Cabarete has announced that the 2003 Kiteboarding World Cup will be held from 24-30 June, for the fourth consecutive year in the North Coast town famous for its surf. The 2002 event was so successful that the Kite Riders Federation chose Cabarete as the No. 1 kitesurfing destination in the world ? even ranking it above the very popular King of the Air site in Maui, Hawaii. The Dominican Republic is the second stop on the tour that began in Austria on 25 April. From the Dominican Republic, it will continue on to Fuerteventura, Holland, Italy and Brazil, ending with the finals on 25 November.
Some 84 competitors from 23 countries are expected to participate this year, including competitors from the US, Argentina, Colombia and Moscow. International coverage will be provided by FoxSport, ESPN and Eurosport and organizers say the event positions Cabarete as a leading sport-tourism destination.
Kiteboarding was first developed by two French brothers, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux, in France in the early 80s, and it has recently become a premiere extreme sport worldwide. The Legaignoux brothers currently reside in the Dominican Republic, from where they continue to
perfect the kites.
The dynamic sport that allows for big jumps and soft landings allows the rider to harness power from the wind, requiring no boat, or fees. Contrary to other sailing events, maximum thrills can be had with little windpower.
Another plus spurring the popularity and development of the sport is that once the gear is procured (at an estimated cost of US$1,700), practice sessions are cost-free. Also attractive is the fact that kiteboarding equipment is lightweight and easy to transport.
Competitions will be held in freestyle and best-trick session categories. In the freestyle event, a maximum of four participants will compete along a course marked by buoys. Each participant is evaluated for height of the jumps, number of turns, position of the board (above or below the athlete) and the precision of the landing. In the second category, what matters are the difficulty and execution of the tricks performed, not the time registered.
Participation in the Cabarete competition will include 32 of the top men and 16 of the top women in the world, such as Martin Vari (Argentina); David Tyburski, Chris Gilbert and Adam Koch (United States); Mark Shinn and Aaron Hadlow (England); Julien Sudrat (France); and Luciano Gonz?lez and Jos? Luis Ciriaco (Dominican Republic). Among the leading women competitors are Cindy Mosey (New Zealand); Ingrid K?llbichler (Austria); and Laurel Eastman (United States.)
The event is sponsored by Banreservas, the Ministry of Tourism, Sea Horse Ranch, Cabarete Events, and the Association for Development of Cabarete, among others, in conjunction with international coordination from the Profesional Kite Riders Association.
For more information contact Desiree Garc?a at info@cabareteevents.com