France, world kite flying champion! It’s not done yet but you have to admit that you’re getting chills (and not just because the event takes place in Berck-sur-Mer)… Taking place this week on the pages of the Côte d’Opale are the International kite meetings. And in addition to flight demonstrations with unusual shaped sails, a competition keeps the hundreds of thousands of visitors in suspense.
“It’s the international event with the most foreign delegations,” enthuses Richard Debray, professional kite flyer. You can see your friends there but also what’s happening elsewhere. » There are several categories, of course. The acrobatic kite, a two-line or four-line delta, is the fastest and most spectacular.
A kite “World Cup”
“We are judged on different choreographies and technical achievements,” explains Richard Debray. We must present a choreography to music lasting two to four minutes. There are two teams of judges, one for the choreographic aspect, the other for the technical aspect. In each jury, the worst and best marks are removed, and an average is taken. »
This edition of the Meetings inaugurates a new “world cup” format. The countries will compete in various disciplines. There will be an average of the scores (except for the lowest score received), and a country will thus be crowned World Kite Champion in an indisputable manner.
we are the Champions
“I have created several competition formats, but here, a World Cup is a bit like the holy grail,” laughs Roger Tessa Gambassi, artistic director of Les Rencontres. We bring together all the categories. This diversity of practices can be a wonderful tool for promoting kite flying. »
And above all, France has a good chance of final victory this weekend. “In France, we are pretty good, we won the European Cup as a team, individual and pair,” admits Richard Debray. But it’s been a very long time since we were confronted with the countries of Asia and America. »
“ “We are still the best. Humility aside… We have the best drivers in the world. Richard is incredible. There is also Valentin Martinet, who does very beautiful choreography. He has a touch of his own… He’s the Prost of kite flying! » »
Gold is far away
A popular, spectacular sport at which the French are good… We immediately want to ask ourselves: wouldn’t there be an Olympic medal to be won? Well no, kite flying is not an Olympic discipline. “Technically, there is nothing against it… But France is the only country to have an official (free flight) federation, the other countries are associations,” explains Richard Debray. There should be federations in other countries, at least six. »
Furthermore, the Berck-sur-Mer Meetings are a global exception in terms of their size. “An event like this is complicated to organize. It takes a lot of time, a lot of space, it’s incredible logistics. »
“This year, there are countries which have given up,” regrets Roger Tessa Gambassi. Singapore and Japan were unable to come… Our ambition is to renew this format every two years. But only here, in Berck, can we do that. »
The father of this first kite World Cup still has hope for the future. “We are the showcase of the free flight federation but we do not benefit from it. We must have more strength. And abroad, pseudo-associative federations are starting to take shape. In China, England, the United States… For now, Berck is the annual mass, the place where all kite flyers dream of coming at least once in their lives. But if other events like this are held, we might one day be able to have a place in the Olympic Games. »