PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica – Jamaica is set to host the first leg of the Kiteboard Pro World Tour 2010 (KPWT), from March 25 – April 3. The event will take place at Long Bay Beach in the island’s resort area of Port Antonio, a favorite spot of many visitors seeking a picturesque and tranquil Caribbean getaway.
The 10-day Jamaica Kiteboard Pro, sanctioned by the International Kiteboard Federation, has attracted top male and female pro world kiteboarders from Spain, Brazil, Norway, France, Italy, UK, USA and Mexico. The athletes will be rippling the waves and doing battle in a variety of disciplines including freestyle, waves master, course racing/slalom – junior. Competitors will vie for the euro 40,000 prize money and will be judged on variety, technical difficulty and overall execution.
On the men’s side, 2009 World Wave Pro Champion Jan Macros Riveras of the Dominican Republic will seek to capture another title. The battle on the women’s side is expected to be just as keen with Kari Schibevaag of Norway, 2009 KPWT overall Ladies World Champion, against the 2008/2009 KPWT Waves Master champion Kriste Jones of Wales, and Poland’s 2008 KPWT World Champion Auria Grezlinska.
The Jamaica Kiteboard Pro is expected to attract a wide array of international media including Sky Sports, Nova Sports, Sports TV, Fox Television, and Sailing Channel. The event will expose Jamaica, and by extension the host location of Port Antonio, as a world-class region for kiteboarding.
“We are excited that Jamaica was selected as one of the host destinations for the 2010 Kiteboarding Pro World Tour Circuit, which will afford us another great opportunity to showcase Port Antonio and all this region has to offer,” said Jamaica’s Director of Tourism John Lynch. “Hosting this unique world class event provides an opportunity to tap into this extreme sports audience, which represents a niche market for Jamaica.”
