Maxime Chabloz was crowned 2026 GKA Freestyle Kite World Champion at the season finale on the lagoon at Ilha do Guajiru, Brazil, held from 21 to 24 October. He took the men's event by a fraction of a point on the final round of tricks.
A semi-final that swung the season
Twenty-four men registered for the decider on the tour's first return to Ilha do Guajiru since 2020. Reigning champion Finn Flügel could not travel to Brazil, which left the men's crown open. Before the semi-finals, the title race had narrowed to Chabloz and Egypt's Karim Mahmoud.
Chabloz had won his round-1 heat to go straight through, then recovered from a shaky start to reach the semi-finals alongside Pedro Alexandre.
In their shared semi-final, a place in the final would seal the title for the Swiss rider. Mahmoud landed a near-perfect Blind Slim to Blind for 9.4 points to take the lead, and Chabloz sat third with time running out. On the final round of tricks he stomped a Double Half Cab that lifted him into second at the last moment.
The final, delayed to 15:00 by the wind, was just as tight. Erick Anderson held the early lead before Chabloz pulled clear, reaching 12.03 points to Anderson's 6.73 after three manoeuvres. Chabloz, Mahmoud and Racca stayed close to the end.
From 2024 champion back to the top
He closed the event on 30.04, with Mahmoud second on 29.76 — a margin of just 0.28. Anthar Racca took third on 22.66. The win returns Chabloz to the summit of a sport he first ruled in 2024.
The 2026 season had begun more quietly, with third place in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico. Form followed: he won the Borkum event in Germany with 33.00 points, ahead of Ribeiro on 29.10. Sources differ on the winning manoeuvre — the GKA records a Slim 7, Diário do Nordeste a back mover five with two grabs — but the title is once more Swiss.
