GKA Kite World Cup Neom (KSA) 2022 - Final Day 4 - Best Of

For all four riders (Gianmaria Coccoluto (ITA) / Juan Rodriguez (COL) / Arthur Guillebert (FRA) / Manoel Soares (BRA)) in the final, this wasn’t their cleanest performance, but that can of course be the result of the pressure in the final. There was no doubt though that Soares dominated the final and deservingly took the win. His best trick was the heart attack 7 he threw on trick three, scoring 8.73, right at the moment that the other riders in the heat were really starting to have words with themselves, wondering how their consistency had suddenly deserted them. In the interview on the stream, Soares broke down in tears and thanked god for being able to make it to the event at all, and was just obviously so happy and grateful. Remember this is an unsponsored rider from a small town in Brazil for whom kiteboarding has taken over his life and now finds himself in the driving seat for the world championship. The women’s final consisted of Claudia Leon (ESP) / Rita Arnaus (ESP) / Mikaili Sol (BRA) and Bruna Kajiya (BRA). Spaniard Claudia Leon took her first event win thanks to an incredible level of composure, continuing to land tricks cleanly time and again. The multiple world champions and 2021 vice world champion Mikaili Sol uncharacteristically faltered behind, with the pressure increasing on each of the seven trick attempts. Trick four had been key. Arnaus, Kajya and Sol were stunned again when Leon’s 7.10 score dropped for an S-3 on the outside. Claudia Leon’s first world tour win became a reality.