Spectacular kiteboarding at the Red Bull Airlords

Media Release
December 5, 2001

New format promises more spectacular kiteboarding at the Red Bull Airlords

The biggest independent kiteboarding contest in the Southern Hemisphere – the Red Bull Airlords – takes to the skies next week (Dec 11-16) with an international lineup of competitors and an exciting new contest format to match the sport’s massive progression.

A total of 34 men and women from New Zealand and around the world will compete at the beautiful coastal sanctuary of Mangawhai Heads, 1hr 20mins north of New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland. The contest is set to kick off from December 11 to 16 with actual competition days dependent on surf and wind conditions.

Confirmed today for the Red Bull Airlords kiteboard contest is a panel of judges made up of some of New Zealand’s most successful ever water sports athletes, including Maz Quinn – the first surfer ever to make it to the world’s Top 44 – and Olympic Gold medallist windsurfer Barbara Kendall. The five judges are key in the various disciplines from which many of kiteboarding’s stars have evolved; namely windsurfing, wakeboarding, surfing, skating and snowboarding.

Among the confirmed athletes for the Red Bull Airlords is windsurfing legend Robby Naish, of Hawaii, who arrives this weekend for the five-day event. Leading New Zealand competitors include European No.1 Kane Hartill, of Christchurch, and Dave Edwards of Mt Maunganui along with top NZ female kiteboarder Cindy Mosey, of Nelson. Hartill and Mosey have just returned from the Kiteboarding World Pro Tour.

There is strong international interest with professional competitors from Hawaii, the U.S, Australia, New Caledonia, Switzerland and Holland. All will be vying for the title of Red Bull Air Lord – a hotly contested honour which takes the lion’s share of NZ$25,000 in prizemoney.

This year’s contest will be split into three disciplines including a Freestyle competition, Best Trick and, conditions permitting, a Hang Time contest judged on the amount of time athletes spend in the air.

For more information on the Red Bull Airlords contact Alison Smith at alisonsmith@xtra.co.nz or Ph+64 9 306 7008, Ph021 50 70 20 or Fax+64 9 378 4501. Images of last year’s kiteboarding event are available free to all media through www.redbull-photofiles.com or upon request.

ENDS

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