Lorenzo Casati has taken out the 2022 Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Italian kitesurfer beat his fellow countryman Andrea Principi and Dutch sensation Jamie Overbeek to claim the 10th edition of the prestigious big air kiteboarding event.
The competition kicked off with winds over 40 knots, allowing riders to get the highest heat scores and highest single move.
The experienced judging panel was looking for amplitude, variety, execution, and level of complexity of tricks and maneuvers, complemented by an overall impression of each performance.
The contest was open to video submissions to allow kitesurfers aged 16-25 the chance to compete in the famous event.
Jamie Overbeek, Cohan Van Dijk, and Evan Kiljn were among the candidates chosen, and they did not disappoint the crowd.
Brilliant Performance from the Underdogs
Van Dijk won the qualification and got through to the main event.
Overbeek replaced Italiankite master Airton Cozzolino who suffered an injury and managed to reach the final.
He beat previous Red Bull King of the Air winners and former world kiteboarding champions on his way to the decisive heat.
Casati, 17, ended up wearing the traditional African winner's mask.
"To come here and compete was already my dream, but to win it is something I could never imagine," expressed the Italian champion.
"It's just the best day of my life. The conditions were crazy, and when it gets like this, this is the best spot in the world."
Lorenzo Casati proved that a new generation is taking over big air kiteboarding, and the seven-hour, 22-heat contest has a new monarch.
The move of the day award went to the extreme Spanish kiteboarder Liam Whaley for a breathtaking double kite loop, back roll, board-off.
The move earned 9.94 points from the judges.
2022 Red Bull King of the Air | Final
1. Lorenzo Casati (ITA) 34.97
2. Jamie Overbeek (NED) 30.84
3. Andrea Principi (ITA) 29.77