GABRIEL BENETTON IS VICE WORLD CHAMPION
Strong Performance and a Nail-Biting Final on Sylt
What a weekend for our CORE rider Gabriel Benetton! The 22-year-old Brazilian made it all the way to the final of the GKA Kite World Cup Sylt and came agonizingly close to victory. In the end, just 0.20 points separated him from the win. With his second-place finish on Sylt, Gabriel secures the Vice World Champion title of the 2026 GKA Kite-Surf World Tour.
At the final tour stop of the season, everything was on the line. The challenging North Sea conditions pushed the riders to their limits and provided the perfect stage for the battle for the world title. In the Kite-Surf discipline, success is not only about performing in the waves. Technical strapless freestyle tricks also count towards the score, demanding a highly versatile skill set from every competitor.
Throughout the event, Gabriel showed exactly why he has been among the world's elite for years. Round after round, he advanced through a field of strong competitors and ultimately earned his place in the final. There, he faced James Carew in an incredibly close battle for both the event win and the world title.
Gabriel rides CORE’s NXS and Section kites, the Sensor 4S Pro, and the 720 IV. In larger waves, he switches to the Badger Pro and Ripper 6. Particularly remarkable in the final was his use of the Pace Pro 2, our ultra high-performance kite. Its exceptional versatility gave Gabriel the extra confidence he needed to perform at his absolute best when it mattered most.
He started the final strongly and took an early lead after the freestyle section. In the waves, he continued to apply pressure and kept the title within reach for most of the heat. Only in the closing moments was Carew able to turn the score around. At the finish, just 0.20 points separated the two riders.
For Gabriel, the result means second place on Sylt and the 2026 Vice World Champion title, capping off another outstanding season on the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour.
Gabriel has been part of Team CORE since 2021. Since then, we have watched him continuously refine his unique style and establish himself, step by step, as one of the best kite-surf riders in the world. His combination of technical strapless freestyle and progressive wave riding makes him one of the most versatile competitors on tour.
After claiming the World Championship title in 2024, Gabriel once again fought for the top spot of the Kite-Surf World Tour right down to the final heat in 2026. A final that could hardly have been any closer and a fitting conclusion to an outstanding season.
Congratulations on your Vice World Champion title, Gabriel!
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