In any normal year the Red Bull King of the Air would have taken place recently in Cape Town. But South Africa shut their beaches due to Covid, and sadly the event had to be cancelled.
The list of competitors would have included the top three finishers from last year: Jesse Richman, Nick Jacobsen and Aaron Hadlow, plus Kevin Langeree, the winner of the Cold Hawaii Games last September, as well as video entrants chosen, from the biggest number of entries ever received, for their display of height, power, extremity, technicality and innovation. On the list were some of the regulars, plus a few talented newbies, and for the only female, Angely Bouillot, it would have been her second event (come on KOTA, bring us a women’s event!). We asked the competitors, and other GKA athletes what they have been up to recently while waiting for events to resume. Some have stayed at home while some of the plucky ones have been able to travel, including to Cape Town once beaches reopened. A few riders participated in a one-day event there, the Big Air Kite League, with Ross-Dillon Player, Aaron Hadlow and Steven Akkersdijk taking the top three places. Fair to say everyone is itching to get back on the competition circuit.
Alina Shalin is spending the whole European winter in Cape Town, her second home for many years now.
