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Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2013

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:07 pm
by Toby
The World’s top Kiteboarders to descend on Cape Town for Red Bull King of the Air 2013
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The much anticipated return of Red Bull King of the Air has seen kiteboarders the world over doing anything to get their hands on an entry. Sixteen of the world’s best as well as eight wildcards have been selected to compete.

CAPE TOWN (South Africa) Red Bull King of the Air returns to the fore after an eight year hiatus since the last running of the event in Maui, USA and wind patterns are currently looking favourable for the window period of 1 – 15 February at Big Bay, Blouberg on Cape Town’s coastline.

Sixteen invited kiteboarders from around the world will be joined by eight wildcards who secured their entry by sending in a video of themselves in action in the water.

Included in the lineup are extreme kiteboarder Ruben Lenten (NED), compatriot and world number 1 in 2012 Youri Zoon and local wildcard Oswald Smith who goes into the competition having just won SA Champs.

The judging panel consisting of fearless female kiteboarder Susi Mai, editor of Kiteworld Magazine and presenter of ‘The Kite Show’ Jim Gaunt and South African original Red Bull King of the Air alumnus Greg Tijsse will be watching the water to gauge height, style and creativity each kiteboarder executes their movement with.

The newly developed ‘flag out’ competition format is unlike any others - it gives each kiteboarder the opportunity to pull their best moves and score high. Four riders hit the water wearing different colour rash vests that matching a corresponding flag on the beach. After an allocated time, the rider with the lowest score will be flagged out (flag will be lowered) and must leave the water. The last man standing is the winner.

The event will also feature the godfather of wind-based watersports Robby Naish who will be in Cape Town to put the title hopefuls through their paces in the lead up to the event. Robby has multiple World Titles across windsurfing and kiteboarding disciplines and still competes internationally, at the tender age of 49.

The Invited Kiteboarders

Ruben Lenten (NED)
Kevin Langeree (NED)
Youri Zoon (NED)
Nick Jacobsen (DEN)
Billy Parker (USA)
Sam Light (GBR)
Lewis Crathern (GBR)
Kevin de Smidt (NED)
Steven Akkersijk (NED)
Jesse Richman (USA)
Tom Court (GBR)
Luke Whiteside (GBR)
Gianni Aragno (ESP)
Shawn Richman (USA)
Luke McGillewie (RSA)
Reno Romeu (BRA)

The Wildcards

Sam Medysky (CAN)
Oswald Smith (RSA)
Johnno Sholte (NED)
Andries Fourie (RSA)
Graham Howes (RSA)
Jandre Fraser (RSA)
Alan Steele (RSA)
Nicolas Falcou (FRA)

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:01 pm
by Jdizzle
I'm guessing Hadlow isn't up for hammering his knee just yet...?

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:50 am
by braveman
This is going to be FANTASTIC !
Is ESPN or EuroSport or any other TV going to broadcast ?

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:28 pm
by Toby
I asked RB ZA if they do a livestream, but I guess internet is too slow there.
If I hear anything, I will let you know. Would love to watch it too.
For sure I want to see a nice video afterwards!

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:20 pm
by tautologies
Hell yeah :D

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:57 pm
by TheJoe
It looks like from the invite list we are going to see a lot of megaloop handle passes of insanity. Wonder how some of these guys are going to do since they just switched sponsor like Youri Lewis and Sam. New gear they might not be tuned on yet.

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:37 pm
by edt
TheJoe wrote:It looks like from the invite list we are going to see a lot of megaloop handle passes of insanity. Wonder how some of these guys are going to do since they just switched sponsor like Youri Lewis and Sam. New gear they might not be tuned on yet.
i seen langeree kitesurfing on a suitcase in the cape town sessions. They'll be ok. I'm expecting someone to try a megaloop boardoff this year.

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:09 pm
by Toby
Do they do megaloop handlepasses? Or just handle pass kiteloop?

I guess we will see lots of megaloops, some with rotations, Nick with his one foot megaloop.

High handle passes, one foots and boardoffs from the guys without boots, like Kevin and Nick.

I would love to see a megaloop boardoff, since I see that as trick of the future of kiteboarding, in many variations. But with 40 you don't try those...young crazy people please ;-)

Gonna be exciting!

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:22 pm
by tony montana
Toby i think you should be there,you are a big air man,and would probably give any these guys a run for there money .,and the crowd would love some old school boardoffs,TONY

Re: Participants announced for Red Bull King of the Air CT 2

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:27 pm
by TheJoe
Hadlow and Lenten have a vid of them doing mega-passes so I would expect people going for them. As far as loop-offs I would not expect that from the list of riders. Maybe Langeree or Jacobsen ( I've seen him do one footer kite loops). If you look at the list most of these guys ride boots.