KOTA is a shame !!

[Toby]

this happens with videos where guys can show a lot of tricks

[fastrider]

Toby I second epic and monster doing a contest
Or even rock star.

[Bladesurfer]

Do they have guards down there during the competition ?
Dimitri:
You should go down there and "crash" their competition doing huge tricks in the background. Maybe wearing your grandmother suit .
You would defiantly get some good attention.

[esg]

+1 for Dimitri!
I've never ridden an Epic kite, never even seen one except in his videos. But I absolutely love that guys style and huge air.
That's probably why he's not included. Because he and his brand have nothing to do with Redbull.
Like some have mentioned before. I'm thinking this event is more of a big advertisement than a competition!

[Frank82]

+1 for Dimitri!
I've never ridden an Epic kite, never even seen one except in his videos. But I absolutely love that guys style and huge air.
That's probably why he's not included. Because he and his brand have nothing to do with Redbull.
Like some have mentioned before. I'm thinking this event is more of a big advertisement than a competition!

None of the selected riders have anything to do with Red Bull. Nor do the brands they fly for. I know Tieme a bit and he's just some local guy who rides hard, that's what got him selected. He's no pro or anything, just a working guy and weekend kiter like you or me. He just pushes it a bit harder than most.

[tautologies]

This is why we can't have nice things.

Whats up with all entitlements here? Its perfectly fine to have an opinion but don;t make this into something it isn't.

On one hand we complain when they stopped doing king of the air, then once they put it on...the complaints are that they don't do it the way you want it.

This is a commercial company that is putting on an event...which is going to cost them a significant amount of money..they want to get something back from it..branding, more sales etc....so they make the choices they feel are the best for them.

Dimitri has already starred in a commercial for a competing company...maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe its because he submitted a video that was well over twice as long as they were asking for? Maybe because he already stated he doesn't drink Red Bull....Maybe they just don't think he is a good fit...regardless its their event and they can do whatever they want.

[soul19]

Hey Taut I think you hit the nail on the head with that last post. Best one I have read all day

James

[Macisback]

Dear all,

maybe you are interested in an inside view?

I have been working for and with Red Bull since more then 10 years.
I am Austrian.
I do not work with them anymore since a few year (simpIy because changed my career from sports marketing)

I have no unresolved issues with them and I am neither a fan boy nor a hater of their brand.
I even drink 2-3 of their cans (or other similar) a month.


The reason why Dimitri has not entered the KOTA is simple:

- Red Bull takes decisions in strict autocratic procedures
- There has to be 100% control of the outcome
- It is straight forward business: They carry the cost, they want to increase brand value/recognition/PR

First of all Dimitri has a few conflicts with their internal politics as they see it:

- He is the owner of a Kite brand
- He used to work with a competitor of theirs
- He is not sponsored by Red Bull (and therefore hard to control his statements etc)

Before they risk any damage to the event or image, they play it the easy way: No Dimitri, no Risk


Is there a solution to this - will we fans ever see Dimitri in KOTA?

No, most likely not. Unless the public pressure in form of a super shitstorm would be to big.
As KOTA is only a small event for Red Bull, this is basically impossible.


So what are we left with?

I guess Guerilla marketing will do the job!

Dimitri, go down there, put a GPS sensor on your board and let numbers of the same day talk!
Im sure you can beat their height and their tricks.

After you have done that (filmed, proven by 3rd party that checks gps results) , let maybe Granny D have a go (or yourself - Im not sure what suits better) and let all of us have a laugh about the Red Bull politics, which for sure does not benefit the sport at this moment!

Just one hint: Whatever you do, do it smart, charming and fun!
Sneak your way in from the side/offshore and do not get to close to others, but of course close enough for people to see you and to get good footage.
Play a bit of catch me if you can and then after a nice 15-20 min show before or after a heat call it a day and let them get on with it.

Instead of a shitstorm lets create a PR storm.
If you are higher and more radical then the others, all you need is to be fast with good footage after you are back on the beach and with the GPS results.

The community will do the rest - I guess not a single google search that day will bring up results without Granny D or you

If you could manage, it would be a well deserved publicity and what a nice one!

But: Stay who you are - a Greek with a big smile always is sympathic!

[Bladesurfer]

Dear all,

maybe you are interested in an inside view?

I have been working for and with Red Bull since more then 10 years.
I am Austrian.
I do not work with them anymore since a few year (simpIy because changed my career from sports marketing)

I have no unresolved issues with them and I am neither a fan boy nor a hater of their brand.
I even drink 2-3 of their cans (or other similar) a month.


The reason why Dimitri has not entered the KOTA is simple:

- Red Bull takes decisions in strict autocratic procedures
- There has to be 100% control of the outcome
- It is straight forward business: They carry the cost, they want to increase brand value/recognition/PR

First of all Dimitri has a few conflicts with their internal politics as they see it:

- He is the owner of a Kite brand
- He used to work with a competitor of theirs
- He is not sponsored by Red Bull (and therefore hard to control his statements etc)

Before they risk any damage to the event or image, they play it the easy way: No Dimitri, no Risk


Is there a solution to this - will we fans ever see Dimitri in KOTA?

No, most likely not. Unless the public pressure in form of a super shitstorm would be to big.
As KOTA is only a small event for Red Bull, this is basically impossible.


So what are we left with?

I guess Guerilla marketing will do the job!

Dimitri, go down there, put a GPS sensor on your board and let numbers of the same day talk!
Im sure you can beat their height and their tricks.

After you have done that (filmed, proven by 3rd party that checks gps results) , let maybe Granny D have a go (or yourself - Im not sure what suits better) and let all of us have a laugh about the Red Bull politics, which for sure does not benefit the sport at this moment!

Just one hint: Whatever you do, do it smart, charming and fun!
Sneak your way in from the side/offshore and do not get to close to others, but of course close enough for people to see you and to get good footage.
Play a bit of catch me if you can and then after a nice 15-20 min show before or after a heat call it a day and let them get on with it.

Instead of a shitstorm lets create a PR storm.
If you are higher and more radical then the others, all you need is to be fast with good footage after you are back on the beach and with the GPS results.

The community will do the rest - I guess not a single google search that day will bring up results without Granny D or you

If you could manage, it would be a well deserved publicity and what a nice one!

But: Stay who you are - a Greek with a big smile always is sympathic!

Second that!

[Eurus]

I have watched Dimitri in person with about 6 other (younger) pros in 30 + kt winds. They all kited for about 30 to 45 minutes. During the entire session I never once saw Dimitri do the same trick twice. He boosted as high and even higher than most of the other pros and none of them even came close to doing the volume of tricks Dimitri did. His mega loops were just as good as the others (except BP).

To be honest I don't even know what some of the tricks he (Dimitri) was doing are called because I have never seen anyone else do them.

The only other rider during the session who impressed me the most was Billy Parker. That dude goes HUGE on every trick and his loops are massive.