King of the Air 2025: Inside Slingshot’s Wild Ride

A story of nerves, resilience, progression, and the mindset required to perform on kiteboarding’s biggest stage

The Arrival: Energy, Expectations, and the Calm Before the Storm

The opening moments of the Red Bull King of the Air 2025 carried a unique kind of electricity. Strong wind pulsed through the beach, conditions looked promising, and for the Slingshot Sports riders, the stage was finally set. For one rider in particular, the mindset was surprisingly calm—arguably the calmest it had ever been going into a competition of this magnitude. That calm, however, was short-lived. As the wind increased and the reality of competing—not caddying—fully set in, nerves followed quickly behind.

Being present at King of the Air as a caddy offers proximity without pressure. Competing is an entirely different experience. Pumping kites, watching the heat clock tick down, and knowing every decision could define the outcome created a weight that no amount of past experience could fully prepare someone for.

Early Mistakes and Hard Lessons

The opening heat delivered an immediate reality check. A crashed kite led to a long swim—roughly 200m—followed by a frantic sprint back up the beach. Fatigue, stress, and urgency combined into a perfect storm. In the rush to relaunch, lines weren’t checked thoroughly. Once back on the water, it became clear the setup was tangled and unrideable.

At that moment, quitting felt close. Time was slipping away, energy was depleted, and frustration was mounting. That’s when the value of a support system became undeniable. Encouragement from teammates, family, and close friends—reminding the rider there was still time—shifted the mindset just enough to reset.

Even with only 1 minute and 50 seconds left in the heat, three tricks were landed. The variety score wasn’t enough to advance, but the takeaway was far more important: staying calm under pressure keeps possibility alive. Panic closes doors. Composure opens them.

Pride, Perspective, and the Mental Game

Despite not advancing, there was pride in simply standing on the King of the Air stage. The event’s scale is unlike any other, and that magnitude exposed a clear gap—not in trick ability, but in mental preparation. Physically and technically, the riding was there. Mentally, the pressure of the moment overwhelmed the process.

That realization became fuel rather than frustration. The motivation to return stronger, particularly on the mental side, was immediate. King of the Air doesn’t just reward skill—it demands emotional control, adaptability, and presence.

Day Two: Preparation Over Panic

Day two brought a sharper focus on logistics and readiness. Watching another rider lose a heat due to a downed kite reinforced a critical lesson: preparation extends far beyond riding. Having backup kites, a responsive caddy, and a dialed beach team can mean the difference between continuing a heat or watching it end from shore.

Fortunately, those contingencies weren’t needed—but the awareness alone changed the approach. King of the Air is as much about managing chaos as it is about riding waves and throwing tricks.

All or Nothing Moments

One of the defining heats came in round one against elite competition. Sitting in third place as the buzzer approached, the choice was clear: play it safe and be eliminated, or go all-in. Spotting a kicker at the last moment, the decision was made to send it. The trick didn’t secure the win, but the commitment itself embodied what King of the Air represents—risk, conviction, and the willingness to leave nothing on the table.

Adapting to brutal conditions remained a challenge, but riding the new NXT V2 kite provided a noticeable advantage. Improved catch and control allowed for meaningful attempts even when conditions demanded constant adjustment.

Rediscovering the Essence of Kiteboarding

Perhaps the most powerful realization came after the competition. Months of intense training, injury recovery, and tunnel-vision focus on performance had overshadowed the core reason for riding in the first place: fun. The pressure to succeed had replaced joy with obligation.

That emotional reckoning became a turning point. King of the Air is not just about winning—it’s about passion, love for the sport, and performing in the moment. Without that foundation, even the strongest preparation can fall flat.

Team Energy and the Power of Support

As the event progressed, Slingshot found itself represented by a single remaining rider. Rather than feeling isolated, it became empowering. Flags waving, teammates chanting, and collective belief created a surge of energy that carried through each heat. It was a reminder that Big Air may look like an individual sport, but success is built on community.

That support was especially evident heading into the semifinals. Riding against a close friend removed some of the pressure and brought the experience back to its roots—mutual respect, shared progression, and pushing each other to new heights.

Strategy, Variety, and the Buzzer Beater Mindset

Strategic preparation paid dividends. Training to ride equally well in both directions proved invaluable under the new variety-focused scoring system. Going massive on one tack and technical on the other allowed for smarter heat management.

Then came the moment everyone remembers: the quad board flip. A trick attempted only once before, executed under maximum pressure. Mid-air silence gave way to an explosion from the beach as the board was secured and the landing committed—no matter the cost. It was one of those rare moments when time slows, and instinct takes over.

Looking Forward: Unfinished Business

Despite standout moments and major upsets, the internal standard remained high. Near-misses still felt like misses. The hunger to reach the final, stand on the podium, and finish the job burned stronger than ever.

For Slingshot, King of the Air 2025 wasn’t just a competition—it was a statement of direction. With new Big Air designs on the horizon and a clear vision of where the team wants to go, the event marked a step into a new era.

What King of the Air Represents

King of the Air remains the pinnacle of Big Air kiteboarding. It is the unofficial world championship, where riders dedicate entire careers to earn a place on the beach. Being part of it is an achievement. Making a mark requires more—clarity, calm, joy, and absolute commitment.

For Slingshot, the takeaway is clear: stay loose, stay present, trust the preparation, and never forget why riding matters in the first place. With lessons learned and motivation renewed, the path forward is wide open.