Josh Gillitt Interview: From Durban to King of the Air

The Brazilian Brothers sat down with F-One pro rider Josh Gillitt, an international rider who has been pushing the boundaries of big air kiteboarding on the world stage for the past couple of years. Known for his aggressive style and massive sends, he shares the details of his progression, his competitive mindset, and what it takes to ride at the highest level of the sport.

Starting Young and Moving to Cape Town

Josh's kitesurfing journey started when he was just seven years old. His dad had started riding a year earlier and was completely stoked on the new sport, showing Josh videos and telling him it was the best thing ever. Josh had his first lesson just under eight years old, riding up and down a lagoon with his dad swimming after him every time. Because he was too young to learn from a normal instructor, who typically teach like grown-ups, his dad had to teach him everything from the beginning.

Growing up in Durban on the East Coast of South Africa near Mozambique, the climate and conditions were completely different from what he rides today. Around age 10 or 11, Josh moved to Cape Town, which he noted was the biggest and best change for his kite career. The wind in Cape Town is much more consistent, making it the absolute best place for progression. By age 12 or 13, he started progressing into kite loops. At that stage, he was the youngest guy in South Africa doing those tricks, looking up to older riders who were three or four years older than him.

Breaking into the Competitive Scene

At 14, Josh entered his first BAKL (Big Air Kite League) competition in Cape Town. He went up against established international pros, including Stig Hoefnagel, and actually managed to beat Stig in his very first comp. While Stig wasn't thrilled about being beaten by a 14-year-old, Josh was over the moon. That massive confidence booster made him realize that if he kept pushing, he could actually become a professional kitesurfer.

By 16, he reached a semi-final in his second BAKL comp. A year or two later, he made it onto the World Tour for the first time, competing in events like Lords of Tram and the GKA Gran Canaria. The first Lords of Tram event was the biggest kickstarter to his career, eventually getting him into Red Bull King of the Air.

Lords of Tram and Managing Fear

The Brazilian Brothers pointed out that Josh's riding is incredibly aggressive: full sends with absolutely no hesitation behind his tricks. They mentioned his performance at Lords of Tram, where he was throwing massive double loops in 60 knots of wind. Josh admits that Lords of Tram was by far the craziest event he's ever experienced. Seeing other riders struggle while overpowered on 6-meter kites made him realize just how gnarly the conditions were.

Before going on the water, his hands were shaking and he was full of fear, knowing the real risks involved in competitive big air. To overcome it, Josh emphasizes the importance of having the clearest mind possible, not stressing too much, and being calculated. He learned from an accident later at Lords of Tram that you can't just send it whenever you want — you have to feel the gust first and know it's going to work before you go.

Proudest Moments and King of the Air Pressure

When asked about his proudest moment, Josh points to his first podium in 2024 at the Tarifa qualifier event for Red Bull King of the Air. Sharing the podium with Lorenzo and Baby Shark was a dream come true and a massive highlight in his career. Later that year, he achieved his biggest goal since the start: making it into King of the Air in his hometown in front of the home crowd.

Competing in KOTA for the first time brought more pressure than any other event he had ever experienced. He initially thought it would be chill, but found himself tweaking out with stress on the beach. Friends and locals constantly coming up to wish him luck actually added to the pressure, making it harder to deal with. He credits Mike Mac Donald and the BAKL for giving riders the opportunity to get competition experience and learn to control those nerves before hitting the biggest stages in kiteboarding.

The Future: Aggressive Style and KOTA Goals

Looking ahead, the 20-year-old wants to maintain his unique, aggressive, and powerful style. He loves getting a massive yank from the kite and putting it under him, rather than throwing the board ten meters in the air and catching it. His goal is to add more technicality and rotations while keeping that low, aggressive edge.

Ultimately, Josh wants to land on more podiums and be the rider who brings the King of the Air trophy back to South Africa. He jokes that if a South African wins KOTA, Cape Town will be burnt to the ground with the ultimate afterparty.

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