YOUTH
SKA YOUTH TEAM (U21)
Cédric BAKER
2006
EDUCATION SPSE (scuola professionale sportivi d’elite)
QUOTE “Never give up!”
I started kiting with 11 years old on the Lake Silvaplana. During summer 2020 I started to get into foiling and only one week after I competed at my first ever Engadinwind.
I fell in love with the sport, so I started training and in July 2021 I competed in the U17 world championships in Gizzeria. I’ve then passed to formula kite class.
My best big event so far are the U21 European championships in 2023 in Sardegna. Unfortunately, in July 2023 just 2 days before the start of the U21 World Championship I got into a crash which led me into a major injury. After intense work with physios and in the gym in October I was finally able to have my first session again.
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
3rd | Campionato Italiano Kitefoil Tappa finale | Gallipoli (ITA) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
4th | Swiss Formula Kite Championship U18 | Silvaplana (CH) |
15th | Pan American Championship | Sao Luis (BR) |
16th | RYA Formula Kite | Portsmouth (UK) |
76th | European Formula Kite Championship | Nafpaktos (GRE) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
2nd | SKA Freestyle Series U18 | Urnersee (CH) |
2nd | Engadinwind Marathon | Silvaplana (CH) |
7th | European Youth KiteFoil U17 | Montpellier (FRA) |
Gian Andrea STRAGIOTTI
2007
EDUCATION United School of Sports
QUOTE “Racing to win and always enjoying the ride!“
Kiteboarding addicted I got at the age of 9 and my passion for kitefoil I found at 10 years. Wind, water, and this lifestyle are giving me so much. Sharing my passion with others around the world feels amazing. It’s about those soul moments with beautiful nature, as well as Freestyle competitions or Kitefoil races.
My ambition to compete internationally with the top riders requires hard work, physically and also mentally. For my constant progression also the surrounding is important – I’m thankful for my gear partners, kite association, school, and family support.
I will keep sharing on Social Media the ups and downs, the glory, and the privileged experiences I make along this journey.
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
1st | KiteFoil Youth A’s Class World Championship U17 | Gizzeria (ITA) |
5th | World Sailing Youth Championship U19 | Buzios (BRA) |
7th | Formula Kite World Championship U21 | Gizzeria (ITA) |
52st | Formula Kite World Championship | The Hague (NED) |
3rd | Formula Kite European Championships U21 | Torregrande (ITA) |
41st | Formula Kite European Championship | Portsmouth (GBR) |
49th | Engie Kite Tour U19 | Fréjus (FRA) |
2nd | Engie Kite Tour | Fréjus (FRA) |
11th | KiteFoil World Series | Cagliari (ITA) |
41st | Semaine Olympique Française | Hyères (FRA) |
49th | Trofeo Princesa Sofia Palma | Bastilla (ESP) |
1st | Formula Kite Swiss Series 2023 | |
1st | Swiss KiteFoil Series Act 2 | Murtensee (CH) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
1st | KiteFoil Youth A’s Class World Championship | Torregrande (ITA) |
1st | KiteFoil Youth A’s Class European Championship | Gizzeria (ITA) |
2nd | KiteFoil Youth A’s Class Grand Prix | Campione del Garda (ITA) |
2nd | Swiss Formula Kite Championship U18 | Silvaplana (CH) |
3rd | RYA Formula Kite | Portsmouth (UK) |
5th | African – Middle East Formula Kite Championship | Pointe d’Esny (MUS) |
5th | German Formula Kite Championship | Travemünde (GER) |
48th | European Formula Kite Championship | Nafpaktos (GRE) |
61st | Semaine Olympique Français | Hyères (FRA) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
2nd | World Championship Youth KiteFoil U15 | Gizzeria (ITA) |
2nd | European Championship Youth KiteFoil U15 | Montpellier (FRA) |
3rd | World Championship Youth Freestyle U16 | Tarifa (ESP) |
1st | Engadinwind KiteFoil U18 | Silvaplana (CH) |
1st | Swiss Freestyle Series U18 | Urnersee (CH) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
4th | European Championship KiteFoil U15 | Gran Canaria (ESP) |
1st | Engadinwind KiteFoil U18 | Silvaplana (CH) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
3rd | World Championship Freestyle U14 | St-Pierre la-Mer (FRA) |
1st | Engadinwind KiteFoil U18 | Silvaplana (CH) |
Karl MAEDER
2008
QUOTE “Never give up!”
Beginning to kite when I was 6, My interest was very casual at first. It was only a little later at the age of 9, when I began to travel around the world to compete, that it slowly grew on me. The moment I was beginning to battle others on the racecourse I was immediately hooked, the thrill of racing is like no other.
And from then on, my passion and ambition grew throughout the years.
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
13th | U21 Worlds | Gizzeria (ITA) |
9th | Worldseries Act 1 | Traunsee (AUT) |
16th | U21 Europeans | Torregrande (ITA) |
Felix HECHT
2009
EDUCATION Sportschule Sek 1 March Lachen
QUOTE “Don’t be afraid of failures!”
When I was young, my parents and I went on a world tour. My parents surfed every day and I couldn’t, so I decided, that I also want to learn kitesurfing. Today, I teach my “oldies” the latest tricks and I am eager to push my skills beyond. My biggest dream is to travel around the world and having fun on the water.
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
8th | Youth World Champtionships | Gizzeria (ITA) |
Noemi REY
2011
EDUCATION first grade of Highschool
QUOTE “I love the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair and flying over the water!”
My kitesurfing journey started when I was born. I was born into a kite-loving family. When I was a few years old I flew my first mini kite. A few years later I flew over the waves for the first time on my father's board. Then when I started kitesurfing around the age of ten, I developed my passion. Now I've gotten to the point where I'm applying for the SKA Youth Team.
In 2024 I want to take part in the SKA Freestyle Swiss Series, the Engadin Surf marathon, SKA kite foil Swiss series and (if possible) in an international competition. Also, I would like to apply for the Swiss Olympic talent card. Another goal is to be accepted at a sports school.
COACH
Matthieu GIROLET
My background as a professional sailor ranges from dinghies and sport boats to offshore multihulls, including lots of offshore solo-handed racing.
I started kiting in 2010 and was soon hooked on foiling. With a foil right under my feet and the ease of testing different combinations and settings, I saw this as a great way to improve my foiling skills and knowledge and transfer them to bigger boats. It was also a great way to develop skills specific to high-speed foiling racing.
My law degree and experience in business and project management have proven helpful in developing sailing projects in which I have been involved.
As a coach, I am a certified sailing and kiteboarding coach and teach strategy and tactics in Formula Kite as part of the French Kite Coach degree. Realizing how important the mental component is to the final performance, I am now training to become a mental coach.
The focus on foiling series and the Olympic formula kite development gave me the opportunity to combine my foiling knowledge and skills with my regatta background to provide high performance coaching for the Formula Kite class.
I am excited to join the great Swiss Sailing Team on their amazing journey to the Olympics and I’m commited to help the athletes achieve their dreams.
JOIN THE TEAM
The Swiss Sailing Team AG (SST) has the assignment from Swiss Sailing to recruit and develop young talents along the journey.
Every year SST does rely on new potential youth kiters to join their talent pool. The selection may happen through a talent scout camp which is getting announced by SST.
The following links provide you with more information:
The major events are:
- Swiss Freestyle and KiteFoil Championship (open class)
- European KiteFoil Championship (A’s Youth Foil class)
- World KiteFoil Championship (A’s Youth Foil class)
Join the Youth Team at SKA
THANK YOU!
We as SKA are especially grateful for the contribution of the Kitesurf Club Switzerland. Many thanks!