Patrick Kissinger, a rising F-One grom from Hood River & La Ventana, recently took a major step in his competitive journey by attending his first-ever GWA wingfoil event in Jericoacoara, Brazil! Fresh off a first-place finish in the wing category at the Lighthouse 1000, Patrick arrived in Jeri ready to test his skills on the international stage. Known for its world-class wind conditions and vibrant wingfoil scene, Jeri provided the perfect backdrop for Patrick to test his skills.
Competing against some of the best young riders in the sport, he gained valuable experience, pushing his limits in challenging conditions. From intense heats to behind-the-scenes moments with fellow athletes, Patrick shares his firsthand insights from the unforgettable event. Keep reading for his full event recap!
The Recap
“Being my first GWA event, I couldn’t have picked a better location than Jericoacoara, Brazil. Although the travel was quite long, it was definitely worth it once I arrived. With warm weather, perfect wind, and great waves, it truly felt like a wingfoil paradise. Arriving a few days early to train and experience this incredible place was a real treat. It always takes time to adjust to a new location, so having the opportunity to train beforehand was super helpful. With a perfect forecast, the event was shaping up to be a great one. The first day of competition focused on the seeding rounds. I was in the very first heat of the first round, which added even more pressure. Luckily, I was able to win my heat and advance to round three, so my day was done. The next day, in round three, I had a really close heat, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to win, which meant I had to move to round four. Round four was an elimination round, so winning was crucial to advance. Unfortunately, I faced some really tough competition and wasn’t able to move on.”
“Even so, this was an absolutely fantastic experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a better location. I’d really like to thank F-One America and Manera America for the amazing gear and all their support. A huge thanks as well to Chris and Christopher MacDonald for allowing me to travel and live with them in Brazil. This was an incredible learning and training experience. I can’t wait for the opportunity to compete in more events. This was definitely a great competition and, overall, a fantastic trip and I am super stoked with my performance!”