No foiling about, Bisschops wins again
TOWNSVILLE has proved a happy hunting ground for West Australian Mani Bisschops after claiming back- toback titles in the Kite Foil National Racing Titles at the weekend.
Australia’s best kiteboarders took to the skies and waters off The Strand as Bisschops defended his men’s title while Townsville’s Breiana Whitehead was crowned the women’s champion.
The national championships were held in conjunction with the Hydro Foil Pro Tour and Bisschops was the kite- boarder to beat all weekend after winning all but one of his races across both events.
“The first race of the whole thing on the first day I got a sixth, which wasn’t so good. I fell off two or three times during that race,” Bisschops said.
“It wasn’t the best start but after that I won every other race that we had for the Pro Tour, so I knew what to expect leading into nationals.
“It was close racing last year and you never know what the next year’s going to bring, so to be able to win it again is sick.”
Bisschops said it was fitting that he claimed the Australian title in Townsville after being inspired to take up kite foil racing while watching a Pro Tour event off The Strand three years ago.
“I was on a formula board and I was watching all the guys on their foils. I’d never tried it before and I was watching the best guys in the world fighting it out,” he said.
“The formula board is quire boring and slow compared to foiling. I thought I might as well give this a go.
“You could even say it all started in Townsville.”