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Qatar Airways, the Title Partner and Official Airline of the GKA Kite World Tour, closed out another successful competition that took place from 26 May – 07 June in Tarifa, Spain. Additionally, Qatar Airways GKA Awards were held on 3 June, presenting nine categories that celebrate various triumphs and honourable achievements throughout the year.

The Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite World Championships connected more than 62 riders from across the globe to compete in three Big Air disciplines—Twin-Tip, Surfboard and Hydrofoil—in men’s and women’s divisions. The festivities continued during this period with the awards ceremony that took place in Tarifa’s Teatro Municipal Alameda for the second consecutive year. The ceremony crowned kitesurfing’s greatest athletes and their achievements. The individual winners of the nine awards included:

·         Female Rider of the Year: Mikaili Sol

·         Male Rider of the Year: Gianmaria Coccoluto

·         Women’s Move of the Year: Zara Hoogenraad

·         Men’s Move of the Year: Andrea Principi

·         Rookie of the Year: Gabriel Benetton

·         Social Contribution of the Year: Graham Howes

·         Photo of the Year: Samuel Cárdenas

·         Video of the Year: Lidewij Hartog

·         Lifetime Achievement Award (Legends): Mitu Monteiro

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As we conclude yet another remarkable GKA Big Air Kite World Championships in Tarifa, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the athletes, organisers, and passionate kiteboarding community for making this event an unforgettable success.

We eagerly anticipate flying enthusiastic fans from around the world to the upcoming Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Finals set to take place this December in Qatar.”

“The Qatar Airways GKA Big Air Kite World Championships in Tarifa have been a huge success again – thanks to the support from Qatar Airways,” said Dr. Jörgen Vogt, Secretary General of the Global Kitesports Association. “Within one year, the event has become the most anticipated competition of the season and crowning the Big Air World Champions here in Tarifa is one of the highlights of the kiteboarding year. The Qatar Airways GKA Awards night has again been a memorable evening where we have recognized the best athletes, their greatest achievements, and outstanding contributions to the sport. The Awards trophy has become a highly coveted prize in the sport – as shown by the emotional reactions of some of the sport’s biggest names.”

On 5-9 December 2023, Qatar Airways will host world-renowned riders and fans at the Fuwairit Kite Beach resort for the Visit Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup Finals. The world-class kitesurfing resort, which opened in October 2022, is Qatar’s latest destination for kitesports northeast of Doha. Along with great conditions and beautiful sandy shores, the resort features several spaces for relaxation including a pool, yoga pavilion, padel courts, an outdoor cinema, and a state-of-the-art gym. With a total of 50 rooms, the resort offers 40 beach-front rooms, where guests can enjoy the tranquillity of the natural lagoon.

Qatar Airways as a brand is committed to supporting sports globally, helping fans travel to their favourite events around the world. The national carrier of the State of Qatar is the Official Airline of Formula 1® (F1), Concacaf, Paris-Saint Germain, FC Bayern, the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon Series, the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), and multiple other disciplines including Australian football, basketball, cricket, equestrian, motor racing, squash, and tennis.