The inaugural IKA SnowKite WorldCup will include the well proven snowkite events in Reschensee, Roccaraso (both Italy) and Ercyes, Turkey.
The disciplines featured will be Course Racing (standard windward/leeward courses similar to sailing), Long Distance / Cross-Country (a long distance race making use of the geographical situations at the venue, including ascends and descends) and Formula GPS (a freeride race format where riders collect points depending of their use of the racing area, covered distance, altitude and other parameters).
Freestyle exhibition events may be added depending on the snow and weather forecast.
The aim of the SnowKite WorldCup is to give the world's best snowkiters a competition platform with a strong focus on media and promotion of the riders and their sponsors and brands.
The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has been working with WISSA (World Ice and Snow Sailing Association) since 2009 on the development of rules, and cooperated with WISSA on race management and jury work. IKA is a member of World Sailing and cooperates with FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski) on individual snowkite events.
The first event of the 2018 World Cup will kick off from 26-28 January in Reschensee (Lago Di Resia), a venue that has been holding international snowkite events, including European Championships under IKA recognition since 2008. Reschensee is well known for its ideal snow and wind conditions and one of the longest running snowkite events.
The tour will then move to Roccaraso in Altosangro - Abruzzo, where the "World Snowkite Contest" has become a classic event for many riders due to its perfect conditions and the terrain making it ideal for cross country racing and Formula GPS freeracing. Dates are 15-18 February.
The tour final will be held from 22 to 25 March at a new venue for the tour, but a well known place in the world of Snowboarding. Erciyes-Kayseri is one of the annual stops of the FIS snowboard world tour, but also home to the annual Erciyes SnowKite Festival. The venue well above the timber line allows for all three disciplines to be held to crown the first SnowKite WorldCup champions.
More information, registration and Notice of Race can be found atwww.snowkiteworldcup.com.
