(Posted 28th July 2023)
The official opening ceremony of the eighth edition of the International Kitesurf Festival took place
on Wednesday, July 26th, at 3:30 PM at Anse Mourouk, Rodrigues. This year’s theme, ‘Go
Green’ aims to promote Rodrigues Island as an eco-responsible and ecotourism destination while
supporting the Tourism Commission in its efforts to make the gem of the Indian Ocean an exemplary
green island.
The guest of honour for this new edition was His Excellency Henri Jardine, the United States
Ambassador to Mauritius, accompanied by his wife and son, as well as five representatives from the
US Embassy: ‘This is my first visit to Rodrigues, and I am delighted to be part of this event, which also marks the tenth anniversary of the creation of this festival on the island. It is also an opportunity for me to get to know this destination better. This trip allows me to meet the organizations we currently support and to identify other NGOs with whom we could potentially partner in the near future. The US government has supported several environmental and educational projects, among others, here
in Rodrigues, and I have had the opportunity to meet with the Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues and the Tourism Commissioner. We have had extensive discussions, and we will explore how the US government can further support upcoming projects on the island‘ explained His Excellency Ambassador Henri Jardine.
Jean-Christ Spéville, President of the Rodrigues Kitesurfing Association, highlighted in his speech the
contribution of his team to the island’s sports and tourism development over the years through the
kitesurfing festival: ‘The festival has earned a prominent place on Rodrigues’ sports calendar over the years. It has contributed to the island’s reputation in the region and internationally. Our spot, Anse Mourouk, is recognized as one of the best in the world, thanks to the festival, which has welcomed journalists and professionals from all over the world to evaluate the spot. Through this festival, our goal is also to provide our local athletes with the opportunity to compete with kitesurfers from the region and beyond to assess their levels, create connections, and draw inspiration from the journeys of different champions who come for the occasion‘.
Jalou Langeree, two-time Kitesurf World Champion and the godmother of the edition, Louka Pitot,
four-time French Kitesurf Champion, and currently ranked third on the GKA World Tour, and
Catharina Edin, a special guest at the event and a two-time bronze medalist at the Kitesurf World
Championship, were also present: ‘We are very excited to be here and to meet with local athletes, especially women, to spend time with them and talk about our respective experiences. Kitesurfing remains a discipline predominantly dominated by men, and through our experiences, we want to encourage more girls to get involved‘ stated Catharina Edin and Jalou Langeree.
As for Louka Pitot, a Franco-Mauritian, it is the second time he has been chosen to be the godfather
of the event: ‘I was present at the very first edition, and it is an honor to be among you once again. It was the Kitesurf Festival that launched the beginning of my international career‘ he emphasized.
Tourism Commissioner Jean Alain Wong So, on his part, emphasized his objective of making
Rodrigues a fully eco-friendly island and praised the initiative of the Rodrigues Kitesurfing
Association, which this year has made it their mission to raise awareness among the local population
about the island’s ecological challenges. ‘This citizen action deserves to be praised. This theme has resonated with us, and it was only logical for the Tourism Commission to join this event, as the theme reflects our vision of making Rodrigues an ecological island. The Commission is currently working to achieve the Green Destination Certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council‘ explained Jean Alain Wong So. Chief Commissioner Johnson Roussety was also present.
To highlight the ‘Go Green’ theme, an exhibition is taking place at the festival site throughout the
event, featuring local environmental protection actors such as Shoals Rodrigues, Sempa, Mauritian
Wildlife Foundation, Sore, Rodclean, among others. Through this exhibition, the US Ambassador has
been able to discover the ongoing efforts for environmental conservation in Rodrigues, and
negotiations will soon begin for Rodrigues to receive support from the US Embassy on various
environmental protection projects.
During the festival, Shoals Rodrigues will welcome Rodriguan and tourist enthusiasts of underwater
diving to participate in a snorkeling trail activity, involving the planting of coral cuttings in specific
areas of the lagoon for restoration purposes. Meanwhile, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, present
on the island for several years, will welcome visitors passing through Rodrigues to the Grand
Montagne Nature Reserve for a tree planting activity. This will be an opportunity for travelers to
offset their carbon footprint during their journeys.
On the cultural side, two evenings are planned on the beach on Saturday and Sunday, as well as a
grand concert featuring local artists on Sunday to bring the eighth edition of the Rodrigues
International Kitesurf Festival to a splendid close.
