Top Thai riders are Kiteboard Tour Asia Thailand champions

Thai kiteboarders from around the country descended on Pak Nam Pran, Pranburi last month to challenge international comers at the second stop of the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2013.

In an event that saw 85 discipline entries from 21 countries overall, the 14 Thai riders showed expertise in all three disciplines, but excelled in the Raceboard (RB) Class. RB is considered the pro race class and almost gained a 2016 Olympic Games slot. The thermally driven wind conditions in Pak Nam Pran were perfect for highlighting this discipline with every day of the competition starting with RB class racing.

Yo Narpichit Pudla (THA), the current Thai and Asian champion was streaks ahead of his rivals, winning all 13 races run during the week. Ken Nacor (PHP) held back any advances from the other two top Thai riders, Pravit Buajuturas (THA) and Jack Chanon Phrakeaw (THA) who battled it out for the third spot on the podium. Buajutaras from Hua Hin may have had home ground advantage and beat the Pattaya-based Phrakaew who is a top racer and came second at the Thai Nationals the weekend before.

The Thai women's champion, Fon Benyapa Jantawan, who before the event said: "I am nervous because I would like to do well here", showed good home water knowledge to unseat Germany's Kathrin Borgwardt from her normal first place on the podium in the women's division. Early on in the event Jantawan and current Asian champion Aya Oshima (JAP) were swopping top spot, but by day four Jantawan, who trains in these waters, fixed her first place position.

As the top Thai freestyle kiters, Pudla and Jantawan were also the riders to watch in this division. On day three of the event the wind came through strong enough and the freestyle heats were started. It was not a good start for team Thailand, with the three other Thai entrants coming up against the top riders in Asia in the first round. Pudla worked his way up the ladder and found himself in the final against Japan's Hironobu Nakano who is much improved from last season and in a powerful battle beat the Thai Champion.

The women's freestyle was a very international affair, with current Asian champion Aya Oshima fighting for a third spot against Ali Dudfield (AUS) and the challenge for top spot was between KTA's new face this season, Brazil's Estefania Rosa, and event winner from last season, Estonia's Kristiin Oja. Oja's power came through and gave her a hard-fought and well-deserved win over Rosa.

The TT racing class was all about equipment choice, with many riders battling to finish the first races of the event and the top Thai rider in the division Teera Sudpum Kaew ending in sixth. Sweden's Atte Kappel, who won everything at the first tour stop in Indonesia, struggled with the lighter wind conditions which let Philippine racer Doque de los Santos back in to take his first season win on the tour.

The women's TT class also saw a change with the USA's Anny Barlow taking top spot and close at her heels was a completely new face to the KTA from China and at only 13 years old, Yue Cheng Jing is already showing she is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Top three for the KTA Thailand

Freestyle Men Freestyle Women

1. Hironobu Nakano (JPN) Kristiin Oja (EST)

2. Yo Narapichit Pudla (THA) Estefania Rosa (BRA)

3. Michael Khromykh (UKR) Aya Oshima (JPN)

RB Class Men RB Class Women

1. Yo Narapichit Pudla (THA) Fon Jantawan Benyapa (THA)

2. Ken Nacor (PHL) Aya Oshima (JPN)

3. Pravit Buajutturas (THA) Kathrin Borgwardt (GER)

TT Class Men TT Class Women

1. Doque De Los Santos (PHL) Anny Barlow (USA)

2. Xiao Cheng Deng (CHN) Yue Chen Jing (CHN)