Kiteboarding | Cape Town hosts Dramatic Red Bull King Of The Air 2024 Finale
Italian defends Big Air kiteboarding title in Cape Town as British sensation earns first ever women's title
Andrea Principi
Principi And Maini Crowned Champions In Dramatic Red Bull King Of The Air 2024 Finale
With just three hours left of the Red Bull King of the Air 2024 weather window in Cape Town, Italian Andrea Principi successfully defended his Open Division title while British kiteboarder Francesca Maini claimed victory in the inaugural Women's Division. Here is all you need to know:
The exhilarating display of Big Air kiteboarding saw shortened Sunday heats and breaks to maximise the fleeting ideal conditions as the South African day unfolded with a thrilling sense of urgency.
The famed Cape Doctor winds finally peaked at 40 knots late in the afternoon, while the 2.5 to 3.1-metre southwest swells provided an ideal backdrop for the riders’ soaring aerial feats.
Organisers shortened heats from 10 minutes to eight with brief intervals between rounds and the finals were 13 minutes each to give the three riders the necessary time to showcase their amazing abilities.
The Open Division final pushed conditions right to the brink with riders performing in near darkness to cement the event's reputation as the pinnacle of Big Air kiteboarding - defending champion Principi demonstrating again why he remains at the pinnacle of the thrilling sport.
Principi's standout tricks included a Contra Loop Back Tornado Board Off that scored 7.18, a stylish Doobie Loop Board Off earning 6.76 points and a technical Contra Loop Double Front Roll Rodeo for 6.47 points - this combination of height, precision and innovation cementing king status.
Principi, 20, said: "Once may be luck, but this feels incredible. To be honest, I'm not the real winner here - my family and my sponsors are the true champions. They make all of this possible, and I owe this victory to them."
In close second was Principi's compatriot Lorenzo Casati with South African Luca Ceruti rounding out the podium and wowing the fans to become the first-ever local rider to finish in the top three.
The groundbreaking Women’s Division also delivered dramatic action with Briton Maini etching her name into history as the first female winner of the event, thanks to a series of high-scoring manoeuvres that showcased her precision and technical mastery.
Francesca Maini
Her top tricks included a Kite Loop Board Off with another highlight a big Boogieloop that was backed up with a cleanly executed Contra Loop Front Roll to wrap up her impressive inaugural victory.
She revealed: "It means so much, I was dreaming about this moment. It is amazing. To my family and everyone who supports me - thank you for making this possible."
Sportive Director Sergio Cantagalli declared: "This was kiteboarding at its most raw and authentic. Holding out for the perfect moment allowed us to witness a truly unforgettable finale. Andrea and Francesca proved themselves as champions in every sense and I couldn't be prouder of how this year's event unfolded under such challenging conditions."
The Mystic Most Extreme Move Of The Day was won by American teenage sensation Zac Adams for his highly innovative Kiteloop Rotational Boardflip performed in Round 1.
The 2025 edition will see three European Qualifiers before the Cape Town world final unfolds again.
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Red Bull King of the Air 2024 results
Open Division
1. Andrea Principi (Italy)
2. Lorenzo Casati (Italy)
3. Luca Ceruti (South Africa)
Women's Division
1. Francesca Maini (United Kingdom)
2. Zara Hoogenraad (Netherlands)
3. Pippa Van Iersel (Netherlands)
