THE SHORT VERSION
- There is no useful single ranking across every discipline.
- Official results need a year, category and competition.
- Watch women and men across different parts of the sport.
Follow the riding that interests you
A rider directory is more useful when it explains why to watch someone. A wave rider, a freestyle specialist and a Formula Kite racer solve different problems. Combining them into one numbered list would hide most of what makes the sport interesting.
This is an editorial starting selection. For official standings, use the relevant organiser’s ranking with its discipline, division and year. A famous name, a memorable film and a current world-title campaign are different reasons to follow a rider.
A first watchlist
| Rider | Start with | Where to explore |
|---|---|---|
| Jesse Richman | Big air history and his 2013 and 2020 King of the Air wins | Our complete profile |
| Bruna Kajiya | Freestyle competition and the way tricks connect through a heat | GKA athlete profile |
| Mikaili Sol | Freestyle and big-air competition | GKA athlete profile |
| Capucine Delannoy | Kite-Surf and strapless competition | GKA athlete profile |
| Pedro Matos | Kite-Surf and wave competition | GKA athlete profile |
| Lorenzo Casati | Big air and its competitive progression | GKA athlete profile |
| Lauriane Nolot | Formula Kite racing and race tactics | World Sailing’s race report |
The table gives you a place to begin. It does not describe these riders’ current ranking or restrict their riding to a single discipline.
Watch big air beyond the height
Jumps are the immediate attraction, but replay a heat and pay attention to the complete attempt. How does the rider approach the takeoff? How much happens in the air? Does the landing remain controlled? Can the rider produce another useful score under pressure?
Our King of the Air guide explains why the winning performance involves more than the highest individual jump. Jesse Richman’s profile connects two editions separated by seven years, a useful way to see the sport changing.
Competition footage comes from highly prepared athletes working in organized conditions. Use it to understand the discipline and enjoy the riding. Your own next step belongs in a progression plan suited to your skills and local conditions.
Watch freestyle as a complete performance
For freestyle, start with full heats as well as short edits. A highlight reel can leave out failed attempts, tactical choices and the need to produce different scoring tricks within a time limit.
Read the event’s explanation of scoring before assuming that the most visually dramatic attempt should win. Different formats reward different combinations of difficulty, execution and variety. The applicable rules belong to the event and season you are watching.
Watch waves and strapless riding differently
Kite-Surf footage can include wave riding, strapless freestyle or a format shaped by the available conditions. Follow the event briefing so you understand the task in that particular heat.
For waves, watch positioning, wave selection and what happens through the ride. An isolated jump does not explain the rider’s whole performance. A familiar beach name also does not mean the event is running in water suitable for the average visitor.
Give racing its own attention
Formula Kite is course racing on hydrofoils. The meaningful decisions include starts, positioning, course choice and responding to wind changes. Riders are trying to finish races effectively within a sailing competition, not collect judged trick scores.
Lauriane Nolot is one entry point into this part of the sport. World Sailing’s reporting provides race context and explains the format. Be careful with older results: a test event, a world championship and an Olympic event need their proper names and dates.
Read achievements with their context
A good rider profile should distinguish an individual event win from a season title. It should give the year and category, link to the result and avoid carrying an old sponsor or equipment setup forward as a current fact.
Athlete equipment can be interesting, but a professional’s kite choice is not a buying recommendation for a beginner. Your weight, conditions, skills and support matter. Start with our gear guide before using a competition photo as a shopping list.
The competition overview explains the main formats. The calendar lists the next verified windows and the official pages to follow.
Research checked on 16 October 2026 against GKA’s 2026 season overview, Red Bull history and the World Sailing reporting linked above. Official rankings remain with their organisers.
SOMETHING CHANGED?
Conditions, access and prices change. Follow the source links in the guide for the latest details. If something needs correcting, tell us. Get in touch ↗