The format of the first Kite-Surf competition saw each heat divided into two segments, combining strapless tricks with wave riding. The total heat score for each rider was determined by having the riders perform strapless tricks in the first part of the heat, with only the best one being counted plus the best wave score from the final eight minutes of the heat as well as the third-highest score resulting either from a trick or a wave.

All eyes were on Australia’s James Carew, who clinched his third World title by winning the 2023 Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite Surfboard World Championship, yet sustaining a serious injury whilst doing so. An ACL reconstruction, snapped tibia, destroyed ankle and deep bone bruising, meant a long road to recovery. Sylt was James’s comeback event and he was hungrier than ever.

Known for his incredibly powerful riding and insane barrel finesse, right from the get-go it was very obvious that James was back in “James’ style”, advancing straight to Round 3 with a 22.20 heat total compared to the 13.30 and 2.53 of his competitors. And so did his teammates and crowd favourites Pedro Matos (BRA) and Matchu Lopes (ESP) advance.

On Day 3, another day with strong winds and the wild North Sea, the girls were up. Big Air World Champion 2023 Camille Losserand (SUI) was on fire securing herself a spot in Round 3 with a heat total of 14.33.

After Round 1 of the women was completed, the competition switched back to the men’s. With super gusty and unkind winds up to 40 knots in the late afternoon and a heavy shorebreak due to the high tide, the action in Sylt reached unprecedented heights. The crowd was going wild as Gabriel Benetton (BRA) made history by landing a triple front roll shove-it three, one of the most impressive freestyle moves possible, and the first ever seen in competition, earning him a perfect 10.0 score.

Heat 4 was nerve-racking with Lorenzo Casati (ESP) up against back-hand wave shredder Pedro Matos (BRA), both stomping out big scores right from the start. Neck-on-neck literally into the closing moments of the heat, Casati’s last wave secured him a tight win with a total of 19.80 over Matos’ 18.60. Matchu Lopes (ESP), made up for it in Heat 6, advancing with a crazy Double Front Roll Shove-It 3 and solid waveriding over Leonardo Casati (ESP), Lorenzo’s brother.

At 6 pm, the competition switched back to the women, with the wind in the high thirties and heavy gusts into the forties. The weather couldn’t faze Camille Losserand (SUI) with the incredibly determined, super powerful and stylish young Swiss rider securing herself a spot in the semi-final.

Although Day 4 started off pretty miserably with thick cloud cover and rain, it turned into an epic men’s finals day. The quarter-final heats kicked off the action just before midday with the same format, seven minutes of strapless freestyle, followed by a one-minute break, then eight minutes of wave riding.

By then already declared “comeback King” James Carew (AUS) was up against his teammate and 2023 Vice World Champion Matchu Lopes (ESP). Gusting between 20 and 35+ knots and the North Sea wild and angry, both riders went all in and didn’t hold back with massive moves and heavy crashes. With a crazy Kite Loop Tic Tac, the biggest of the competition, Carew put a 9.5 on his scorecard, backed up by a 9.0 for a Contra Loop Back Roll Board Off and a 6.1 as his best wave score, ultimately securing him a spot in the quarters. Unfortunately, that meant, the exit for crowd favourite Matchu. We’re proud of you Matchu and we know you’ll be back tearing it up in the next comp with your great vibes and big smile that we all love so much.

In the early afternoon, the women’s semi-final heat number one commenced, with Camille Losserand (SUI) up against Clémence Derrien (FRA). With some great waves and a heat total difference of more than 10 points over her competitor, Camille stomped her way into the final.

Despite the insane wind and heavy rain, the action continued into the men’s semi-finals. James Carew (AUS) cemented his place in the final by winning against Bulgarian Nicola Abadjiev. James dominated this heat in an impressive show of power, skill, style and his trademark go-mega-hard-or-go-home attitude boosting around 20m high in over 40 knots of wind as well as showing off his air game in the waves too.

A couple of hours later, the buzzer for the men’s final between Gabriel Benetton (BRA) and James Carew (AUS) signalled the start of the heat. The crowd went nuts watching these two legendary gladiators entering the arena, the wild North Sea showing off what she’s infamous for with winds close to 60 knots. Starting the heat with a giant Front Roll Tic Tac as his opening manoeuvre followed by a Contraloop Back Roll Tic Tac, James Carew showed yet gain how much he wanted to make his comeback appearance one for the history books — and he did! After a kite swap between the freestyle and the wave part of the heat (would be interesting to say which kites!!) James accidentally headed out with crossed lines, yet, not even that couldn’t stop him. Maxing out every turn, throwing bucket loads of spray in critical sections, squeezing the very last bit of juice out of every wave, he stormed his way to the event victory, showing everyone why he’s a Triple World Champion.

Massive congratulations to you James, winning your comeback event after this long, hard road to recovery, is super impressive and truly inspirational and we at Duotone could not be more proud of you. Legendary work mate!! Also congratulations to Gabriel Benetton (BRA) in second, and Lorenzo Casati (ESP) in third place.

On Day 5, the waiting game was on for the women, with the wind not cooperating and the competition eventually called off for the day.

Day 6, the last day of the competition window, greeted the competitors, judging panel and spectators with blue skies and a nice onshore breeze. Camille Losserand (SUI) and Capucine Delannoy (FRA) went off in an epic final, both putting some high scores on the board. Ultimately Capucine Delannoy secured the win 3.3 points ahead of Camille Losserand. A fantastic end to a truly crazy event — wow, Sylt, you sure put on a show for us, and we already look forward to being back next year!

Congratulations also to Duotone Switzerland team tider Peer Schnyder (SUI) for placing third in the Defender GKA Hydrofoil Big Air Kite Sylt 2024, the debut event for this new discipline.

The next stop on the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour will be in Dakhla, Morocco, from 29th September to 6th October 2024.