Andy getting in the paper...
www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/andy-yates-kite-boarder-bokarina-gold-coast/713032/They said:
SUNSHINE Coast - meet your latest world champion.
Bokarina kite boarder Andy Yates has already claimed the 2010 Professional Kiteboard Riders Association World Tour title going into the final leg of the series at the Gold Coast this weekend.
The 20-year-old, who took up the sport only four years ago, has been a standout in his second year in the series.
He has won three of the nine events so far and finished in the top four on all but one occasion.
Yates wrapped up the title at New Caledonia last weekend.
He said he could not believe what he had achieved.
"It felt so good," Yates said.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could tie it up with one event to go.
"I've been working towards this for so long. It's so good to finally get it.
"It's all happened really fast.
"It's my second full year on the tour and it feels like it happened quicker than it should have.
"I'm really fortunate to tie it up already."
With the world title already in the bag, Yates will go into the Main Beach tournament without any added pressure.
He is leading the points tally on 6114 points ahead of Dutchman Youri Zoon (5507) and with the way the tour is decided, competitors' bottom three results of the year are discarded.
For Yates, they are his ninth placing in the Dominican Republic, fourth in Morocco and third at an event in Thailand, pending what happens at the Gold Coast.
But while he has already ticked off his season goal, he says he still has a burning desire to end the season on a high.
"I still really want to win it but the pressure's off, I guess," he said. "I wouldn't like to be stressing right now thinking I had to win it. Whatever happens, happens. I'm easy."
Yates will be joined at the Gold Coast event by another Sunshine Coast product.
Sunshine Beach's Keahi De Aboitiz gained a wildcard to the event after finishing second at the Freestyle National Titles in Melbourne earlier this year.
De Aboitiz, 17, who is also a talented stand-up paddle boarder, said he was inspired by Yates's efforts but was not planning on joining the world tour full-time next year.
"It's something I'll look at in the future, but not really at the moment," he said.
"It's good to do a couple of events, but it's a lot of time and money to compete.
"I wouldn't mind doing a few events here and there but I'm keen to do more travelling to the good locations overseas.
"I'm serious about it but not ready to do it full-time."
The 2010 Gold Coast Kitesurfing Pro starts on Sunday and has a week to complete the draw, depending on conditions.
