Overview
The 2023 Red Bull King of the Air became a legendary event in Big Air history. With Andrea Principi, who had already won the GKA World Title and Red Bull Megaloop that same year, aiming to achieve a historic Triple Crown, top riders pushed beyond their limits. They delivered astonishing scores in a fierce aerial battle in the skies of Cape Town.
Location and Conditions
The event took place at Kite Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. From a 16-day waiting period, perfect conditions featuring the fierce “Cape Doctor” southeasterly wind and massive swells arrived on November 29, allowing Rounds 1 and 2 to proceed. The final rounds were held on December 5, providing the ultimate stage for extreme air.
Format and Riders
An elite roster of 18 of the world’s best Big Air riders gathered, including defending champion Lorenzo Casati. The 2023 event featured only the Men’s Open Division. Winners of Round 1 advanced straight to Round 3, while second and third-place finishers battled through a one-on-one dingle format in Round 2, competing on height, power, technique, and innovation.
Highlights and Showdowns
A massive upset occurred right from the opening round. In Round 1, Heat 2, Edgar Ulrich executed a flawless Megaloop KGB, defeating the absolute champion Andrea Principi. Relegated to the elimination bracket, Andrea mounted a furious and unstoppable comeback, surging through the heats.
The final was a summit clash between three young prodigies who are also training partners and close friends: Andrea Principi, Lorenzo Casati, and Jeremy Burlando. In this historic heat, one rider achieved the unprecedented feat of landing three tricks scoring in the 9-point range (Perfect 9s), never before seen in the tournament’s history. By delivering an otherworldly performance and an astonishing score, this rider put an end to an epic battle that will be remembered in KOTA history.
Defending champion Lorenzo Casati also showed his mettle by landing a Double Kite Loop Double-Board Off, securing the Mystic Move Of The Day for the most innovative and extreme trick, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Show Detailed Event Results (Spoilers)
Men’s Open Division Final
1st: Andrea Principi (Total: 37.54) *Scored massive 9.18, 9.42, and 9.74 on single tricks, along with a 9.2 impression score. Secured an overwhelming victory with one of the highest scores in KOTA history, successfully claiming the historic Triple Crown.
2nd: Lorenzo Casati (Total: 35.17)
3rd: Jeremy Burlando (Total: 32.42)
Heat Ladder (Men’s)
Round 1 (1st to R3, 2nd/3rd to R2)
Heat 1: 1. Jeremy Burlando / To R2: Cohan van Dijk, Arthur Guillebert
Heat 2: 1. Edgar Ulrich / To R2: Andrea Principi, Airton Cozzolino
Heat 3: 1. Jason van der Spuy / To R2: Jamie Overbeek, Aaron Hadlow
Heat 4: 1. Marc Jacobs / To R2: Josue San (Baby Shark), Joshua Emanuel
Heat 5: 1. Luca Ceruti / To R2: Beto Gomez, Giel Vlugt
Heat 6: 1. Lorenzo Casati / To R2: Timo Boersema, Stijn Mul
Round 2
Heat 7: Winner: Josue San (Baby Shark) / Eliminated: Beto Gomez
Heat 8: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Cohan van Dijk
Heat 9: Winner: Giel Vlugt / Eliminated: Timo Boersema
Heat 10: Winner: Stijn Mul / Eliminated: Airton Cozzolino
Heat 11: Winner: Aaron Hadlow / Eliminated: Arthur Guillebert
Heat 12: Winner: Jamie Overbeek / Eliminated: Joshua Emanuel
Round 3
Heat 13: Winner: Jeremy Burlando / Eliminated: Giel Vlugt
Heat 14: Winner: Edgar Ulrich / Eliminated: Stijn Mul
Heat 15: Winner: Jason van der Spuy / Eliminated: Josue San (Baby Shark)
Heat 16: Winner: Jamie Overbeek / Eliminated: Marc Jacobs
Heat 17: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Luca Ceruti
Heat 18: Winner: Lorenzo Casati / Eliminated: Aaron Hadlow
Semi-Finals
Heat 19: Winner: Jeremy Burlando / Eliminated: Jason van der Spuy
Heat 20: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Edgar Ulrich
Heat 21: Winner: Lorenzo Casati / Eliminated: Jamie Overbeek
🔗 関連リンク: https://www.redbull.com/ca-en/events/red-bull-king-of-the-air-2023
Search Aliases: KOTA 2023, KOTA2023, Red Bull King of the Air 2023, RedBullKingoftheAir2023