Sky’s limit for strapless king in contest

KITE-SURF world champion in wave riding and strapless freestyle, Airton Cozzolino, has been awarded a wild card entry to Red Bull King of the Air 2020.

The man from Cape Verde is known as the “strapless king” and his inclusion will be something of a merging-of-disciplines spectacle. He will bring his strapless air skills to the contest until February 16 at Kite Beach, Table View.

“In wave-riding events the aim is not to jump high and perform big moves, but a lot of strapless contests are all about doing radical freestyle and that means big airs when the wind is up,” Cozzolino said.

The 25-year-old, who has been applying for a few years to get a wild card, is thrilled to have received one of the two available entries for the iconic event.

The foot strap versus boots (or bindings) debate is almost as old as extreme kiting and has become something of a sub-plot to the Red Bull King of the Air event. Now, the strapless riding of Cozzolino will add another element.

Bindings offer stability and ability to edge harder as there is a solid connection between the rider and their board. The risks include a bigger chance of injury, because you can’t kick the board away mid-air when things go wrong. Mostly free-stylers use bindings for wake style (lower, powered, wakeboard-inspired tricks).

Often it is the go-to in flat water, with straps favoured in choppy conditions and bigger surf. Straps still connect a rider to his/her board, but there is much more movement.

Straps also don’t offer the stability of boots, but they do give the freedom to perform tricks not possible with boots, such as massive board-offs. Big board-offs were part of the wow-factor recipe used by three-time Red Bull King of Air champ Kevin Langeree.

To go strapless in a field with strapped riders might appear a disadvantage.

However, Cozzolino has shown he can push the boundaries of the sport and has innovative, extreme moves up his sleeve.

There is no favour given to any riding style by the judging panel.

“It make no difference to the panel. The rules are clear: no limitation on equipment. You can show up with a surfboard if you like,” sportive director Sergio Cantagalli said.

Cozzolino said: “Big air is all about going high in the sky. Until now it was only done binding the feet to the board with straps or boots, but finally we managed to do it without straps.

“That means spectators probably will see me losing the board in the sky but landings will be fast and technical and I’ll try as hard as I can to do it.”

For more details, go to http://redbullkingoftheair.com/ |