GKA Big Air Kite World Cup Mykonos Finals: Part 7

Finals Day at the GKA World Championship

The Brazilian Brothers are back on the beach for Finals Day at the GKA World Championship in Mykonos. Yesterday was full of action, and today the tension is high. Everything is on the line for both the male and female athletes, with a ton of money and a life-changing world championship crown up for grabs. By 11:00 AM, the wind is already cranking, kites are in the air, and a massive crowd is forming to watch the riders go absolutely huge.

GKA Staff Insights and Judging Style

Catching up with GKA staff member and judge Hamada Titi, he's stoked to see the next generation pushing the level of the sport more and more. He gives a big shout-out to the R&D teams from brands around the world for their gear innovations. When asked who his favorite rider to win is, he keeps it neutral as a judge, but admits he prefers the most stylish riders-those bringing radical style and perfect kite angles to their maneuvers. For him, it's all about doing it with style: go big or go home.

Rubens interviews GKA staff member and judge Hamada Titi.

Round 3 Heat Action

The action kicks off with an epic heat between Jamie Overbeek and Shahar Tsabary. Down to the last seconds, Jamie is sitting in second place with one attempt left to try and take the win from Shahar. Ultimately, Shahar takes the win, looking incredibly strong, but with Jamie coming in second, both riders secure their spots in the semi-finals.

Shahar Tsabary competes with a big air trick.

Photo Credit: GKA World Tour

Checking in with Harlem Kitesurfing

On the beach, the guys run into Alex Morgenstern, founder of Harlem Kitesurfing. With the Casati brothers about to hit the water on Harlem gear, Alex is super proud of his team. He notes the clouds building up, giving the spot some serious Cape Town vibes, and hopes the wind picks up even more for a proper show. He shouts out Lorenzo, Leo, and Stino—who had a really good heat—and mentions that the whole fleet is still in the race. He also sends a shoutout to Baptiste for an epic performance yesterday and wishes Lana a quick return to the water. The setup couldn't be better, and Alex is hoping for another podium finish for the team.

Rubens and Harlem's Alex Morgenstern share a fist bump.

The Brazilian Storm and Baby Shark's Upset

Next up is an absolutely insane heat featuring Baby Shark, Lorenzo Casati, Finn Flugel, and Maxwell Dahl. The level is off the charts as massive gusts roll through. Finn Flugel sends a massive double or triple, while Leonardo Casati executes a huge backroll tornado mega loop straight through the end zone. But it's Baby Shark who goes absolutely insane, landing a massive trick in a huge gust to cause a major upset, eliminating Finn Flugel and moving straight into the semi-finals.

Baby Shark catches a massive gust and goes big.

Fresh off the water, Baby Shark is hyped. He admits he actually missed the skippers meeting because he slept too much—going straight from bed to the water without even eating breakfast! Despite the chaotic morning, he felt great on the water and is ready to give everything in the hard semi-finals ahead, reminding everyone that "Brazilians never give up."

Legendary rider Menios Liontas is on the beach, mind blown by the level of riding. He mentions how crazy it is to be in Mykonos watching the athletes he grew up watching videos of, now competing up close.

Legend Menios Liontas tells Rubens how stoked he is to see the next generation of riders.

Semi-Final Push: Andrea Principi and Jason Van Der Spuy

The action doesn't stop, with Andrea Principi hitting the water next. After missing the final in the last event, he is eager to cause an upset and claim that prize money. Knowing the spot better than anyone, he's ready to send it in the strong conditions against riders like Jason Van Der Spuy and Zac Adams.

After his heat, Naish Pro Rider Jason Van Der Spuy is stoked to have made it to the semi-finals. He admits that "Lady Luck" was on his side today. The conditions were challenging—there was good wind and lift before his heat, then it dropped off, but it became more consistent today. While other guys were crashing, Jason managed to catch the right gusts. Now, he's got his eyes set on the finals and that dream $18k prize purse.

Rubens interviews Naish Pro Rider Jason Van Der Spuy.