Capucine Delannoy claims third World Title
North Team Rider Capucine Delannoy has again triumphed, claiming her third GKA World title in Ibiraquera, Brazil.
18-year-old Delannoy built on previous performances this season to recapture the crown she lost a year ago. Placing third in the penultimate Kite-Surf event on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour - the fourth of five scheduled tour stops - earned her enough points to reclaim the title.
“Getting the title before my final event was really my goal here, and I’m just so happy,” said Delannoy. “I’ve worked the whole year for this. My dad, coach, and so many people helped me get here. Then it goes so quickly: 10 minutes, and you can win or lose it. Well, I won it, and I’m really, really happy.”
Delannoy was defeated in the Ibiraquera semi-final by a Dane based in Australia, Yasmina Bujanow. Bujanow won her first World Cup competition on the first attempt with stunning surfing, even in the tricky conditions.
Leading up to the event, Delannoy was strong, holding the top rank on the Tour. She was in a solid position to reclaim the title she won in 2022.
Competing fiercely, Camille Losserand and her teammate, Kesiane Rodrigues, pursued Delannoy with determination. After Losserand faced an early exit in the quarterfinals, Delannoy prepared to challenge Kesiane in the mini-final.
Their last encounter in Dakhla had seen Kesiane triumph, raising the stakes even higher.
As the mini-final unfolded in Ibiraquera, the tension was palpable. Both athletes showcased their talents, scoring impressively on their final waves. Delannoy won, securing third place. This result, and consistent riding over the four championship events, earned her enough points to reclaim the title.
Conditions across the Tour presented various challenges. Capucine demonstrated her ability to adapt to lighter winds in Cape Verde and Dakhla, where she claimed second place in both events. She also excelled in the super strong conditions in Sylt, Germany, where she scored a perfect 10 for her win. At Sylt, Delannoy experienced the heat of her life, landing an incredible front roll shove-it three, the first time this manoeuvre had been seen in a women’s competition.
“I landed it before,” said Delannoy, “but it was pretty hard in these conditions. I was super happy to win another title, and Sylt is such a special place for me.”
North team rider and Brazilian National Champion Sophia Abreu finished second place at Ibaqueria after an all-Brazilian semi where Sophia Abreu eased past Kesiane Rodrigues as the wind dropped.
Copa Kitley GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Ibiraquera 2024 Results
- Yasmina Bujanow (DEN/AUS)
- Sophia Abreu (BRA)
- Capucine Delannoy (FRA)
- Kesiane Rodrigues (BRA)
Qatar Airways GKA Kitesurf World Cup 2024 Results
- Capucine Delannoy
- Kesiane Rodrigues
- Camille Losserand
