Walking On Air – How El Gouna Water Sports Festival Reached the Sky
From the melodious music to the youthful crowd, the El Gouna Water Sports Festival was an incredible experience for everyone who partook in the event – be it a judge, a contestant, or a member of the audience. Being a fully-fledged self-sustainable town, encompassing all the necessary facilities and infrastructure – including multiple hotels, kite surfing centers, and scuba diving centers; El Gouna was the optimal place to host such a beautiful event with a massive turnout in its first edition at Makani Beach Club & Sliders Cable Park. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, under the supervision of the Egyptian Sailing & Water Ski Federation, and organized by Fly Events, the event was a hit.
The first event, WINDMANIA, was five full days of racing activities which involved sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. The crowd cheered all the way through, regardless of the contestants’ performance. The judges had a rather comical take on the matter, commenting authentically rather than by the book. Everything felt so organic, and the Big-air riders and thrusts in the air kept the adrenaline going.
Fly Events’ goal was to create an annual local and international water sports festival in El Gouna, for the sole reason of bringing people of all backgrounds into one place. And they managed to do just that.
KITEMANIA, which focused on the Big-air kiting aspect of the event at Makani Beach Club, was equally incredible. It was an impressive show of feat to watch the kiters connect and control the kite, just going with the wind. Considering the rush I experienced just watching them go, I couldn’t fathom how exhilarating it must have been for them, going all out whilst maintaining a connection with the crowd, who rooted for them all the way through.
WAKEMANIA, the wakeboarding competition at Sliders Cable Park, was another unique experience. From launching off the Kickers to sliding onto the obstacles, I was proud to see such incredible levels of Egyptian talent. It was satisfying to know that El Gouna has a place perfectly suited for a unique sport that, although not as popular, is certainly making its statement across Egypt. And given the commitment of the team and manpower behind all the preparations, it is understandable why the event was such a success.
The event ended with a really sweet party. Everyone was celebrating, not just about the prizes won, but for the beautiful moments they shared together.
The highlight of the event was the short film. Just the first bit of the film was enough to receive our undivided attention. One of the kite surfers talked about his moments of soaring high above the water, explaining that one wrong move can potentially lead to his death, and going on to explain how he must control his emotions and maintain his focus. It was this moment that stunned me by the level of mental strength one requires for this sport.
I was grateful to experience the entirety of the event. It was executed in such a way that allowed everyone to feel a sense of belonging throughout the four days. To all the contestants that were literally walking on air, I was right there with you too.
