Surf Cat

It is that time of the year again when the qualification process for Red Bull King of the Air gets underway. For the 2021 edition, this process has undergone some major changes. If you’re a kiteboarder and you can fly, now’s the time to get your entry in to stand a chance of competing against the best big air kiters in the world.

The 2021 event – set to run at Kite Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, when conditions are optimal over a two-week waiting period in early February – will feature a fleet of 18 riders. These 18 will come from of the top finishers in 2020 and the winners from the Fly to Red Bull King of the Air satellite events, with the remaining slots to be taken up by video contest entrants; as well as four wildcards.

The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2020 with the final announcement to be made by December 10. Entries are open to any riders, male or female, from anywhere in the world.

Find out how to enter here

“It’s been pretty wild to watch the evolution of the event and with that the evolution of kiteboarding,” said defending Red Bull King of the Air champ, Jesse Richman.

“It’s pretty amazing how much the event has kind of shaped big air kiteboarding and how the criteria have evolved over the years,” the Hawaiian, who claimed his second title in 2020, added.

According to Richman, the progression of the sport will once again take some big leaps in the next two years or so. “Not only in the extreme height department, but in the radicalness and the technicality of the moves performed at those heights,” he said. Richman is excited to defend his title and cannot wait to see what fresh talent and new moves the entry process will unearth in the lead-up.

“The idea with the new entry format is to give a wider range of riders – both pro and amateur – a shot at competing for the crown,” explained Sportive Director, Sergio Cantagalli. According to Cantagalli, there are also updates to the video entry rules which will help incentivise young and talented riders to submit their clips.

“Film your your three best moves only,” he said, adding that – among other things – “It’s important for riders to put together a routine of the three jumps. These video clips may not be older than a year and no previous Red Bull King of the Air entry clips (or part previous competition live streams) will be allowed.”

There’s no limit to how many videos a rider can submit. The 20 best clips will be assessed by the Red Bull King of the Air judging panel. “The judges will analyse each video clip with the same judging criteria as in the event: best tricks/jumps, variety of moves and general flow” Cantagalli said. “They’re looking to see what the riders can do and identify the best performers, the clips don’t need to be a masterpieces of editing.”