Overview
Liam Whaley (born 1997) is a professional kiteboarder who represents Spain in international competition. After becoming a Freestyle world champion, he transitioned to extreme Big Air kiteboarding, establishing himself as one of the preeminent athletes in the modern sport by reaching the pinnacle of both disciplines.
Profile and Background
Born to a British father and a Dutch mother, Whaley grew up on the Spanish island of Ibiza. At age 14, he moved to Tarifa, Spain—a renowned kiteboarding mecca—to pursue a professional career. He was originally a competitive alpine skier. In his hometown of Tarifa, he is affectionately known as “El Torito” (The Little Bull) due to his fierce competitive spirit and physical strength.
Career Highlights and Results
From Freestyle King to Big Air Dominator
In 2015, he won the WKL/PKRA Freestyle World Championship, cementing his place at the top of the freestyle world. He then shifted his focus to Big Air. In 2018, he made his debut at the premier Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) in South Africa, stepping in as a wildcard to replace the injured Nick Jacobsen. Bringing his overwhelming freestyle technicality into the Big Air arena, he achieved a historic second-place finish in his very first appearance.
At the 2019 GKA event in Brazil, he flawlessly executed a Mobe 7 and a Heart Attack 7, scoring consecutive perfect 10.00s.
Historic Battles
In 2021, he won the Red Bull Megaloop Challenge in the Netherlands. Later that year, he claimed victory at the Cold Hawaii Big Air in Denmark in recording-breaking storm conditions with 50-60 knot winds. At a time when riding a 9m C-kite was the standard in Big Air, his decision to fly a small 7m kite and execute board-off kite loops to win the event marked a historic turning point for the progression of the sport.
During the 2022 KOTA, with only 3 seconds left in his heat against Giel Vlugt, he landed a perfect Double loop board off. The trick earned a 9.94, the highest score in KOTA history, shocking the kiteboarding world. In 2023, he won the Lords of Tram in France. Demonstrating brilliant seamanship, he sensed an incoming gust midway through the final heat and swapped to a 6m kite, ultimately defeating his greatest rival, Andrea Principi.
Riding Style and Innovation
Stemming from his freestyle roots, Whaley possesses extraordinary aerial awareness, maintaining a perfectly horizontal board and flawless form even in gale-force winds. He is known for keeping his kite low at a 45-degree angle while holding a massive edge, generating explosive pop that mimics being pulled by a wakeboard cable. Furthermore, when transitioning to Big Air, he underwent rigorous training to adapt from riding with boots (bindings) to straps, successfully making highly technical board-off tricks one of his signature weapons.
Injuries and Resilience
Throughout his career, Whaley has suffered several severe injuries but has achieved remarkable comebacks each time. He fractured his ankle in 2018, and at the 2020 Brazil event, after having already secured his heat victory, he attempted a massive trick and crashed hard, severely damaging his meniscus and anterolateral ligament (ALL).
In 2023, chronic spinal issues and disc degeneration culminated in a severe back injury that forced him out of competition for 18 months. Upon returning from rehabilitation, he transitioned from a standard waist harness to a Seat harness to reduce the strain on his back. His ability to adapt to a Seat harness—which alters a rider’s center of gravity and completely changes the feel of tricks—and return to the top tier of international competition has drawn widespread acclaim for both his technical skill and mental fortitude.
Sponsors and Relationships
Whaley won his world title riding for Cabrinha. He later rode for F-One before making a high-profile move to Duotone in 2022. Additionally, he serves as an official brand ambassador for the automaker Porsche, which has featured signature designs like the iconic “Pink Pig” livery on his gear.
He continues to train under Fabio Ingrosso, his highly trusted coach since his skiing days. Whaley is also known for his sportsmanship; even when he is not competing, he is frequently seen on the beach acting as a dedicated caddy, launching kites and sharing strategy with fellow riders.
Memorable Quotes
“I usually do pretty well under pressure, so basically I need to win this event to become world champion…”
— Speaking with confidence during a tight title race in 2017
“I came to this event thinking in my head, I’m not going to put pressure on myself, I’m coming back from the injury…”
— Reflecting on his relaxed mindset after unexpectedly reaching the finals in his first event back from injury
“Professional go from professional kite boarder to professional caddy, and also professional speaker.”
— Joking as he left the guest commentary booth to go pump up a kite for a teammate’s heat
🔗 関連リンク: Liam Whaley – Professional Kite Surfer