The KSP world tour kicked off with the first of 3 world championship kite-surfing stops at the One Eye Pro in Mauritius from Sept 23 to Oct 1st. Waves ranged from 8 to 20 foot plus faces over the 10 day holding period with strong wind and possibly the biggest and best surf ever seen in a kitesurfing competition.
North international team rider Airton Cozzolino (Italy) and local wildcard Ninja Bichler (Mauritian resident originally from Germany) won the men's and women's division respectively. Airton was unstoppable, riding strapless and surfing top to bottom in surf ranging from slightly overhead to 5 times overhead. Airton was the only rider in the competition to score a perfect 10 on one of his waves in his quarter final battle against fellow North team mate Sky Solbach. Women's winner Ninja Bichler used her local knowledge to her advantage as she slayed the massive waves with style and ease en-route to her first elite tour victory.
Competing in her 1st ever wave event- UK North Rider & 4 x Race World Champion Steph Bridge placed 3rd riding strapless and bagging some big tubes and huge wipeouts in the free-surf sessions, while North riders Sky Solbach and Patri Mclaughlin, also riding strapless, placed 5th. Both Patri and Sky's runs to victory were halted when they came up against the eventual finalists Mitu Monteiro and Airton Cozzolino in the quarter finals. Patri was said to have pulled into one of the biggest tubes of the event in the free-surf session.
Other North riders in the top 10 included Jeremy Eloy (France), John Admundson (Hawaii) and Lee Harvey (UK).

For some insane footage & incredible display of kite-surfing check out all the action and heats on demand at www.kspworldtour.com
Be sure to tune in and watch the 2nd Stop on the KSP world tour as it is streamed live on location from Pacasmayo, Peru in just 2 weeks time. (October 19th to 28th)