The 2022 Red Bull King of the Air became a monumental event that vividly showcased a generational shift in the history of Big Air kiteboarding. In an unprecedented scenario, all three riders who advanced to the final were making their very first KOTA final appearance, strongly signaling the dawn of a new era.
Location and Conditions
The competition was held at Kite Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, widely recognized as one of the world’s premier Big Air spots. The extreme conditions, woven together by the fierce “Cape Doctor” winds and massive swells, provided the perfect stage for the new generation of riders to push their limits.
Format and Riders
An elite roster of 18 top riders from around the globe participated. The format dictated that the winner of Round 1 would advance straight to Round 3, while the second and third-place finishers were sent to face the grueling one-on-one battles of Round 2. The event highlighted the rapid rise of young talents, including Porsche Golden Ticket winner Cohan van Dijk and Jamie Overbeek, who received a last-minute spot replacing the injured Airton Cozzolino.
Highlights and Showdowns
The tournament opened with massive upsets. In the final heat of Round 1, substitute rider Jamie Overbeek immediately dropped the event’s first 9-point score to take the win. This stunning performance forced both defending champion Marc Jacobs and top favorite Andrea Principi into the perilous Round 2 elimination battles.
The final was a fiery clash between three representatives of the new generation: a WOO height record holder, a rider throwing massive tricks despite the agonizing pain of a fractured rib, and an 18-year-old rookie. Stepping up to the moment, a historic victory was secured with flawless execution and fearless riding.
Additionally, Liam Whaley earned the “Mystic Most Extreme Move of the Day” for the second year in a row by landing a colossal Double Kite Loop Back Roll Board Off. This trick earned a massive score of 9.94, cementing his overwhelming presence at the event.
Show Detailed Event Results (Spoilers)
Men’s Open Division Final
1st: Lorenzo Casati (34.97)
2nd: Jamie Overbeek (30.84)
3rd: Andrea Principi (29.77)
Heat Ladder
Round 1 (1st to R3, 2nd/3rd to R2)
Heat 1: 1. Lorenzo Casati / To R2: Jason van der Spuy, Giel Vlugt
Heat 2: 1. Jeremy Burlando / To R2: Edgar Ulrich, Stig Hoefnagel
Heat 3: 1. Aaron Hadlow / To R2: Timo Boersema, Kevin Langeree
Heat 4: 1. Beto Gomez / To R2: Cohan van Dijk, Josh Emanuel
Heat 5: 1. Liam Whaley / To R2: Luca Ceruti, Lasse Walker
Heat 6: 1. Jamie Overbeek / To R2: Andrea Principi, Marc Jacobs
Round 2
Heat 7: Winner: Cohan van Dijk / Eliminated: Lasse Walker
Heat 8: Winner: Giel Vlugt / Eliminated: Jeremy Burlando
Heat 9: Winner: Luca Ceruti / Eliminated: Marc Jacobs
Heat 10: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Stig Hoefnagel
Heat 11: Winner: Kevin Langeree / Eliminated: Jason van der Spuy
Heat 12: Winner: Timo Boersema / Eliminated: Josh Emanuel
Round 3
Heat 13: Winner: Lorenzo Casati / Eliminated: Marc Jacobs
Heat 14: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Edgar Ulrich
Heat 15: Winner: Cohan van Dijk / Eliminated: Aaron Hadlow
Heat 16: Winner: Beto Gomez / Eliminated: Timo Boersema
Heat 17: Winner: Liam Whaley / Eliminated: Giel Vlugt
Heat 18: Winner: Jamie Overbeek / Eliminated: Kevin Langeree
Semi-Finals
Heat 19: Winner: Andrea Principi / Eliminated: Liam Whaley
Heat 20: Winner: Lorenzo Casati / Eliminated: Cohan van Dijk
Heat 21: Winner: Jamie Overbeek / Eliminated: Beto Gomez
Search Aliases: KOTA 2022, KOTA2022, Red Bull King of the Air 2022, RedBullKingoftheAir2022