The fastest sailing monohulls in the world will feature at the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The Kiteboard Tour Asia (KTA) will host an invitation-only event at this year’s King’s Cup to celebrate 25 years of the regatta.
As many as 20 riders are expected to take part in the exhibition event, and the roster will comprise a mix of talented Asian Kiteboarders and International pro riders from the World Tour.
Narapichit “Yo” Pudla, two-time Asia Champion from Thailand, and Aya Oshima, two-time Asia Freestyle/ Race Champion and two-time Japanese Freestyle Champion will head this exciting demonstration event.
Like Windsurfing, Kiteboarding is a relatively inexpensive entry for sailors who just want to get out there and do it. Gear can be carried on a plane and there is no need for infrastructure that some other parts of sailing requires.
The sport already has a strong following in parts of Thailand with Hua Hin playing host to the international tour for the last two seasons and Pranburi the Thailand stop on the Kiteboard Tour Asia.
Willy Kerr, KTA Tour Director, said:
“This year’s Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will feature a thrilling KTA Race event which will be a unique addition to the Phuket King’s Cup. There is a growing interest in the sport across much of South East Asia, and we’re very excited to be able to bring this spectacle to people who may not be familiar with the stylish, cool fun of the professional kiteboarding scene.”
Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organising Committee, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome an exhibition event by Kiteboard Tour Asia at this year’s Phuket King’s Cup. This is a bold step for us in terms of broadening the Regatta, and we hope this new element will have very strong appeal to kiteboarding enthusiasts and a younger sailing audience. Kiteboarding continues to grow in popularity in Asia, and Thailand in particular offers an accessible and exciting opportunity for anyone who wishes to see pro kiteboarding events.”
