Kiteworld editor Jim Gaunt was fortunate enough to be invited as a committee member and to be a judge for the return of the incredible Red Bull King of the Air event which saw 24 of the world's top big air specialists take to the skies over Big Bay, Cape Town in early February 2013. After an eight year hiatus, the event returned to wow spectators and demonstrate just how far the extreme side of big air kitesurfing has progressed. Here is Jim's inside track on events as they went down, starting at the end

Foto: Ydwer vd Heide


At the end of the event, just before the winning riders were announced on the podium, Robby Naish addressed the huge crowd that had gathered around the presentation area, claiming that this was the biggest and best event he'd seen in 25 years. Looking down over the scene as hundreds (if not, thousands) of people tried to manoeuvre for position and point their camera phones at him, it was a spine tingling moment to start the celebrations for what had been a landmark day in kitesurfing history.

Red Bull last ran their King of the Air contest eight years ago, but gave it a break as there hadn't been much change seen in the progression of tricks in the last couple of events. Riders were of course boosting huge, but Red Bull like to keep things moving forward. Kitesurfing at the time was about to go through a huge series of changes in styles and image. Starting to find its feet in the waves, world tour freestyle competitions were meanwhile shifting their focus towards a more low and technical wake-style of riding and, quite frankly, big air was becoming a little old hat. It needed refreshing.

A teenaged rider called Ruben Lenten from Holland had just dared to beat the master, Robby Naish himself, to the last King of the Air in Hawaii by bringing a verve and intensity to big air that was quite unusual. The young Dutch pioneer continued to develop moves along that track, finding ways to inject more and more intensity and became recognised as 'the most extreme kiteboarder in the world' over the next few years. As his moves got bigger and he challenged himself in stronger and stronger winds he also carried massive amounts of risk and consequence. He took the powered, unhooked F-16 kite loops that riders like Bertrand Fleury had begun to experiment with, but took them higher. The mega loop became his signature trick; boosting huge and then sending the kite on a loop beneath him through the most powerful part of the window, catapulting him through the sky at serious altitude before carefully piloting the kite back above his head to catch him before he landed. He spearheaded a movement, inspiring riders to no longer just dangle under their kite while flying high, but to actually use the kite in a way that multiplied the power and risk.

Red Bull continued to monitor kitesurfing and never ruled out bringing the King of the Air back, often consulting with their team riders, like Robby Naish, on what might be the best way to do it, or whether they should look at waves for example. However, Ruben and the growing pack of riders with the same vision for big air as the best future of the sport inspired the energy drinks giant to announce the King of the Air's return to be staged at Big Bay, Cape Town with a holding period for the first two weeks in February 2013.

The committee members discussed their wish list of competitors, local and international wildcards and the invites were sent. 

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Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Results:

1. Jesse Richman
2. Nick Jacobsen
3. Sam Light
4. Youri Zoon
5. Andries Fourie
5. Lewis Crathern
7. Gianni Aragno
7. Kevin Langeree

More at: Kiteworldmag