Star kiteboarders soar as King of the Air returns
With the wind playing along nicely, the annual Red Bull King of the Air kiteboarding event is in full swing at Bloubergstrand's Kite Beach.
Image: Paul Ganse/Red Bull Content Pool
The world's premier Big Air kiteboarding competition is set to ignite Kite Beach once again as Red Bull King of the Air announces its full rider lineup for the 2025 edition. With a weather window scheduled from Saturday, November 22 to Sunday December 7, 2025, this year's fleet brings together defending champions, qualifier victors, and breakthrough talents in what promises to be one of the most competitive editions in the event's storied history.
Leading the charge is Andrea Principi (20, Italy), the back-to-back champion who dominated in 2023 and 2024. The Italian maestro cemented his status as the rider to beat by not only defending his title but also winning the Porto Pollo qualifier in October 2025—despite competing with a broken board in the semifinals. Principi's consistency and technical brilliance have set a new standard in Big Air kiteboarding.
Cohan van Dijk from the Netherlands takes to the sky on Day 2 of Red Bull King Of The Air at Kite Beach, on Monday, November 24.
Image: Paul Ganse/Red Bull Content Pool
Joining him will be Lorenzo Casati (19, Italy), the 2022 champion and 2024 runner-up who has proven himself as one of the sport's most explosive talents. Casati dominated the Tarifa qualifier in June 2025, being the only rider to score over 30 points in every heat and landing the highest-scoring trick of the entire event. Also returning to the battlefield is Luca Ceruti (22, South Africa), who made history in 2024 as the first South African to reach the podium with his third-place finish, a moment that electrified the home crowd. Visit redbull.com/kingoftheair