Overview
“I can hear the crowd I can feel the energy and I am sending it for everybody at home, everybody watching, everybody that helped me get here, and everybody on the beach here.”
Jesse Richman is a professional kiteboarder from Maui, Hawaii. He is one of the most versatile and influential legend riders in the kiteboarding world, making history in both the Big Air and Big Wave disciplines.
Career
He is one of the greatest contributors to laying the foundation of modern Big Air competitions, winning the Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) twice, in 2013 and 2020. His death-defying tricks, such as the Kung Fu pass (a handle pass with a Kung Fu kick posture), KGBs, and boogie loops executed unhooked from 20 meters high in strong winds, have become his signature moves, electrifying crowds and judges alike.
During the 2014 KOTA semi-finals, he suffered a life-threatening crash that broke both his legs. However, he overcame grueling rehabilitation to make a miraculous phoenix-like comeback, returning to the KOTA podium the following year in 2015. He has also made a name for himself as a big wave charger, holding records for surfing some of the largest waves ever kitesurfed at Jaws in Hawaii and Nazaré in Portugal.
Sponsors and Brands
In his early professional career, he rode for Cabrinha, winning the KPWT world title with their equipment. Since then, he has moved between top industry brands, always serving as the face of the brand. After serving as a primary team rider for Naish for many years, he transferred to North Kiteboarding around 2019-2020. He deeply contributed to the development of their new prototype kites and reigned as the flagship star of the reborn North. Later, his surprise transfer to Ozone was announced in January 2024, causing a major stir in the industry. In terms of apparel, he has been supported by O’Neill and even used a specially ordered custom kite bearing his name.
Personality and Relationships
He possesses an ultimate positive spirit, always smiling and calling it the “Best day ever” no matter how terrible the conditions are. With his enthusiastic energy and charisma, he is beloved by riders worldwide, to the point where he gets surrounded by fans just walking around a competition venue for a few minutes. His brother, Sean Richman, is also an excellent professional rider and is the inventor of the massive trick “Richman,” which combines a kite loop, Double Backroll, and a pass.
Quotes and Episodes
His riding style embodies an attitude that despises compromise and safe bets, always pushing the limits.
“Oh man, this is magical. Share this with all of you. Tell my family here, and my little girl… Got you. How freaking good. Yeah!”
— Jesse Richman
“Having a customized kite is super fun and I’ve had some in the past. And it feels so good, honestly, to look up and see the custom Jesse Richman, O’Neill kite. And that is as a rider, a super valuable advertising space…”
— Jesse Richman
Competition Results
2008 & 2009 KPWT (Overall Freestyle, Wave, Race, etc.): 1st Place
2013 Red Bull King of the Air: 1st Place
2013 Columbia River Tow-up: 244m (Tow-up World Record at the time)
2015 Red Bull King of the Air: 3rd Place
2016 Red Bull King of the Air: 2nd Place
2019 Red Bull King of the Air: 2nd Place (“Mystic Most Extreme Move” Award)
2020 Red Bull King of the Air: 1st Place
2022 GKA Freestyle Saudi Arabia (Neom): 1st Place
🔗 関連リンク: Jesse Richman | JesseRichman.com
Search Aliases: Jesse Richman, JesseRichman