The 2015 Red Bull King of the Air brought together 24 of the world’s top riders and is remembered as a turning point where Freestyle elements began to merge with Big Air. While the miraculous comeback of Jesse Richman, who had suffered broken legs the previous year, touched the hearts of the spectators, a historic and fierce battle unfolded where extreme tricks pushing the limits determined the outcome. It was also a memorable year that set a new standard for Big Air, where one rider claimed his first victory using his signature trick, taking the first step toward what would become back-to-back titles.
Location and Conditions
The stage was Big Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. After a tense one-week waiting period for the right wind conditions, riders took to the extreme skies over two days on February 14 and 15. On the final Sunday, strong winds finally kicked in, creating world-class Big Air conditions.
Format and Participants
Ten elite riders who made it through the highly competitive video entry phase clashed with the seeded riders from the previous year. A flag-out system was utilized, meaning the rider with the lowest score during a heat was eliminated and had to leave the water.
The lineup featured the scene’s top representatives, including defending champion Kevin Langeree, alongside Aaron Hadlow, Jesse Richman, Jerrie van de Kop, Nick Jacobsen, and Ruben Lenten.
Highlights and Epic Battles
The most emotional moment of the event was the comeback of Jesse Richman, who had suffered broken legs at the previous year’s event. Opting to use foot straps instead of bindings, he repeatedly executed massive board-off tricks and successfully advanced to the four-man final. In the final, his aggressive approach led to crashes, and he was the first to be flagged out, finishing in 4th place. However, his unyielding spirit greatly excited the crowd.
Defending champion Kevin Langeree had received eight stitches in his hand during pre-event training, but he showed no signs of the injury as he delivered powerful riding, reaching a height of 13.5 meters to win the “Biggest Air of the Day”. Dutchman Jerrie van de Kop also put up a fierce fight, impressively securing 3rd place.
The winner of this intense battle was Aaron Hadlow. In both the semi-finals and the final, he flawlessly executed the highly difficult “Megaloop KGB,” overwhelming his rivals. This strike was also selected as the “Mystic Move Of The Day,” establishing a new Big Air standard by fusing advanced Freestyle elements in strong winds, ultimately leading him to the throne.
Results
1st: Aaron Hadlow
2nd: Kevin Langeree
3rd: Jerrie van de Kop
4th: Jesse Richman
T-5th: Nick Jacobsen, Steven Akkersdijk
T-7th: Ruben Lenten, Sam Light
T-9th: Antonin Rangin, Billy Parker, Lewis Crathern, Tom Hebert
Mystic Move Of The Day: Aaron Hadlow (Megaloop KGB)
Biggest Air of the Day: Kevin Langeree (13.5m)
Search Aliases: KOTA 2015, KOTA2015, Red Bull King of the Air 2015, RedBullKingoftheAir2015