Limbo dancers, fire eaters, snake charmers, live bands, calypso serenaders ... and of course lots of kitesurfing action - this was the first ever St Lucia Kitesurfing Fiesta held at Anse de Sable beach on 16th - 18th March 2007.
The fun, pro-am competition was one of the fringe events organised for the 2007 Cricket World Cup which is currently being hosted by the West Indies with several first-round matches played in St Lucia. The event was organised by the Southern Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) in collaboration with The Reef Kite + Surf and was sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic, Red Bull, Transcend Clothing and The Reef.
Over a two-day period, riders from Guadeloupe, Barbados, Costa Rica, UK, USA, and St Lucia competed for cash prizes, slogging it out in freestyle, course racing and big-air sessions and wowed the crowds with innovative expression sessions. The mood of the event was fun, fun and more fun.
Cabrinha pro-rider Damien Leroy flew in to judge the event and with the help of David and Rachel Hastilow, kept everyone's eyes glued to the action with riveting commentary. One often heard remark from spectators was: "I didn't think it would be so exciting."
Results:
Women's Freestyle
1. Beth Lygoe (UK)
2. Melissa Gil (Costa Rica)
3. Rachel Hastilow (UK)
Women's Course Racing
Men & women rode the same course and Beth Lygoe was the overall winner.
1. Beth Kygoe (UK) - overall winner
2. Melissa Gil (Costa Rica)
Men's Freestyle
1. Yoann Guignot (Guadeloupe)
2. David Hastilow (UK)
3. Evan Ponka (USA)
Men's Course Racing
1. David Hastilow (UK)
2. Evan Ponka (USA)
3. Yoann Guignot (Guadeloupe)
Want to see more Kite Fiesta action?
Here are two things you can do:
1. Make sure you're here for next year's Kite Fiesta 2008
