Big Bay Cape Town Sunday the 2nd February. This was the day the organisers had called for the conditions to fit those required to host the King of the Air 2014. 24 of the worlds best kiteboard airtime specialists were lined up. The wind started off a bit light and by the projected start had reached about 18 knots. By 13:00 it was 20 knots and due to increase progressively as he afternoon went on and this is what happened. Within a couple of hours it was between 25 and 30 knots with gusts of 35. The day was sunny and there were about 10 000 people lining the arena. The riders gave it their all from the start. This was kiteboarding at it's highest level. The crowd was bedazzled by amazing jumps and spectacular tricks and a couple of hard landings. The waves were about 3 foot with 6 foot faces forming pretty acceptable ramps from which to launch. The highest jump exceeded 25 metres and longest air time over 10 seconds. Here's a few pics from the action.
(To scroll the images click on one of them and then click on the row of small icons at the bottom of the screen. If not scrolling then go to this link :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61295995@N05/sets/72157640669341085/ )
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| The setting with table mountain in the background |
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| Part of the crowd |
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| Nic Jacobsen of Denmark does his signature one foot board off |
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| Jandre Fraser wildcard from South Africa going up skywards |
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| Johnno Scholte of Holland doing a realistic deadman |
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| Johnno Scholte |
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| Johnno Scholte comfortably inverted |
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| Jerrie van der Kop of Holland looping his kite |
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| Jerrie van der Kop |
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| Lewis Crathern of England comfortably airborne |
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| Shawn Richman of Hawaii was pumping hard and pulling move after move |
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| Shawn Richman contorts his body into a roll while pulling hard on his bar to send his kite into a mega loop |
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| Shawn Richman |
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| Shawn Richman zooming to the shore to wait for a kicker from which to launch |
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| Shawn performing a roll |
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| Kevin Langeree of Holland with one of the most impressive board offs I have ever seen |
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| Kevin came out firing and aggressive from the start. He also threw in some teasers for the crowds and paparazzi close to the beach. He was the eventual victor and is the King for 2014. |
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| Luke Mcgillewie of South Africa flying high. Note the measuring pole in the background |
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| Reno Romeu of Brazil powering his kite down low |
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| Andries Fourie from South Africa looking really colour coordinated. He came in fourth position. |
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| Reno Romeu of Brazil doing his version of a deadman |
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| Reno Romeu inverted |
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| Ruben Lenten of Holland fully powered. He came in in second position |
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| Not sure who this is but with Aaron Hadlow kite - mega looping |
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| Sam Medysky showing his feet |
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| Jesse Richman put on a great show trying to retain his 2013 crown. |
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| Jesse Richman |
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| Jesse up high and rolling and looping |
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| Jesse Richman |
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| Luke doing a grab |
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| Luke low and powered |
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| Luke grabbing and half board off |
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| Lewis Crathern megalooping |
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| Aaron Hadlow unravels his lines |
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| Ruben inverted and looping |
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| Stephen Akkersdijk of Holland jumping high |
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| Ruben doing his sponsors proud |
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| Sam Medysky of Canada |
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| Kevin de Smidt of Holland |
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| Sam Light |
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| Linus Erdmann of Germany - climbing over every mountain |
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| Sam on his magic carpet |
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| Sam flying happily |
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| Some of the papparazi |
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