YOUTH












SKA YOUTH TEAM (U21)
Cédric BAKER
2006
EDUCATION SPSE (scuola professionale sportivi d’elite)
QUOTE “Let’s go for another session!”
I started kitesurfing in 2018. And I directly fell in love with it. At the end of 2020 I started foiling and liked it even more. I love it to kite from the morning till the evening with friends. I competed at the Youth World Championships in Gizzeria just nine months after I started foiling. In November 2021 I competed in Fuerteventura at the Kite Foil World Series. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the year 2022 I got injured at my left knee during training. This forced me to a 6-month kite brake. I used this time to improve my physical strength. I was watching my teammates results and wishing them the best and couldn’t wait till I could compete again. At the beginning of September, I was very lucky to compete at the FK European Championship because Switzerland got 5 places. In November I went to Brazil to compete at the FK Pan American Championship and made it to the 15thplace.
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 K&S Zurich (Swiss Olympic partner school)
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 | 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) |
Felix HECHT
2009
EDUCATION Sportschule Sek 1 March Lachen
QUOTE “Keep on trying!”
Tired of watching my parents kitesurfing I decided to learn it by myself as soon as I was able to hold on to a bar. Today, I teach my “oldies” the new tricks and I am eager to push my skills beyond.
I dream of travelling the world following the winds with my dearest friends and perform in competitions. My school in Lachen gives me the best possible basis for achieving that.
CU on the water!
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
tbc | tbc | tbc |
SWISS SAILING ELITE
Bruce KESSLER
1999
EDUCATION Metal Roofer
QUOTE Kiting is my place to feel free!
I started my Kitesurfing journey back in 2010 when I was 10 years young. During the summer Holidays in Spain my father taught me to kitesurf and from that moment on this was my passion. In 2019 I got Swiss Champion in Kitefoiling for the first time. Two years later in 2021 I started to compete in International Regatas for the first time, at the Worlds I made it to the silver fleet and finished at 41st place overall.
The goals for the future are to compete in the highest level with the best of the world and to qualify for the Olympics. Beside that I want to keep the fun in Kiting and grow the sport together with the Swiss Team.
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
2nd | Swiss Formula Kite Championship | Silvaplana (CH) |
18th | KiteFoil Grand Prix | Campione del Garda (ITA) |
31th | European Formula Kite Championship | Nafpaktos (GRE) |
48th | Semaine Olympique Français | Hyères (FRA) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
1st | Swiss Kitefoil Champion | (CH) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
1st | Swiss Kitefoil Champion | (CH) |
1st | Redbull Ragnarok Ski | (NOR) |
Result | Event | Location |
---|---|---|
2nd | Redbull Ragnarok Ski | (NOR) |
SST 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)
How to join the Team?
Download Youth constitution here.
Download Application file here.
Download Expense Template file here.
THANK YOU!
We as SKA are especially grateful for the contribution of the Kitesurf Club Switzerland. Many thanks!