Overview
“Three times. It’s just a miracle. I feel so happy. I feel so stoked taking this thing back to Holland for the third time.”
A professional kiteboarder from the Netherlands, affectionately known as Kev. He is one of the most successful and dominant champions in the kiteboarding world, holding the incredible record of winning the Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) three times, which ties for the most in history.
Career
He has been at the forefront of the competitive scene since the early 2000s. In 2009, he won the PKRA Freestyle World Championship after an intense rivalry with Aaron Hadlow. He later suffered a severe KGB knee injury during a failed landing of his signature trick, which kept him out of action for a season and a half, but he made a remarkable recovery to return to the top tier. Utilizing his massive height in Big Air, he achieved three KOTA victories in 2014, 2018, and 2019. His 2018 win was particularly dramatic; after a shocking defeat in the first round, he fought his way back to the finals and claimed the crown with an overwhelming impression score of 28.88.
Sponsors and Brands
For many years, he was the face of Naish, favoring the “Naish Pivot” for everything from wave riding to Big Air. His other major sponsors included O’Neill, G-Shock, and Sinner. In 2020, he left Naish to co-found his own kite brand, “Reedin Kites,” alongside former top Naish designer Damien Girardin. He stunned the kiteboarding world by competing in KOTA with the untested “Supermodel” kite, and later proved its performance and durability by winning Cold Hawaii 2020. Recently, in addition to mentoring young riders, he has devoted himself to R&D, shifting from Aluula materials to Brainchild technology.
Personality and Relationships
A heavyweight power rider with a massive, robust physique, he is often described by fellow competitors as being “built like a tank.” Even in the middle of a kite loop, he maintains extraordinary aerial balance and lands cleanly, gliding across the water at high speeds. His absolute favorite move is the “hand drag,” and he is also famous for his incredible horizontal travel distance during jumps. He comes from a kiteboarding royal family; his younger sister, Jalou Langeree, is a GKA wave world champion. Additionally, Ruben Lenten is his cousin.
Quotes and Episodes
He possesses incredible mental fortitude, maintaining his routine without feeling any pressure even before the KOTA finals, which are known to be the most dangerous and nerve-wracking in the world.
“Just listen to a little bit of reggae in my car and I’m good.”
— Kevin Langeree
He also entertains fans with wild experiments on his Kev Vlog, such as connecting and flying a kite on an absurd 225-meter dyneema line, defying the common standard of 20 to 24 meters.
Competition Results
2009: PKRA Freestyle World Championship – 1st Place
2014: Red Bull King of the Air – 1st Place
2018: Red Bull King of the Air – 1st Place
2019: Red Bull King of the Air – 1st Place
2020: Cold Hawaii Big Air – 1st Place
2021: Red Bull King of the Air – 2nd Place
Search Aliases: Kevin Langeree, KevinLangeree