TEAM NEWS: AIRTON BACK ON THE PODIUM IN MOROCCO!
Our team rider Airton Cozzolino maintains the lead in the world championship thanks to his third-place finish in Dakhla!
The third day of the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Dakhla ended with the favorites gaining momentum, with a final four made up of the top 3 in the world rankings before the event, joined by the winner of the last stop in Sylt. This meant a lot of talent gathered for the semi-finals, promising very tight duels.
Kitesurfer: Airton, GONG team rider, on the Ayto Aramid DP, with a FeelX kite bar and Fatal EPS. Photo: GKA World Tour / Chris Besson.
Another Podium in Dakhla
In conditions where opportunities were limited, the final contenders took care to choose the waves with the most potential. Finding the perfect wave and executing was the challenge to meet. On a wave that could suddenly speed up over the sandbar opening the bay, Airton, equipped with the Ayto Aramid DP, threw loops at will to catch up with sections and send huge sprays. True to his style, the reigning World Champion spared no part of the wave, hitting section after section with incredible power and control, capping off several sections with reverse 180s and other risky maneuvers. As the wind shifted to an offshore angle at the end of the day, Airton even got a glimpse of a little barrel on a wave that stood up.
It was a solid display of his talent, but he couldn’t convert it all together on the two waves that counted for the final score, while his opponent, Brazilian Pedro Matos, fully capitalized on his first two waves to earn a spot in the final against James Carew. The Australian, who is currently in top form, was unstoppable in the final, scoring the best heat of the competition with 17.17 points. A victory beyond dispute, setting the stage for an exciting end to the championship.
In the world standings, by matching his third place from last year in Dakhla, Airton remains in the lead but now sees James Carew close in, trailing by just a few points. The next round is set for October 19 in Brazil, where we’ll meet for the next leg of the Tour and a potential resolution of the title race.
Kitesurfer: Airton, GONG team rider, on the Ayto Aramid DP, with a FeelX kite bar and Fatal EPS. Photo: GKA World Tour / Chris Besson.
Kite Ayto Aramid DP Pro Team Series
