First GKA Big Air Challenge wraps up in Cape Town

• Team Duotone takes home the trophy for the first-ever GKA Big Air Challenge

• A week of chasing wind across the Western Cape sees amateur and pro riders come together

2-9 January, 2025 | GKA Big Air Challenge-Cape Town

Ahead of the GKA Awards all kiteboarders from amateurs to pros were invited to Cape Town, South Africa, for a week of chasing the wind and boosting high in the GKA Big Air Challenge – Cape Town 2025.    

For the inaugural year, the format was simple: any kiter had one week to record their highest kiteboarding jump at any spot in the Western Cape. Jumps were recorded on WOO devices were automatically added to the brand team of the kite they had registered. Each rider’s single highest jump counted, so it was down to the rider to find the perfect kite spot and conditions.   

As for prizes, the winning team got their hands on the custom GKA Big Air Challenge Trophy which was presented at the GKA Awards night in Cape Town City Hall. The “perpetual” trophy was engraved with this year’s winner and will be passed on to the victorious team at the next GKA Big Air Challenge.  

Duotone victorious 

The GKA Big Air Challenge concluded with breathtaking performances from kiteboarding teams across the Western Cape. Over eight days, riders battled fierce winds and each other, ending the event with record-breaking jumps and unforgettable moments. The collaboration between amateur and professional riders made this event all the more exciting as they came together to chase the same goal.

Led early charge 

The GKA Big Air Challenge – Cape Town kicked off on  2 January with 18-24 knots gracing the iconic beaches of Blouberg. As the sun set, over 100 riders from 15 brand teams posted their best jumps, with each team’s top five riders setting the bar for the competition.  

Team Duotone led the charge early, thanks to Ross Dillon Player: 21.2m, hitting the kickers at Doodles Beach on a 10m Evo D/Lab and Lasse Walker: 19.5m, opting for Dolphin Beach on his 10m Rebel D/Lab. 

Team Flysurfer Kiteboarding followed closely behind, using big foil kites for lofty airtime. Notable performances included Hugo Wigglesworth (NZL) with a 24.0m jump, combining an 8m Soul v3 with an Armstrong foil for maximum lift. 

Team Core rounded out the top three with strong performances from Hendrik van der Eems: 19.4m, Steven Akkersdijk: 17.8m and Zara Hoogenraad, the Big Air World Champion, posting 15.6m—all flying the Pace PRO kite. 

Brands build momentum in Hermanus

By the middle of the competition window, Hermanus delivered 20-25 knot winds that tested the top five teams and here is how the scores stacked up once the dust had settled.

1 Team Flysurfer: 100.4m 
2 Team Duotone: 98.7m
3 Team Core: 85.8m
4 Team Naish: 85.2m
5 Team North: 82.0m

Teams began strategising their climbs, with Flysurfer holding a slight edge. Duotone, Core, Naish, and North all knew they had a chance to rise higher in the rankings, setting the stage for the final push. 

Elands Bay delivers

Elands Bay is a spot more known for its surfing than Big Air. But as the contest was reaching its climax, Elands  served up exceptional conditions. Matteo Lazzaretti (ITA) made history with a massive 28.0m jump, while Tommie Klop (FRA) followed with 27.1m. Their record-breaking performances during this event sealed the win for Team Duotone, which finished with a total of 121.3m. 

Final Standings (Top 10) 

1 Duotone (121.3m)
2 Flysurfer (109.3m)
3 Core (104.0m)
4 Naish (93.9m)
5 North
6 Airush
7 Lacuna
8 Cabrinha
9 Reedin 
10 Ozone 

Celebrations and glory 

The top scoring riders earned tickets to the GKA Awards and Dirty Habits After Party, while the winning Team Duotone took home the handmade trophy and five WOO 4.0 sensors. Their plaque has now been engraved as the first winners of this exciting challenge.  

Big Air legacy 

From the opening sessions in Blouberg to the historic jumps at Elands Bay, the GKA Big Air Challenge proved to be a celebration of skill, passion, and the unique bond between amateur and professional riders. Their collective efforts made for a truly exciting competition, pushing each other to new heights. Congratulations to all the teams, and here’s to an even bigger challenge next year.