FLASH AUSTIN wins King of the Air Hangtime!
This weekend in a “hands down†victory, Wipika team rider Flash Austin took home the Red Bull King of the Air Hangtime trophy and $1,200 to boot. Flash won the event on a 2004 production WIP 14. Having spent the summer creating and refining the parameters of Wipika’s new top-of-the line kite, Saturday’s win comes as a huge accomplishment for Flash both as a rider and kite developer.
Flash worked extensively with Wipika designer Bill Hansen, who was equally ecstatic about the victory. “When I first discussed a new high performance kite with Flash in March, we set a goal to win the Maui Red Bull King of the Air Hang Time competition,†said Hansen. “As a bet, I guaranteed him a victory or I would pay him the equivalent out of my pocket,†We would have been happy to win with a custom design but the kites turned out to have such a high ‘fun factor’ that everyone at Wipika wanted them in the line. Although very high aspect, it is surprisingly user-friendly with excellent upwind speed, outstanding vertical ‘pop’ and extended secondary lift. Both Flash and I are extremely proud of our work and we are confident anyone who tries the new WIP will see the victory was more than luck. As a designer, it is a great honor to work with an athlete of his ability and intuition.â€
The WIP is currently in production and will be available this fall
This weekend in a “hands down†victory, Wipika team rider Flash Austin took home the Red Bull King of the Air Hangtime trophy and $1,200 to boot. Flash won the event on a 2004 production WIP 14. Having spent the summer creating and refining the parameters of Wipika’s new top-of-the line kite, Saturday’s win comes as a huge accomplishment for Flash both as a rider and kite developer.
Flash worked extensively with Wipika designer Bill Hansen, who was equally ecstatic about the victory. “When I first discussed a new high performance kite with Flash in March, we set a goal to win the Maui Red Bull King of the Air Hang Time competition,†said Hansen. “As a bet, I guaranteed him a victory or I would pay him the equivalent out of my pocket,†We would have been happy to win with a custom design but the kites turned out to have such a high ‘fun factor’ that everyone at Wipika wanted them in the line. Although very high aspect, it is surprisingly user-friendly with excellent upwind speed, outstanding vertical ‘pop’ and extended secondary lift. Both Flash and I are extremely proud of our work and we are confident anyone who tries the new WIP will see the victory was more than luck. As a designer, it is a great honor to work with an athlete of his ability and intuition.â€
The WIP is currently in production and will be available this fall
