Kites lit up the skies, music filled the air, and not only Australia’s best, but some of the world’s best kiteboarders took to St Kilda Beach for the 2010 Australian National Freestyle Championships in conjunction with the Week of the Wind.

After the completion of Kristen Boese’s KB4Girls clinic and the Tour of the Pro’s bus tour which were both run on the Monday and Tuesday prior to the Nationals beginning, the Kite Republic crew hosted a party for just about all 60 of the participants involved. Fun times had by all!

Day 1 of competition was called off as the skies darkened and lightning filled the skies. The Red Bull tent became the ultimate escape from the rain as Kite Republic put on a BBQ for the competitors.

Thankfully Day 2 started with plenty of wind and the trend continued. The big names seemed to be going through the paces. Current world number 5 Andy Yates waltzed through day 1 to be leading after the double elimination in the Men’s Open. Keahi De Aboitz was placed in second position in the Men’s Open and top of the Juniors after Day 1, while Simon Wincherman from Perth was in 3^rd after the double elimination. Kite Republic’s Ewan Jaspan was positioned strongly in 4th place in the Men’s Open and 2^nd in the Juniors after Day 1. A great standard continued throughout the Masters and Women’s events as well.

The Final Day was another action packed day on the water. In the single elimination the Kite Republic Junior Team Riders began to make a charge. Ewan Jaspan finished in second position narrowly making it past Lincoln Reeves who also rocketed up the ranks on Day 2. Declan McCarthy made it through a few solid rounds and it’s clear that he’ll be another to watch in the future.

The Men’s Open event was taken out by PKRA rider Andy Yates who couldn’t put a foot wrong as he took out Keahi De Aboitz in the final. In the battle for 3^rd Ewan Jaspan had a great heat against his Naish team mate Simon Wincherman. Keahi and Ewan both won PKRA Wildcards to the Gold Coast tour stop later this year. As well as this Chrissi Gaudieri who took out the women’s event also picked up a wildcard to the same event!

After a few days of hard competition and judged riding everyone let their hair down, forgot about all rules and had a crack in the Kite Republic Kiter-X Challenge presented by Red Bull on the Sunday. Thousands of spectators lines the footpaths as the event was run in conjunction with the St Kilda Festival and the spectators just flocked to the action.

A huge congratulations to Ewan Jaspan who took out a field including 2 x KPWT World Champion Jesse Richman and plenty of other state and national champions from around the world. Keahi De Aboitz came in second in this event.

A big congratulations to George and the team at KITEmag for putting on a fantastic event!

Full Results of the 2010 Australian National Kiteboarding Championships below!

Results of the 2010 AKSA Australian National Kiteboarding
Championships held at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, Feb 11 to 13, 2010.

Men
1. Andy Yates (Caloundra)
2. Keahi De Aboitz (Noosa)
3. Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
(Note: Keahi and Ewan get a "wild card" into the PKRA World Tour comp
to be held in Gold Coast in December as Andy is already competing as
the world's No 5)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Women
1. Chrissy Gaudieri (Perth)
2. Shannon Duckar (Perth)
3. Michelle England (Newcastle)
(Note: Chrissy given a wild card into the PKRA World Tour
     comp)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Juniors
1.Keahai De Aboitz (Noosa)
2.Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
3.Lincoln Reeves (St Kilda)

(PIC OF PODIUM)

Masters (over 35s)
1. Scott Sollar(Terrigal, NSW)
2  Mario Steffan (Adelaide)
3. Rob Sellar

The Andy Yates Talent Award, best up and comer; Lindsay Hobbs,15 (Gold Coast)AKSA appointed judging panel: Toby Bromwich, head judge at St Kilda
comp and one of six full-time PKRA World Tour judges Sam Light, from
Hayling Island, UK, and 2009 British Kite Surfing Association Men's
Open winner, ranked 5th in PKRA World Tour circuit.
Tom Court from Isle of Wight, UK, ranked 11th and on the PKRA World
Tour circuit and until recently UK No 1 for under=18 Alexander "Sir
Rowdy" James Lewis-Hughes, experienced kiter and judge from Elliot
Heads, NSW. Jesse Richman, Maui, Hawaii, 2009 and 2008 KPWT World
Champion.