2024 KiteFoil World Series Italy – Day 2
by Andy Rice, IKA 3 Oct 18:51 PDT
2-5 October 2024
The future Dr. Maus aims to return to competition on Friday © IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
There are moments of monotony on the kiteboarding circuit, though they are usually brief. The looming threat of thunderstorms, rapidly moving dark clouds across the Sardinian sky, and gusts exceeding 30 knots made racing on the second day of the KiteFoil World Series Sardinia seem unlikely.
However, certain riders are determined not to waste a single moment of beach life, albeit in their own unique ways. While younger brother Karl Maeder took a risk lying flat on Poetto Beach, being swooped by a fast-diving stunt kite, elder brother Max Maeder engaged in a chess match at a nearby beach café.
Brain nourishment
Reflecting on the post-Olympic period, some of the more seasoned kiteboarders are assessing their life choices and deciding how much time they will devote to training and the demanding competitive lifestyle before diving headfirst into preparations for Los Angeles 2028. Among them is Jannis Maus, who represented Germany at Paris 2024 and secured a fifth-place finish at the Olympic Regatta in Marseille.
“We concluded the Olympics on August 8th, and following all those incredible experiences, including the closing ceremony, I returned home for a few weeks,” explained the tall German. “Then, on September 1st, I resumed my university studies, working towards a PhD in wind energy.”
“I’ve been part of a working group for several years, and after completing my Master’s degree in 2022, I committed to my kiteboarding campaign for two straight years. Yet after the Olympics, I felt the need for something different to engage my brain in new ways.”
Real-world research lab
“Now, I’m back studying how to improve wind farms. In northern Germany, we have a large wind tunnel that allows us to simulate very extreme weather conditions, akin to what we experience today on Poetto Beach, with highly gusty winds and rapidly changing directions.”
Maus believes his firsthand observation of wind, clouds, and his surrounding environment in kiteboarding provides a unique perspective that enhances the theoretical knowledge guiding their research. “I’ve attended lectures on atmospheric boundary layers and gusts similar to those we face at the beach. Therefore, it’s a valuable opportunity to experience these conditions firsthand and not solely depend on theoretical formulas.”
Maus’s ability to return as Germany’s Olympic representative hinges not only on his personal skills and dedication. A new generation of young German riders is fiercely competing for that Olympic position.
Nonetheless, Maus aspires to stay involved in some capacity. “I aim to approach this from a team perspective, ensuring Germany remains a leading nation in kiteboarding come 2028. Whether it’s me or a younger talent like Jan Voester, I would cherish being part of that journey. My ultimate dream is to participate in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as Dr. Maus.”
Future Dr. Maus, along with other competitors in Cagliari, is preparing for day three of racing, which promises much friendlier conditions for high-speed kitefoiling.
After a thrilling first day of competition consisting of five races, the leading competitors are quite close. Three-time Kitefoil World Series champion Axel Mazella leads the men’s leaderboard, just one point ahead of Singapore’s Max Maeder. On the women’s side, France’s Jessie Kampman is narrowly ahead of Israel’s Gal Zukerman, with Italy’s Maggie Pescetto and Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler trailing closely behind.
Both Friday’s fleet racing and the Saturday medal series will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Men’s Results
1. Axel Mazella, FRA – 9.0p
2. Max Maeder, SGP – 10.0p
3. Benoit Gomez, FRA – 12.0p
Women’s Results
1. Jessie Kampman, FRA – 95.0p
2. Gal Zukerman, ISR – 100.0p
3. Maggie Pescetto, ITA – 107.0p
Full results here
