North American Kiteboarding Championship comes to San Diego Yacht Club
November 4, 2018
Foil kites will compete against each other, Nov. 8-11, on San Diego Bay.
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Yacht Club will host the 2018 North American Kiteboarding Championship, Nov. 8-11, with an estimated 30 “kiters” competing against each other on San Diego Bay.
Foil kites will be launched from Crown Cove State beach in San Diego and then shred through local waters until the finish.
The championship event will feature a series of races, with competitors hailing from North and South America. Top-ranked performers can qualify for the 2019 Pan American Games.
This event, in and of itself, is a relatively new competition. The first North American championship was held at Puerto Rico in 2010; St. Francis Yacht Club hosted the championship event in 2011. The championship has also been held at Santa Barbara Yacht Club and various locations in Baja California.
Race organizers have established a “Short Track” format for this championship event. The track is less than three miles in overall length and foil kite riders can notch speeds at up to 30 knots while on the course.
An opening ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 8, with racing set to begin on Nov. 9. All racing will finish on Nov. 11.
San Diego YC hosted the North American Kiteboarding Championship in 2014.
Foil Kiteboarding, coincidentally, is being considered as a sport at the 2024 Olympics.
Photo: International Kiteboarding Association Facebook
