King of the Air 2019 - all info here

[Toby]

It’s because he jumps higher on the right...otherwise he would use the kicker waves too, since clearly the jumps to left with kicker are higher.

Guess why I don’t ride in such conditions? Strong winds, small kite. With pushing my tricks I would have been in hospital many times and possible not ride anymore.

It’s dangerous. The guys are brave, but they also get paid for it (way too less).

I am happy everytime KOTA is over and no really bad injury occurred. I know most of the guys personally and it makes me sad if they get injured. Because that’s the worst that can happen to any of us, being stuck in bed and not being able to kite. A nightmare I don’t wish to anyone.

Fingers crossed to all riders.

PS: seeing 3 bad crashes today...luckily the guys didn’t have boots so they could bail out.
Rethink if you really need boots doing big air...

[longwhitecloud]

Very entertaining, great to finally see a new generation of sick riders.

Do the judges do this maths? It would seem pretty much impossible to make of use of progressive tricks in order to win, so why even bother is my question - just do the same thing each year?

16m Jump /Best Trick
Height 6.23 + Trick 2.85 TOTAL 9.08
[16m Height 8.9/10 (16m Very big but not biggest jump) x 0.7 (70%) ] + [ Trick 9.5/10 (World first in competition) x 0.3 (30%)] = 9.08

18m Jump / Good trick
Height 7 +Trick 2.67 TOTAL 9.67
[Height 10/10 (18m Biggest Jump of event) x 0.7(70%) ] + [ Trick 8.9/10 (Dangle trick with a handle on things) x 0.3 (30%) =9.67


What a trick > > jump huge - mega loop - no handle - board off backroll all while flying sideways at mach 10.

[Hugh2]

What was the windspeed today. And what sizes was everyone on?

Wind speed posted earlier. Most were on 9m. Josh Emmanuel always seems to ride a 10m Core on relatively short lines, but he was winded in a crash in the final heat yesterday. The North prototypes that Nick and Jesse were riding do not have large numbers on them, but I think Nick was on a 9m and Jesse on an 8m, which might also be what Janek and Liam were on. Nick and Jesse certainly had the most kites on the beach, I believe 8 of them, with a caddy flying a backup kite at all times when they were competing. Not that it means much, but I would have struggled to hold my 7m in the winds of the competition, but I was powered up nicely once the wind came down around 6PM. I’ve only seen Kevin on his 8m Pivot once this season, and that was an absolutely nuking day when I could not ride, would have needed a 5m.

[Jan:)]

They should have stopped the event after round two, when it was becoming clear the wind was not improving.
25 knots ist just not working for an event like this.

Many of the crashes were just the riders pushing it, without the proper wind to get their height.
When you see lots and lots of people riding right next to the competition on similar sized kites, then you now something is not right.

Wind also onshore, so the waves were crap and the riders were almost landing on the beach on the bigger jumps

[ColdWeatherKiter]

Marc also said in a post- heat interview that he is very dissapointed for not being rewarded for innovation. As i remember Marc and Posito were the only riders to bring fresh tricks into KOTA this year. Personally i was really impressed with Posito and Aurelien. I think both of them are real contenders in the coming years, if Aurelien can get his consistency up, he might have a shot against Kevv in lighter winds. Exciting action!!!

[Kitemenn]

I must say the guys bringing invention into the competition indeed did not got rewarded. But I also think part of this is due to the height! Although it's alway good fun seeing Kev go, we have all seen all his tricks before. Mark / Aurelien / Posito and Jesse really showed they wanted to show a next level! Also Jesse got too less credits he kicked ass! Any idea n the Prizemoney this year?

[Toby]

I agree on new tricks should be rewarded.

Kevin rides great, but the same tricks over and over is just boring.

Aurelien also did a new trick with his double roll Megaloop...looked very cool.

Marc’s Backroll Boardoff Megaloop is just amazing.

But, there is so much more possible...and I never understand why not all push further? So much more possible. What did they do the last year?

Since height gets the most points, I understand why they didn’t succeed.

Maybe judging should add 1 point to the score when a new trick has been landed!
Now that would make it fair IMO !

I hope Aurelien will get rewarded with his tricks riding against Kevin. The Boardoff trick Kevin is doing is a basic trick! Aureliens Multi rotations are so much more risky, it should be rewarded !!!

[wrogu]

Are they going to run the event today ? Any news?

[Toby]

doesn't look like it...there was no official announcement.
Check what Hugh said about the forecast.

I just contacted someone from judging at KOTA.

I suggested to add 2 pints to the score if a rider did a new trick that not have been landed at KOTA before.

Now this WILL make a difference for an innovative rider.

He will take it to the judges to consider it...keep fingers crossed that this happens...because then we gonna see way more innovation from the riders!

it cannot be that a rider wins over and over with the same tricks. NOT cool.

Sooooo much more possible...and this should be rewarded!!!

[Pemba]

I agree on new tricks should be rewarded.

Kevin rides great, but the same tricks over and over is just boring.

The Boardoff trick Kevin is doing is a basic trick!

Boogie loop, mega loop late back roll, all these are "basic tricks" now aren't they ? Kevin also does/did a mega loop board off I think (as one of not so many) ? I even thought that he did a backroll boardoff megaloop yesterday, same as Mark, but I might be mistaken or maybe it was a conservative one compared to Mark's. But I agree that variation and risky tricks (Aurelien, Jesse, Mark) should be rewarded more than they are and I felt the same last year when Jesse went out too soon for me. Kevin appears always completely in control, rarely falls or lands badly, you wonder why he doesn't risk a bit more and go for something really spectacular, seems he should be able to.