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King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:10 pm
by Toby
All info for the King of the Air 2018 will be posted in this topic.

27 January - 11 February 2018
Kite Beach - Blouberg, Cape Town
Live stream: https://www.redbull.com/za-en/events/re ... /live-feed
https://www.facebook.com/events/1765461 ... discussion
Live wind: https://www.windguru.cz/station/42

Click HERE for the full livestream of day 1.

The most badass, big-air Kiteboarding contest in the world returns. It’s is all about the amplitude as contestants go head-to-head in a “flag out” competition format. During the two week weather window riders will only face-off in the perfect conditions – when the legendary Cape Doctor is at its epic best, punching out consistent wind speeds of over 30 knots and providing the perfect swell from which to boost some extreme manoeuvres.

Here a list of all riders: http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2398420

Nick Jacobsen is out due to an injury! http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2398572

Poll: Straps vs Boots: who will win? Let us know what you think!
http://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2398518

It’s more than big boosting that riders need to pull off. Style, technique and no small amount of fearlessness all play an integral part in scoring high, and it’s up to our hawk-eyed judges to accurately spot the differences between the manoeuvres taking place on the water. Prepare for some epic riding for contestants.

Contest Director:
Olaf Van Tol

Sportive Director:
Sergio Cantagalli

Head Judge:
Alex Vliege

Judges:
Gregory Thijsse
Reinier Korstanje
Vita Vitezskav Adamicek
Arek Jerzelkowski
Chris Bull

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:13 pm
by Toby
Which gear will the riders use?

Here the info from several riders:

Tom Bridge (UK)
boots

Aaron Hadlow (UK)
Kite: NKB 9m Vegas and 22m lines
Board: NKB TS Hadlow Edition 140cm boots & straps

Ruben Lenten (NL)
boots

Lewis Crathern (UK) 
Going to Straps more variation I think.
10m Rebel, I can take that thing in pretty much anything Cape Town can deal (unless it goes way over 40) on 25m lines its nuts.
Board 132 Xride

Steven Akkersdijk (NL)
I'm riding 20m lines as always on the CORE GTS4. Depending on the wind a 10m 9m or 8m.
The board is a Carved Tantrum with straps. Size 142x42

Lasse Walker (NL)
This year I will maybe ride the Dice if the wind is lighter, if it’s super strong I prefer the Vegas. Sizes between from 8 to 10 meter and 22 meter lines.
Again if the wind is super strong I prefer to ride boots because it gives me more control, if it’s below 40 knots I will ride straps to be able to do more tricks!

Oswald Smith (RSA)
boots

Reno Romeu (BRA)
I still don’t know yet, will bring few set ups to Cape Town and try out there before the comp.
boots

Jerrie Van De Kop (NL)
boots

Jessie Richman (USA)
Torch 8, 9 or 10 on 20m lines.
Board Naish Stomp 135.
straps

Kevin Langeree (NL)
straps

Liam Whaley (ES)
boots

Joshua Emanuel (RSA)
Usually I ride my 8 or 9m GTS4 on 20m lines and a 139 board.
Straps

Marc Jacobs (NZ)
I’m taking both incase of conditions so not sure but would properly use straps I’d say.
Rating for new gear to arrive, don’t know my gear yet.

Ross-Dillon Player (RSA)
For me the gear I would most likely use at KOTA would be a 9m Core Gts4 on 22m lines
A 139 Choice 2
Straps all the way

Antonin Rangin (FRA)
I do not know yet exactly the material that I will use, I think Vegas 8 m or 9 m with
Wake Bar or Evo 8 m bar with 24m.
I use a 137 cm Enduro Blankforce with Strap

Sam Light (UK) 
I'm using Slingshot RPM 8 and 10 and SST 8 and 9. 20m and 23m lines. Boots and Refraction 143

Gijs Wassenaar (NL)
boots

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 7:18 pm
by Cristiano_Leandro
Interesting choice from Lasse and Sam. Wouldnt have thought of a Dice and SST in this kind of things (both wave oriented).

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:08 pm
by Dirk
Yes, interesting gear choices. Like Lewis Crathern using completely freeride equipment. All the pictures you see by Kevin right now he is on the Pivot instead of the Torch. Maybe it‘s marketing maybe not. On the wave side there seem to be a number of models which jump quite well at least in the smaller sizes. I read about that for the SST in a German forum and I am personally pleasantly surprised by my Naish Slash which does exactly that.

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:09 pm
by Cristiano_Leandro
Dirk wrote:
Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:08 pm
Yes, interesting gear choices. Like Lewis Crathern using completely freeride equipment. All the pictures you see by Kevin right now he is on the Pivot instead of the Torch. Maybe it‘s marketing maybe not. On the wave side there seem to be a number of models which jump quite well at least in the smaller sizes. I read about that for the SST in a German forum and I am personally pleasantly surprised by my Naish Slash which does exactly that.
Other thing thats interesting is the board sizes, Lewis going for a 132 and sam going for 140+

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:45 pm
by kiterocky
And more and more with straps

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:33 pm
by lindseym
Yea, I'm not surprised to see Lewis using the Rebel. Not the best kite for mega loops but it does a lot of stuff really well and with the right technique (and wind) its possible. What would surprise me would be if Kevin uses as a Pivot. That kite is (to me) has a much different feel than the Torch and it just seems like you would have to change your technique a bit since the timing, lift, and such will be different. Who knows...it will definitely be interesting.

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:35 pm
by Qiter
"...What would surprise me would be if Kevin uses as a Pivot. "

In his last Vlog, he actually states exactly this. Will use Pivot as it jumps higher..

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 12:30 am
by Tone
Langree is on the Pivot kite.

Re: King of the Air 2018 - All Info

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 2:14 am
by SLiiCK
Looking forward to it hope the live streaming on my internet is better this year! So frustrating last year.