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#39 Andrea Principi & Pippa van Iersel — Countdown to King of the Air
Training, pressure, and the mindset it takes to compete at the world’s biggest big air event
The show has begun, Table Mountain is watching, and the world's top riders are lining up for Red Bull King of the Air. In this first episode of the Duotone podcast, host Lewis Crathern – himself a multi-time KOTA competitor – sits down with two of this year’s most exciting athletes: Andrea Principi, the reigning champion defending his crown, and Pippa van Iersel, back for her second shot at the title.
We go deep into the mindset, rituals, and pressure of this unique event – from sleepless nights with kites in bed to the mental strategies needed to stay sharp during the long waiting period. Both riders share how they’ve prepared physically and emotionally, how they approach heat strategy on game day, and how the crowd’s energy in Cape Town changes everything.
Lewis adds his personal insights from a different era of the sport, offering comparisons between past and present and how the level, preparation, and stakes have evolved.
We also cover:
The build-up weeks: training, mental focus, gear setup
Game day rhythm, strategy, and reading the wind
Rising levels in the men’s and women’s field
Season highlights and confidence moments
Dream tricks and predictions for this year’s title
And… the worst person to share a room with during the waiting period
Whether you’re a diehard fan of the sport or just starting to understand what makes King of the Air so epic, this episode brings you inside the minds of two top athletes—and gives a front-row seat to the tension, excitement, and dreams of kiteboarding’s main stage.
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By Duotone SportsTraining, pressure, and the mindset it takes to compete at the world’s biggest big air event
The show has begun, Table Mountain is watching, and the world's top riders are lining up for Red Bull King of the Air. In this first episode of the Duotone podcast, host Lewis Crathern – himself a multi-time KOTA competitor – sits down with two of this year’s most exciting athletes: Andrea Principi, the reigning champion defending his crown, and Pippa van Iersel, back for her second shot at the title.
We go deep into the mindset, rituals, and pressure of this unique event – from sleepless nights with kites in bed to the mental strategies needed to stay sharp during the long waiting period. Both riders share how they’ve prepared physically and emotionally, how they approach heat strategy on game day, and how the crowd’s energy in Cape Town changes everything.
Lewis adds his personal insights from a different era of the sport, offering comparisons between past and present and how the level, preparation, and stakes have evolved.
We also cover:
The build-up weeks: training, mental focus, gear setup
Game day rhythm, strategy, and reading the wind
Rising levels in the men’s and women’s field
Season highlights and confidence moments
Dream tricks and predictions for this year’s title
And… the worst person to share a room with during the waiting period
Whether you’re a diehard fan of the sport or just starting to understand what makes King of the Air so epic, this episode brings you inside the minds of two top athletes—and gives a front-row seat to the tension, excitement, and dreams of kiteboarding’s main stage.