Host of past champions and a local favourite will all vie for the title
Cape Town, 11 December 2020. An eclectic mix of riders will compete for the most prestigious title in Big Air kiteboarding when Red Bull King of the Air returns in 2021.
The competition – scheduled to take place at Kite Beach in Cape Town on the windiest day between 30 January and 14 February – will feature an all-star list of previous winners, local favourites and up-and-coming hot shots. The rider list is made up of the Top Three finishers from 2020; the winner of the Fly-To Red Bull King of the Air satellite event as well as video entrants…
The 2020 event saw Hawaiian pocket rocket, Jesse Richman out-class past champions Nick Jacobsen (DEN) and Aaron Hadlow (UK) to claim his second crown. All three will be back to once again to claim a stake at the throne. Also joining them, will be three-time champion Kevin Langeree, who won the Cold Hawaii Games in Denmark in September, the only event in the Fly-To Red Bull King of the Air series that ran in 2020.
Joining them will be various new names thanks to the resounding success of the video entry process. According to Sportive Director Sergio Cantagalli, the event committee was overwhelmed with the amount of entries – in a year that has been super challenging for professional sport, it was the biggest batch of entries ever received. “The sport is definitely becoming younger,” Cantagalli commented. “We were honestly amazed and didn’t expect such a large amount of new talented riders sending in video clips.”
The panel of judges selected the top video entries by judging the riders on the same criteria as they would, if they were performing live during the event. “It was a challenge for the panel,” Cantagalli added. “There were so many good video clips, but it’s important to remember that Red Bull King of the Air is not ‘just’ a big air contest, our aim is to reward the most complete big-air rider in the world. The one the rider that brings the complete package of height, power, extremity, technicality and innovation to the table on the day. This had to come through in the videos too.”
According to Cantagalli ‘variety’ in terms of the types of tricks performed, also played a big part in the video selection, and will no doubt be a big asset in how the riders perform in the big event.
“Now that we’ve pushed the envelope on height, we’re going to see technicality come back into the game big time,” agreed defending champion, Jesse Richman, who won his first crown in 2013.
Some of those riders in the mix looking to push the technicality will be (among others) Lasse Walker (NED), Liam Whaley (ESP) and Steven Akkersdijk (NED) as well as South African standout, Joshua Emanuel. Also looking to push the limits once again will be Marc Jacobs (NZ) who won the ‘Woo Highest Jump of the Day’ in 2020. New faces to look out for include the likes of Giel Vlugt (NED), Ulrich Edgar (FRA), Val Garat (FRA), Arthur Guillebert (FRA) and Stig Hoefnagel (NED).
For more information, head over to http://redbullkingoftheair.com/
FULL RIDER LIST
Top three from 2020
Jesse Richman (USA)
Nick Jacobsen (DEN)
Aaron Hadlow (GBR)
Fly to King of the Air qualifier
Kevin Langeree (NED)
Rest of the fleet (in alphabetical order)
Steven Akkersdijk (NED)
Angely Boullot (FRA)
Tom Bridge (GBR)
Airton Cozzolino (Cape Verde)
Ulrich Edgar (FRA)
Joshua Emanuel (RSA)
Val Garat (FRA)
Janek Grzegorzewski (POL)
Arthur Guillebert (FRA)
Stig Hoefnagel (NED)
Marc Jacobs (NZ)
Giel Vlugt (NED)
Lasse Walker (NED)
Liam Whaley (ESP)
Provided by Red Bull
