Caption: Benny Kali in action at Townville
By MATTHEW VARI
Wednesday, September 18, 2013 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)
PNG’s only international competing kite surfer, Benny Kali, has been accepted to compete at the International Kite Association (IKA) World Championships in China from November 18 to 24.
A total of 120 male and 40 female racers from all around the world will be competing at the championships at Kingbay in Boao on the Island of Hainan, which will be a huge opportunity for Benny, Papua New Guinea, and his sponsors.
Previously only taken up by members of the expatriate community- the sport has attracted a growing numbers of local enthusiasts especially in the Hula area of the Central Province.
With the help and support from Pepsi, PNG Paradise Beverages, Jason Pini from Theodist, and his manager Lawrence Acanufa- the lad from Hula was able to expose his kiting abilities at the recent event Sail Townsville IKA Kite Race in Australia for his first IKA regatta (series of races) held earlier this month.
Under the guidance of Marvin Baumeister-Schoenian from In The Loop Kiting Australia, Benny took part in rigorous training sessions and theory studies.
“Kite Racing is very demanding on your body, especially your legs and the hard crashes when you fall doing beyond 60kmh.”
“The long hours in the water were demanding for Benny but he is very keen and ambitious and we pushed him hard, training 4 to 5 hours on the water every day plus doing studying on racing tactics, theory and rules in the evening,” Marvin said.
Benny Kali is PNG's first registered sailor with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
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