(openPR) - The kick off event for the 2008 Kitespeed season couln'd have been better. Two races were held today in good speedsailing conditions, and a lot more is to come during the week.

The best start into the new season had Rolf van der Vlugt (NED) with a first and a second place, and Charlotte Consorti (FRA) with two bullets.

After a nice opening ceremony yesterday evening in the Port Saint Louis city hall, some of the riders were a little to late for the initial skippersmeeting, held at 9:00 hours. As the wind was still building up nicely, Race Director Marc Blanc allowed the riders a little more time to prepare their equipment, for a first possible start at 11:00 hours.

The first race was held then saw good conditions with winds around 30 knots and a slightly starboard angle, allowing for top speeds of almost 37 knots. The usual podium aspirants struggled a little bit, and Rolf van der Vlugt snatched the victory ahead of Silvain Hoceini (FRA) and reigning world champion Alexandre Caizergues (FRA). In the womens fleet it was close racing between Charlotte Consorti and outright world record holder Sjoukje Bredenkamp from South Africa, with the better end for Charlotte.

The wind dropped a little bit at the end of the first leg, so the riders were allowed a break of one hour, when the wind picked up again.

The second round was sailed in 25-30 knots of wind, this time with a better end for Alex Caizergues, who closely defeated Rolf van der Vlugt. Patrice Menossi in third completed the first three men.

In the womens fleet almost the same picture, Charlotte ahead of Sjouke, followed by Katja Roose (NED).

Standings after 2 rounds:
1. Rolf van der Vlugt
2. Alexandre Caizergues
3. Sylvain Hoceini
4. Christophe Prin-Guenon
5. Patrice Menossi

1. Charlotte Consorti
2. Sjoukje Bredenkamp
3. Katja Roose

The forecast for the upcoming days is even better than the conditions today, we can expect up to 40 knots of wind from a perfect north direction.

We will try to establish a livecast from tomorrow, but internet connection down at the speed strip is not reliable. Please check www.speedworldcup.com for updates.

For more information about the Speed:World:Cup, the International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) and the Professional Kite Riders Association (PKRA), please contact

Speed:World:Cup
Tour Manager
Markus Schwendtner Consulting GmbH
Wilhelmstr. 25-30
13593 Berlin
Germany
Fon: +49 30 2461 6930
Fax: +49 1212 5 10 60 29 02
email:info@speedworldcup.com

For direct media inquiries, high resolution pictures and video feeds, please contact directly
email: media@speedworldcup.com

Speed:World:Cup is the officially sanctioned world tour of the International Speed Windsurfing Class (ISWC) and the Professional Kite Riders Association (PKRA).

The Speed:World:Cup events go from exceptional action in Namibia to more cosmopolitan spots such as Fuerteventura - the historical European Speedsurfing Capital, to huge shows of extreme conditions on small islands like Karpathos. In total, there are 200 to 300 competitors at the same time, from places like Australia or Brasil, to Germany or Norway.

The Tour has to offer: dynamic, thrilling action, and bring the most visually dynamic aquatic sports to the audience, making it a perfect vehicle to locate sponsors logos; a sport that is set outdoors, healthy and environmental friendly.

Superb action on the water, combined with an interactive and exciting life experience, that creates an atmosphere where the fans and the media are face to face with the most radical and intense competition and the biggest personalities of the sport.
Besides being a sport of radical action, Windsurfing and Kiteboarding is a way of life. This type of life is formed by several elements to which many aspire, but that few can really achieve. Most of, if not even all of these aspects of the sport are represented in the Speed:World:Cup.

The Speed:World:Cup is entitled to hold World, Continental and National Championships and is always looking for partners, local organizers as well as national associations, to propagate this exciting and thrilling discipline all over the world.

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.speedworldcup.com

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Hi-Res Pics and Videos available on request.

TOUR MANAGER: MARKUS SCHWENDTNER

For more information about the Speed:World:Cup, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

Speed:World:Cup

Markus Schwendtner - Tour Manager
Rohrbecker Weg 43
14612 Falkensee
Germany

Fon: +49 1713819139

www.speedworldcup.com
info@speedworldcup.com

The Speed:World:Cup is sanctioned by ISAF, ISWC and PKRA

Please visit these links:
www.internationalwindsurfing.com
www.pkra.info
www.sailing.org