We Love Kiteboarding – Home Of Junior And Semi-Pro DROpen Dominican National Champions

Every child, teenager and young person dreams to one day compete side-by-side with their sporting all-star heroes!

This past weekend, Raul Corniel invited our We Love Kiteboarding Junior Team to participate in the 2022 D.R. OPEN Kiteboarding, the Dominican National kiteboarding competition, giving all these youngsters a chance to shine in the presence of their Dominican all-star heroes.

The competition, held in Cabarete Bay, in front of Millennium Resort, was judged by Posito Martinez, Carlito Martinez and Li Loo – all professionally sponsored, world-class kiteboarding champions!

In the PRO category, local all-star heroes Luis Alberto Cruz, Lorenzo Calcaño, Joselito Del Rosario, Carlos David, Andri Ramirez, Yohandry Fernandez (and more) competed fiercely against each other and many others from around the world – putting on an incredible show of power and style, demonstrating why they are all world-class!

It is in the presence of such outstanding high-performance that youngsters are deeply inspired!

Every Cabarete kite kid knows the legendary status of, and wants to become, the next Adeuri Corniel!

Every kid just needs an opportunity – like the one they received this weekend in the DROpen.

But a lot goes into making the most of such opportunities when they are presented.The dream of competitive kiteboarding is expensive!

There is startup capital, kite repair, transportation, hotels, and registration fees – all on-going costs required to enter prestigious competitions around the Dominican Republic and, eventually, the world.

And every kid needs to eat, eat, eat!

We Love Kiteboarding has succeeded in this project so far through the help of our very supportive kiteboarding community both back at home in Toronto, Ontario, and here in Cabarete!

Over the years, we have sold We Love Kiteboarding t-shirts for fundraising and received many donations of kites, bars, boards, and harnesses.

Bill Auer has been most generous purchasing brand new kites and boards for many of the kids!

And, over the years, big name brands, like SPLEENE Kiteboarding, have shown tremendous support for next generation Cabarete riders too, ensuring upcoming riders like Luis Ángel Lafrance always have the latest and greatest in kiteboarding equipment!

And we wouldn’t be here without Papo, our local Cabarete kite repair expert forever fixing the kids kites at cost – or less!

So, in the videos below, where you see the awesome kids standing on the podium – it took A LOT to get them there!

For many reading this post they stand on the podium, in part, because of YOU! So, thank YOU for your contributions! Thank you for caring, and sharing, whether it be through purchases, donations, listening, words of strength, mentoring, coaching, offering social media comments or shares!

The kids need all of us. And together – many hands make light work!

A couple of comments about the DRopen podium results. There were 3 classes – Junior, Semi-Pro and Pro (sponsored and internationally competitive riders).

Many of the youngest were in the Junior class where everyone was very excited to see Charliy Renelus, 12, put on an outstanding big air kite-looping performance that won 1st place alongside Luis Ángel Lafrance (2nd place) and Sheleph Macce (4th place)!

Cristofer Lolo, 12, who is surprisingly good for his age, went on to win 2nd place in the Semi-Pro class comprised of the older boys. Congratulations to Ezequiel Crisostomo (1st place), Luis Ángel Lafrance (3rd place) and David RD Bonilla (4th place), all receiving podium positions in the Semi-Pro class – showing they are ready for professional sponsorship and an internationally competitive kiteboarding career!

In the Women’s class, congratulations to Merle Mönster (1st place), Maike Elisa Müller (2nd place), and Samuela Samuela Mulè (3rd place).

In the Pro class, Joselito Del Rosario was putting on the show of a lifetime! It is one thing to see excellence in the execution of freestyle and big air kite tricks. It is another thing to see Joselito put on a performance at the same time – pumping up the crowd with every incredibly high-speed-landing!

Unfortunately, Joselito was injured, dislocating his shoulder during a handle-pass in the semi-finals, but still won 3rd place overall for his efforts! Heal up, Joselito!

Luis Alberto Cruz and Lorenzo Calcaño had an epic freesyle battle for the top prize with Luis eventually winning 1st place – Congratulations to both!

Andri Ramirez also put on the show of a lifetime, making a massive comeback on the second day, beating out many other riders to win 4th place. If you look up the dictionary definition of “Big Air” you will see a photo of Andri! Congratulations, Andri!

Special mention thank you to the DROpen MC Issac who entertained with excellent play-by-play commentary!

Thank you to Doug Austrian, Josh and the staff of Kite Club Cabarete, who hosted the award ceremony, and ensured the food and after-party was a world-class event as well!Make sure you checkout Cristofer Lolo’s speech (video).

Massive THANK YOU to Raul Corniel, DROpen, judges, sponsors, and everyone for is amazing event, and for all the support shown over the years, helping to make We Love Kiteboarding what it is today!

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