Nick 'The Joker' Jacobsen WINS Red Bull King of the Air

Black shadows flying high above Big Bay for the Red Bull King of the Air.
Kiteboarding's most unique characters has proven that he's not just a movie star, and do-er of crazy things. He's competition material, and he's proved it by winning the most prestigious event in the sport.

This week the Red Bull King Of The Air was given the green light with only a few days remaining in the window. It wasn't huge, but it was enough for riders to rig 9 and 10m kites and go for it. Late in the day, with sunset casting a golden light over the competition box, the crowd were treated to a semi finals full of Mega loops and dangle passes from the greats. Aaron Hadlow, Ruben Lenten, Lewis Crathern and Nick Jacobsen, plus a stack of riders from around the world, doing battle on the perfect setting of Big Bay in South Africa.

As the sun set, with the lights of Capetown as a backdrop; spectators watched the silhouettes of their favourite riders trying their best in the lighter than desired winds; for the final. It was Nick Jacobsen, Aaron Hadlow and Ruben Lenten, but one shadow stood out higher than the rest. Nick Jacobsen twisting through the air, with his Cabrinha in striking blue and red colour scheme allowing him to boost higher than the others. Foot out; kite low in his loops, he entertained the crowd with a huge one footed Boogie Loop in the last two minutes of the final. Meanwhile, Aaron Hadlow was staying in the shallows trying his mystery trick. Nobody knows what it was, because he never pulled it off - securing victory for 'The Joker', Jacobsen.

Choosing a very different kite design to the rest of the finalists, Jacobsen had his equipment on his side. His Cabrinha FX was flatter, generating more power and looping lower in the light winds. While others struggled in gusts and suffered heartbreaking dropouts mid kite-loop, Nick had float, height and plenty of control.

Contratulations to Nick Jacobsen for his first international win! The Red Bull King Of the Air.