ANOC World Beach Games Will Be 'Really Cool'

(ATR) Doha’s sand and surf should provide athletes from across the globe a unique setting to test their abilities.

Some like Daniela Moroz, a kitefoil racer from the United States, have Olympic aspirations.

The 18-year-old arrived to Doha late Thursday night, toting her skateboard and lots of enthusiasm. The U.S. water sports athlete is excited not just for competition at the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games, but also can’t help but dream about a possible trip to the Paris 2024 Olympics. Kiteboarding will make its Olympic debut as a new sailing discipline being contested off the coast of Marseille.

For the moment, Moroz, a two-time world champion, is focused upon her upcoming competition in the Persian Gulf waters.

"I think it will be a cool, fun event while getting Olympic level competition with the atmosphere of a fun, beach vibe," Moroz tells Around the Rings. "I think that combination will be really cool."

Moroz explained what those unfamiliar with the wind-driven water sport can expect.

"We race on hydrofoils, which are these wings that we put on the bottom of a small surfboard and we have kites in the air attached to us that we use to propel us across the water," Moroz explained.

Moroz also said that kitefoil racing is "super cool" and encourages everybody in Doha to come out and see for themselves.

Kitefoil racing at Katara Beach opens on Sunday, with the women's finals scheduled for Tuesday Oct. 15. A field of twenty will compete in a lone, course racing event.

The California native is one of 69 athletes representing Team USA at the inaugural beach games in Qatar, which stepped in to host on short notice after San Diego lost the event due to lack of sponsorship.

"I’m really excited to see the other sports," she added. "I’m here to compete, but I also want to enjoy the experience. You don’t really see these sports anywhere else, so it’s cool that they’re being publicized and this event will really showcase them."

Moroz said kiteboarding’s newfound Olympic status for Paris 2024 will elevate the sport to new levels and fulfill athlete dreams.

"Just to think that I think I could compete in the Olympic Games is very exciting to me," she said. "We’ve already had a few events there (in Marseille) which have been really good. Wind has been super consistent and it’s really exciting for the sport."

Moroz, a San Francisco native, has been juggling kitefoil racing with her studies. She recently began her first semester at the University of Hawaii, but admits she has already missed classes due to a hectic competition schedule. The 18-year-old athlete recently took top honors at the final stop of the Kite Foil World Series in Cagliari, Sardinia.

Moroz emphasized that the inaugural edition of the beach games will also provide a global platform for athletes to unite, stand for and spread the invaluable message of saving our oceans and planet.

"I think it will show a greater appreciate for nature, especially in our times of climate distress," Moroz said. "It is real important for people to be aware of what is happening in our world and the beach games are a really good way to showcase what our world is like and especially being at the beach all the time you appreciate the ocean, water and clean air and not leaving trash anywhere."

The ANOC World Beach Games, which run from Oct. 11-16, are a multi-sport competition created by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) in 2015 with the aim of connecting new sports and athletes with a new generation of fans.

The inaugural event will feature 1240 athletes from 97 countries competing for 350 medals in kitefoil racing and 13 other sports: aquathlon, 3x3 basketball, climbing-bouldering, beach handball, karate kata, skateboarding, beach soccer, open water swimming, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4x4, waterski, wakeboard and beach wrestling.

Homepage photo of men's beach handball: AWBG 2019.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Doha, Qatar

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