Kitesurfing
Ahead of the 2025 edition of Red Bull King of the Air, find out more about kitesurfing's pivotal characters and how they changed the game.
The weather window for the world's most badass, big air kitesurfing contest opens on November 22 as the best in business return to South Africa for Red Bull King of the Air 2025. How did we get here? It’s a story that goes back decades and features a host of personalities that dedicated themselves to progressing the sport of kitesurfing.
01
History
The very first Red Bull King of the Air ran at the hallowed windsurfing spot, Ho’okipa, on the Hawaiian islands of Maui in 2000. Back then the kites were raw, powerful and relatively dangerous, and the riders were all about throwing the biggest airs. As the equipment developed and became readily available to the public, kiteboarding was excitedly hailed as the ‘fastest-growing watersport in the world’.
For five years Red Bull King of the Air staged the biggest one-off annual event at a phenomenal spot, but in truth, in its latter years at Ho'okipa, the event had become a little same-old-same-old as kitesurfing went through its growing pains and pro riders moved away from big air.
New equipment made it an easier discipline and the sport's elite focused on the cutting edge of style and technicality. Ironically this saw them performing their tricks closer and closer to the water, much like wakeboarders.
Around 2007, jaded with current kitesurfing competition formats, riders like Ruben Lenten began experimenting by going out in stronger and stronger 'storm force' winds on special equipment and seeing how high and how far they could go. As they became more comfortable in previously 'unrideable' winds, they began throwing 12m-plus 'mega loops'.
And so in 2012, in association with Lenten, the Red Bull Len10 Megaloop Challenge took place at Big Bay with Lewis Crathern from the UK coming out on top. It paved the way for the return of Red Bull King of the Air after an eight-year hiatus.
Red Bull King of the Air 2013 saw 24 of the world's best and most extreme big air specialists converge at Big Bay. In front of a thrilled crowd, Hawaiian Jesse Richman emerge on top after eight action-packed hours of competition.
Kitesurfing had rocked back to its roots and many believed it had rediscovered the essence of what made it so special in the first place.
In 2014, Cape Town’s Big Bay again played host to 24 of the world’s best kiteboarders as they went head-to-head in a unique ‘flag out’ competition format.
Dutchman Kevin Langeree managed to edge out his compatriots Lenten (second) and Steven Akkersdijk (third) in the final to become champion in front of a 12,000-strong crowd.
Red Bull King of the Air 2015 was a tale of three days. After waiting out the traditional two-week window period – which saw enough wind to complete Rounds 1 through 3, split over two separate days – the official weather window was extended by a day. That day saw the ‘Cape Doctor’ (south-easterly) gust to the required knots and the final witnessed past champions Richman and Langeree up against Jerrie van de Kop and multiple world champ Aaron Hadlow. Hadlow put together the performance of the day, landing two massive Megaloop KGBs during the semis and finals to claim the top spot on the podium.
2016 was somewhat of a Game of Thrones, as the 2015 defending champ, Hadlow out-gunned previous champions, Richman and Langeree, plus first-time finalist Reno Romeu, to claim back-to-back wins.
After years of consistency, Nick Jacobsen was finally rewarded with his first ever Red Bull King of the Air title in 2017 and broke Hadlow’s winning streak in the competition.
In 2018 – the first time the event was staged at Kite Beach – Dutchman Langeree out-classed Spanish young gun Liam Whaley and Crathern to win his second Red Bull King of the Air title.
2019 saw Langeree win a closely-contested three-man final battle at Kite Beach in Cape Town on February 6 to retain his title. Langeree outgunned Richman and Whaley in 30-knot 'Cape Doctor' conditions during the 13-minute final.
In 2020 Hawaiian powerhouse Richman won his second title. It was a 'day of days' at Kite Beach in Cape Town, with the world's finest big air kiteboard specialists pushing the limits. When the final siren went after 34 heats and some seven hours of competition, Richman ascended to the top step, claiming his second victory since winning the first coveted African Mask in 2013.
In 2021, the event ran in a new weather window in late November and early December as opposed to late January and early February in the past. New Zealand's Marc Jacobs took the win with this edition being memorable for Polish youngster Janek Grzegorzewski scoring the single-highest score in the event’s history.
The younger generation also made their mark on the 2022 event. Italian teenager Lorenzo Casati took the title. Next to him on the podium were his fellow countryman Andrea Principi and Dutchman Jamie Overbeek, who, like Casati, were also competing in the event for the first time.
02
Legends
Now learn more about some of the pivotal characters in the sport of kitesurfing:
Robby Naish
A pioneer kiteboarding and a world record setter, Robby Naish is internationally renowned as the first person to have gained long-lasting fame in the sport. At a young age, his father Rick moved the family from California to Kailua, Oahu. It was there, at the age of 11 that Robby took up the then fledgling sport of windsurfing – claiming his very first world championship win at the age of 13, a feat that remains unbroken to this day. The guy is windsurfing royalty.
Susi Mai
Susi Mai grew up living the life of a true beach girl, having moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of five. After graduating from high school in 2002, she placed second at her very first international PKRA competition. Things got bigger and better for Mai, with one of the highlights of her career being her very first win of the King of the Air, in Maui, which she claimed another two more times. Today, she's considered one of the most inspirational kiteboarders in the world – a true legend!
Flash Austin
Flash started kitesurfing in 1995 when he decided that it would be a good idea to strap himself to a kite and surf on his skimboard – needless to say, he loved it! Through the late nineties and early noughties, Flash ruled the kitesurfing competition scene and racked up the titles. Today, he still hasn’t lost an inch of his enthusiasm for flying high. Saying: “Don't worry about being too technical and comparing yourself to how others kite. The mastery of your true self is your own self-expression.” Wise words.
Aaron Hadlow
Hailing from the UK, Aaron firmly believes in experiencing as much as one can whilst having the most fun possible. Kiting has been a major focus since 2000 and at age 14 he found himself competing against the top guys in the sport; winning his first championship in 2004. For five years, Aaron was at the top of his game, constantly innovating tricks that were previously only dreamt about by his competitors. Years on he still competes and runs his own brand HADLOW by Flexifoil.
Ruben Lenten
Born in Noorwijk in the Netherlands, Lenten is a household name in the kiteboarding world. He’s one of those guys who takes things in his stride, focusing on enjoying life to the fullest. The 'Master of Extreme' pushes kiteboarding to the absolute limits; picking up second overall on the PKRA world tour in 2005 and winning King of the Air in Maui. These days his focus has shifted to promoting the extreme side of kiteboarding – “I just like going big and flying!” says Lenten, and who are we to argue?
Jesse Richman
Shortly before Jesse Richman turned 10 he got an offer from family friend Joe Koehl to come fly a new kite of his. After Richman had nearly flown away, Koehl told his parents that he was a natural born kitesurfer and would one day be world champion.
In 2008 Jesse decided to try out his first-ever European event in France. This was the first stop on the Kite Board Pro World Tour (KPWT). He was not sure what to expect and wanted to do the whole tour but was leaving this decision up to how he did in France. Sure enough… he won the event. With his eyes focused on a world title, Jesse set out that year and competed on the World Tour. At the end of the year, Jesse was crowned kitesurfing's Overall World Champion. He then went on to win the title once more in 2009.
In 2013 this all-round waterman (he’s been known to surf the infamous big wave known as ‘Jaws’ on Maui) won the 2013 Red Bull King of the Air and set the world record for longest hang time on a kiteboard – having been towed up to 722ft (220m) and then flying down. In 2020 Richman won his second King of the Air title.
Kevin Langeree
Dutchman Kevin Langeree is the most successful rider in Red Bull King of the Air history with three titles and various podium finishes. Hailing from Noordwijk in the Netherlands, he has been kiteboarding since 2000.