Flow in Sport x Red Bull king of the air 2023

This year marked the 12th anniversary of Red Bull King of the Air being held in Cape Town.

Eighteen of the world's best kiteboarders gathered at Kite Beach in Table View, which boasts perfect conditions for these high-flying athletes.

Riders were judged based on the height of their jumps, variety of tricks, and style. To give you a good view of how high, fast, and dangerous the sport is, this video shows how Red Bull challenged three of the world's best big air kite surfers to jump over a giant boat. To accomplish this, they had to jump the length of a football field, kiteboard faster than 45 mph, and find the perfect wave to launch from.

The importance of flow cannot be overstated in extreme sports like kite surfing. Achieving the state of flow, where athletes are fully immersed and performing at their peak, is crucial for executing such high-risk maneuvers. Flow allows athletes to synchronize their mind and body, enabling them to react instinctively and maintain precision even under immense pressure. This mental state not only enhances performance but also helps in managing fear and reducing the risk of accidents. Watching these athletes in action is a testament to the power of flow in achieving extraordinary feats.

Riders Line-up for 2024

Lorenzo Casati, Jamie Overbeek, and Andrea Principi automatically qualified for the 2023 event thanks to their podium finishes in 2022. Beto Gomez, who won the Argentina Kite Fest qualifier event held in March, and Liam Whaley, who placed highest among non-qualified riders at the Red Bull Megaloop event in Holland, earned their spots through the Red Bull King of the Air qualifier events.

Athlete Line-up:

• Aaron Hadlow (England)

• Arthur Guillebert (France)

• Airton Cozzolino (Italy)

• Cohan van Dijk (Netherlands)

• Edgar Ulrich (France)

• Giel Vlugt (Netherlands)

• Jason van der Spuy (South Africa)

• Jeremy Burlando (Spain)

• Luca Ceruti (South Africa)

• Marc Jacobs (New Zealand)

• Stijn Mul (Netherlands)

• Timo Boersema (Netherlands)

• Joshua Emanuel (South Africa)

• Josue San De Carvalho Ferreira (Brazil)

Winner

High-flying Italian Andrea Principi emerged victorious. “I just don’t have any words,” the 19-year-old Principi said after the 15-minute final. “This has been my dream for so long, and many years from now I will look back on today and remember that I made my dream come true.”