Daredevil surfing antics wow crowd

Never before have Kenyan watersports fans experienced such a spectacular show of skill and bravery. This was watersports at its finest, the stuff you only see on cable network Sports Illustrated or the Gillette World Sports Special programme.

Last weekend, a legion of local and international kite-surfers thrilled spectators with their daredevil antics during this year’s Nyali Kite Surfing competition. The moves – which included flights over floating bonfires – were breathtaking. Most of the twinkle-of-an-eye manoeuvres could fit well in action movies.

The scene was Nyali International Beach Hotel in Mombasa, where this annual tournament ran its fifth straight year. Out of the 25 surfers who participated, 15 were Kenyans while the rest came from the UK (four), Australia, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. “The beauty of the event is that it attracts a crew of riders made up of a mixture of local kiters, professional kiters, promising stars of the future, and a whole lot of goodwill,” said Natalie Bland of Prosurf Kenya, the tournament’s organisers.

Exhilarating tricks

During the three-day tournament, events such as racing, the kicker and slider with ramps in the water to jump over and a big air and freestyle session coveted the attention of the crowd. And the show stopper – surfers jumping over bonfires of flaming wooden boats and while midair, pulling off some exhilarating tricks and flips, leaving spectators on the edge.

World champion kite surfer Gabriele Steidl also thrilled spectators. The Austrian has since 2003 won several World Cup titles for the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association and is ranked in the top 10 kite surfers worldwide. Some of Kenya’s best kite surfers who took part in the competition include John Koyiet, Kevin Cleave and Lindsay Kennaway.

The event raised about Sh170,000, which was channelled towards the Medical and Educational Aid for Kenya (MEAK) in Taita Taveta District and the International Centre for Reproductive Health.

Results:

Race Day: 1.Kenneth Haji (Nyali Kenya); 2.Ricardo Fortunato (Diani Kenya); 3.Tara Woods (Watamu Kenya);
Kicker & Slider: 1.John Koyiet (Kenya); 2.Edgar Muthande (Kenya); 3.James Kinnear (Ireland);
Big Air: 1.John Koyiet (Kenya); 2.Claudio Cucci (Italy); 3.Tara Woods (Kenya);
Freestyle: 1.Riccardo Fortunato (Diani, Kenya); 2.Tara Wood (Watamu Kenya); 3.John Koyiet (Kenya);
Best Race Day Tangle: Ravin Patel (UK); Pro Men’s: Chris Burke; Pro Women’s: Gabriele Steidl