A perfect day in kite paradise! The third and final day of the first official Dominican Kiteboarding Championship crossed the finish line in the name of success today. Mother Nature blessed Kite Beach Cabarete with what can only be determined as the perfect day. Kite Beach Hotel hosted a great number of spectators, and the riders gave it all on the water. In great sportsmanship the riders competed against each other hunting for the grand title as the new Dominican Champion to rule the throne for the year to come. Both juniors and seniors hold a level of kiteboarding that is impressive and amazing, and what the spectators saw today was nothing but world class riders.

Category Open was equally intense with extremely high level and hard competition. Through single elimination, quarter and semi finals, one by one had to retreat to the beach to watch some of the riders that can easily any day make an impression even in the world cup.

In the end, one rider took it all the way and can well deserved take place on the top of the podium at the price giving ceremony this evening. Fighting against the young and talented Luis Alberto in the finals, 18 year old Emmanuel Rondon is now to be considered the best Dominican kiteboarding athlete. Emmanuel is a local Cabarete rider who is always to be found on the water. In light wind, strong wind, gusty or whatever wind. This rider has progressed with the speed of light throughout his young career and will do his best to fight the best in the upcoming world cup event next week. Emmanuel is being given a wild card for the PKRA as a reward for his riding.

Congratulations to Emmanuel Rondon with his new title Dominican Kiteboarding Champion 2007!

I am very happy to finally make it all the way to the top, but I have to admit that I didn’t really know what my level would be compared to the other riders. For a long time I haven’t felt like I’ve had the right kite to help me give my best, but now everything has come together and I feel absolutely satisfied with myself.

The event has been very nice, and the wind has been good every day. The judging in particular has been good, and we have been blessed with fair and good judges. I don’t think they’ve made one single bad decision about any of the riders, and I think we all feel that way.

Now I’m going to rest and focus towards the PKRA CAberete world cup event in a few days, but first I will celebrate with a party and an Open Minds concert here at Kite Beach Hotel this evening.

- Emmanuel Rondon, the Dominican Kiteboarding Champion 2007

Copyright Hege Holt