to secure three race wins. The higher-ranked competitor in each semifinal carries over two race wins, while the second-placed competitor carries over one. The final can consist of anything from one to six races. This is due to the fact that the leader from the opening series starts with two race wins, while the kiteboarder in second place has one. The objective is to achieve three race wins, with the competition concluding as soon as one athlete accomplishes this feat.
