Overview
A professional kiteboarder born in the UK, he has reached the pinnacle of Freestyle, Wakestyle, and Big Air, making him a living legend in the kiteboarding world (widely considered the G.O.A.T: Greatest of All Time). With his aggressive style of keeping the kite low and inventing numerous handle-pass tricks, he has continued to drive the evolution of the sport itself for over 20 years.
Career
Embodying the “Return of the King” many times, his career is a history of overwhelming dominance and an insatiable spirit of challenge. On the PKRA World Tour, he achieved an unprecedented feat of winning the Freestyle World Championship five times in a row (2004-2008), establishing the “Hadlow Era.” On the podcast “Kitesurf365” fantasy card project, it was famously said that “Aaron’s card is completely filled with stars representing world titles,” showing how exceptional his track record is.
In 2015 and 2016, he achieved back-to-back victories at the Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) held in Cape Town. His signature, the legendary finishing move “Megaloop KGB,” threw the crowd and judges into a frenzy of enthusiasm.
Although he subsequently experienced a long absence due to a major knee injury, he made a comeback with an indomitable fighting spirit, stating, “I kind of wanted to prove to myself that I could do it again.” He continues to compete on the front lines in recent years, engaging in a heated heat with young genius Josué San “Baby Shark” Ferreira at the 2023 Lords of Tram, continuing to fiercely compete with the next generation of riders he himself inspired.
Sponsors & Brands
In his early days, he was active as a team rider for Flexifoil, and subsequently led the scene for a long time as the face of Duotone. At the end of 2024, seeking further innovation, he made a blockbuster move to the cutting-edge brand Harlem Kitesurfing.
At Harlem, he reunited with top designer Ralf Groesel, taking on a core role in the R&D team and serving as the Special Project Manager for the board division at the innovative “Brainchild Production” factory. He is deeply involved in the development of sustainable gear using the latest digital printing technology, such as his produced freestyle-specific board “The Descent” and his signature model, the “Hadlow Pro”—the latest 5-line C-kite released by Harlem, sublimating his legendary experience into next-generation technology.
Personality & Friendships
As a pioneer of technical Wakestyle, many of the tricks that today’s pro riders perform as a matter of course were created by his hands.
He shares deep bonds with fellow legend riders like Ruben Lenten (Len10) and his compatriot Lewis Crathern, having pushed the limits of Big Air together in harsh ocean conditions. As a private anecdote, his mother Louise actively upcycles the historical kites Aaron used during his Flexifoil days into bags and memorabilia, supporting his great legacy as a family in a unique way.
Quotes & Anecdotes
“I’ve spent a lot of my career in freestyle. It’s the most technical discipline out there – and I’m excited to bring this set-up to the market. I hope the freestyle community and the younger generation can use it to push their boundaries.”
— Aaron Hadlow
“The Descent is perfectly matched to the Hadlow pro. I have so much control on take off, being able to pop and release my edge with such precision is so key for freestyle.”
— Aaron Hadlow
“With the injury, I was set back so far that I kinda wanted to prove to myself that I could do it again.”
— Aaron Hadlow
Competition Results
- 5x Freestyle World Champion (2004-2008)
- 2015: Red Bull King of the Air Winner
- 2016: Red Bull King of the Air Winner
🔗 関連リンク: Aaron Hadlow 5x Kiteboarding World Champion