Red Bull King of the Air Sees Elite Kiteboarders Take to the Skies

The exciting Red Bull King of the Air competition is back for 2025! The craziest and most progressive kiteboard contest on the planet sees the world’s top riders head to Cape Town to compete against rising stars, wow the crowds, and push the boundaries of the sport they love. Here’s everything you need to know.

All About the Red Bull King of the Air Kiteboarding Contest

Red Bull King of of the Air first took place in Hawaii in the early 2000s before moving to Cape Town in 2013. It has served as the single biggest driver of progression in the sport of Big-Air kiteboarding, with riders pushing the limits of amplitude, variety, execution and difficulty grade of the tricks to earn the ultimate crown.

This year will see British rider Francesca Maini return as the first-ever reigning women’s champion, while Italy’s Andrea Principi will hope to make it a hat-trick of Red Bull King of the Air titles in the open division. The men’s division sees South African participants Jason Van Der Spuy and Lorenzo Casati take to the skies too.

The unique challenge of King of the Air lies in the reliance on optimal wind conditions, because big winds equals massive air. Stay tuned to the website for daily updates during the weather window (open from 23 November to 8 December) to know when the event will go on 48hr standby.