PARIS, France – The 2024 Paris Olympics have begun, with the opening ceremony kicking of earlier today. There are a ton of classic events going on throughout the games, swimming, track & field, gymnastics, and so many more of the familiar favorites. But there are also some new events to look forward. Breaking, kayak cross, and formula kite will debut this summer.
Formula Kite, or kiteboarding, is one of ten sailing events that will take place in this summer’s Olympics. Depending on wind conditions, athletes will use a 7-18 meter kite to harness the wind, and a foil underneath their boards allows them to sail above the water. Speeds can reach up to 40 knots (~46mpg) and kiteboarders occasionally jump heights up to 6 meters (~19.5 feet).
Men’s and Women’s Kite will be hosted at the Marseille Marina, alongside all other sailing events, on the Mediterranean coast of France. The city of Marseille, some 660km from Paris, is set to host some of the Olympic soccer games (football matches) as well, in the Stade Vélodrome.
The United States has three Formula Kite racers in the Olympics. Noah Runciman & Markus Edegran represent the men, and Daniela Moroz represents the women. Both men’s & women’s kite will take place between August 4-8, with the medal races beginning at 9:40am ET on August 8.
