The fleet of riders signed up to the first ever GKA Kiteboarding World Tour event that will take place at the Mondial du Vent in Leucate, France, from 17 - 22nd April is very exciting. This new tour calls for dynamic performances and a mix of new school and more classic older school, big air influences, however the overriding factor is that riders need to go as huge as possible… making for the best show as the competition seeks to find the most complete twin-tip rider. A live scoring system will run at this event to add further insight and entertainment for the large Mondial du Vent crowds on the beach!

RIDERS: The latest news is that Kevin Langeree and Jesse Richman have just signed up alongside two time freestyle World Champion Carlos Mario from Brazil, who registered last week and will compete in Leucate!

Photos: KevinLangeree.com / JesseRichman.com

Carlos Mario, already a two-time WKL Champion - can he switch up his riding and make it a hat trick in the Air Games?! Photo: Slingshot Kiteboarding

Aaron / Photo: North Kiteboarding Prior to that the field was already shaping up strongly, with five-time World Champion and two-time Red Bull King of the Air winner, Aaron Hadlow , signed up and ready to show that he still has the most varied repertoire of freestyle moves in the sport.

Liam Whaley, freshly signed to his new sponsor F-One, is ready to impress! Photo: F-One Kiteboarding Liam Whaley will also compete in France. A freestyle World Champion himself, he is one of today's most technical riders. In his debut year at the contest, it was clear that this young Spaniard also has what it takes to go huge at the King of the Air, claiming a runner-up podium position at his first attempt.

Lewis Crathern (also a four time UK freestyle champion) will be a familiar name to all big air fans, as will Lasse Walker, Jerrie van der Kop and Reno Romeu ; four riders with a very strong history at the King of the Air, with Lewis claiming third place at this year's event, Jerrie made the podium a few seasons ago and Lasse is also a Red Bull Mega Loop Challenge winner. The rest of the field who have signed up so far is littered with seasoned athletes with long established their names in the sport, as well as young rippers who have made an emphatic entrance into competition in the last year to 18 months. The women's ladder is also packed with talent, including Kite Park League Champion Annelous Lammerts as well as three-time UK Champion, Kite Speed World Champion and highly experienced world tour competitor Hannah Whiteley who find themselves lining up against the likes of rising stars Mikaili Sol and Osaia Reding , it's sure to be a great contest on their side, too. Here are the men's and women's line-ups:

MEN: Nicolas Delmas, France Odin van Dijk, Netherlands Val Garat, France Lasse Walker, Netherlands Paul Serin, France Luis Alberto Cruz, Dominican Republic Lewis Crathern, UK Ross Dillon-Player, South Africa Pauline Valesa, France Lazare Gournay, France Set Teixeira, Brazil Arthur Guillebert, France Maxime Chabloz, Switzerland Reno Romeo, Brazil Julien Krikken, France (Wildcard) Tom Hebert, New Caledonia Marius Hoppe, Germany Nicolas Gambier, France Aaron Hadlow, UK Liam Whaley, Spain Theo de Ramecourt, France Tamas Deak, Hungary Antonin Rangin, France Domantas Jusionis: Lithuania Augustas Dudenas: Lithuania Clement Huot, France Jules Chollet, France Jerrie van de Kop, Netherlands Carlos Mario, Brazil Kevin Langeree, Netherlands Raiarii Fadier, Brazil Antoine Fermon, France Juan Rodriguez, Colombia Valentin Rodriguez, Colombia Posito Martinez, Dominican Republic Jesse Richman, Hawaii Joselito del Rosario, Dominican Republic Leon Corniel, Dominican Republic Eudazio da Silva, Brazil Edgar Ulrich, France Aaron Rosslee, South Africa +2 Wildcards

Photos: Hannahwhiteley.com / AnnelousLammerts.nl

WOMEN: Maureen Castelle, France Pauline Valesa, France Vera Klabbers, Netherlands Hannah Whiteley, UK Mikaili Sol, Brazil Osaia Reding, Spain Angely Bouilot, France Pippa Iersel, Netherlands Annelous Lammerts, Netherlands

Get stoked on the upcoming action with this teaser video and check out a more detailed rundown of the tour here .

The Mondial du Vent (stage one of the GKA Kiteboarding World Tour) is a huge annual event, celebrating more than just kiteboarding. To see what else you can expect to see on the beach in Leucate, click this link and scroll down for the video!