Olympics-Sailing-Kiteboarding stages a Games show with tight debut races

Paris 2024 Olympics - Sailing - Women's Kite - Marseille Marina, Marseille, France - August 04, 2024. Athletes at the start. /Andrew Boyers

MARSEILLE, France - Kiteboarding made its Olympic debut on Sunday, with the men and women taking off on foiling boards to cheers from the beach, their huge kites powered by a pulsing Mediterranean breeze.

With a quick-fire format, crowds lining the breakwaters were given a colourful exhibition of the adrenaline-filled sport.

Austria's Valentin Bontus won the first Olympic race for the sport in the men's event, with Britain's Eleanor Aldridge taking the honours in the women's as the kite sailors sped by, protected by helmets, goggles, life vests and wetsuits.

"It was cool. My coach always says the first race of the day is the easiest to win... especially the first race of the biggest event of your life," Aldridge said.

World champion Max Maeder from Singapore grabbed a win in the second men's race, later ripping his wetsuit when he flew into another kite, as France's Lauriane Nolot made her mark to lead the rankings after four races.

"It was incredible," Nolot said of the atmosphere as the kites set off, adding that fluctuations in the wind strength had meant several changes of kite size in between races.

"Sometimes it can be chaos on the beach," added Aldridge.

Maeder said he was still processing the enormity of the occasion, saying the race conditions were diverse and he had been lucky in some of the races.

"Unfortunately not," Maeder said when asked if he had a spare wetsuit. "I think I'm going to be running out with battle scars until I get a new one, so let's see if I can get one."

American Daniela Moroz said the wind was really shifting and her racing improved as she got her "first day of the Olympics jitters" out of the way. "It's cool to be showcasing the sport I love on such a big stage," said Moroz, who is the number one ranked woman.

In the men's dinghies there were shifts at the top, with eight of the 43 men penalised for being over the line at the start for race seven in their series.

Britain's Micky Beckett was one of those who felt the pain, dropping to fourth overall, while Australia's Matt Wearn hung on to his lead.

"He's got two very difficult races to navigate, so far he is doing reasonably well and has been by far the most consistent. But every day has its curve balls and tomorrow won't be any different," Beckett said when asked if Wearn was catchable.

The remaining pre-medal series races are due on Monday, with Pavlos Kontides from Cyprus closest to Wearn, ahead of Peru's Stefano Peschiera.

"The whole fleet are pushing the limits. You know you need to stay cautious and not make bad mistakes," Peschiera said.