Lukas wins first ever Auckland Course Race

Lukas Walton-KeimThis Saturday, the Auckland Windsurfers organised the first ever combined Windsurfer and Kitesurfer 1 hour course race in Bayswater, Auckland, New Zealand.

A bunch of kiters bravely entered, not sure what to expect, only to find themselves in conditions which made staying up-wind a serious challenge: Light winds and the tide going with the wind.

Most of us had to admit defeat and could not complete the course. Only 2 kiters managed any laps around the course: The cunning George Stead, who is probably the best local kiter in light winds and the master of going upwind on his old/long Underground board and his Cabrinha kite, and Lukas Walton on his GIN Nasca II and his Underground FLX.

Lukas from Wings & Waves, age 13, won by 1 lap and hence is the winner of the first ever Auckland kitesurfing course race. Congratulations! Don't ask how the rest of us did...

There were suggestions, that we had put "the small guy" on a huge kite and / or a huge board, but neither of this was the case. Lukas was on his 10m GIN Nasca - the ideal weapon for the task on hand - and his usual Underground FLX 128 board which at 63 kg was much the same as anyone else. He showed lots of skill and determination to complete the 60 mins in difficult conditions.

Let's hope for more wind next time, the competition will be fierce. I will probably take that kite off him to increase my chances...

Lukas Walton-Keim