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- [00:00]
A
Is this damaging for the Cota brand?
- [00:02]
B
Imagine if nothing had ever changed in King of the Air and I don't.
- [00:05]
A
Think the riders knew.
- [00:07]
B
So get your hopes up.
- [00:08]
A
Doesn't mean that I'm not frustrated about this.
- [00:10]
B
All. All the other remaining ones are video selection.
- [00:13]
A
Let's. Let's not talk about the listen, let's talk about the system.
- [00:16]
B
How crazy is that Picking up now and I'm pretty ready, man.
- [00:24]
A
This one is probably a bit more nerve wracking.
- [00:27]
B
Kevin Langry, three time winner.
- [00:29]
A
This is like a heavyweight boxing match. This isn't a the way there's no dancing around up ring spots a kicker first move. The rebel through the air for a woman is super clean try huge contra. That is yet another innovation move. Marc Jacobs heading out towards the iconic Robin Island. Highest trick scorer in all Red Bull King of the Airs Janik Tesi.
- [00:59]
B
Kevin Langley has taken it for the.
- [01:02]
A
Third time way the middle dream come to it. That is massive female out the back and that has to be facade.
- [01:14]
B
It's an all out teenager fit. Big one this one, mate.
- [01:22]
A
It's absolutely crazy and I don't know where to begin but I'm going to ask you a question, Colin. Is this damaging for the Coda brand to have selections like this?
- [01:32]
B
I think it's really good to have the discussion to be sparking it and I think that's sort of what Red Bull would look for. I imagine if they were just rolling out the same old shit, you know. Imagine if nothing had ever changed in King of the Air and Nick Jacobson was still winning it with one footers.
- [01:50]
A
I mean nothing has changed, bro. It's the same convoluted selection. Red Bull Holland in particular. The Mega Loop did a big freshen up and made a big difference. Do we need a freshen up in this? A rider's gonna lose faith in the system. I mean, dude, you and I have both spoken to a lot of pissed off people the last three days.
- [02:10]
B
Very disappointed indeed indeed. And we're gonna be unpacking it in this in this here episode. I spent yesterday writing the article that if you have read this podcast might be a bit redundant, but I thought.
- [02:24]
A
That was pretty tame of you brother. To be honest.
- [02:27]
B
If you are just tuning in for one of the first times with Adrian and I, we do this every week. So get your hopes up because this is going to be one of the better ones. And if, if you don't enjoy this one though, well then, well, not worth subscribing I'd say. Would you agree with that, Adrian?
- [02:45]
A
Absolutely. This is going to be a very, very interesting one. Yeah.
- [02:49]
B
Where are we going to begin? Where do you want to start?
- [02:52]
A
Let's talk about Red Bull and what it does, you know, because, you know, I looked at the Red Bull policies and I had to try to dig in to define it. They do associate with the best athletes, but when it comes to putting on opportunities, they it states we want to give opportunities to people at all levels. We want to have development. You know, this is all part of their policies. And we kind of see this, you know, but the way the Red Bull king of there is teed up, it's the big world championship of the year. It's the grand final. It's like. It's like putting a mini putt champion in, you know, the final golfing competition of the year. That sounds terrible. I couldn't think of anything golf any golf competitions, but my mind is preoccupied with this fleet. Listen, and you and I both spent some decent time. I spoke to Sergio Kandagali, the event director. You spoke to head of the judging yesterday. And we reached out to them because we want to fill the story. We want to tell the story. Right. But it doesn't mean that I'm not.
- [03:46]
B
Frustrated about this, that I can hear Asian. I can hear it. I can hear it and see it on your little video screen as well. I mean, you're going to take one side, I'm going to take the other, and then the audience can decide. So let's just outline how this actually works. Okay? Because the list we've got to is given to us via video selection. The pre qualifieds are the pre qualified, so that's the top three. And then Cohen van Dijk who won, who got second in the qualifier in Spain. And then Jeremy Belando who won in Denmark. My brain isn't working. And then Charles Bridal who got second in Italy, which was the final one the other day. And that's a controversial one that we will get to. The remaining. All. All the other remaining ones are video selection. There's two wild cards. But honestly, this year it's kind of not sounding like the wild cards were really engaged. It all sounds like video selection to me.
- [04:50]
A
Sorry to jump in there, but Sergio messaged me yesterday about that and he said there was no wild cards given because there was only 12 spots available in the end.
- [05:00]
B
How crazy is that? 12 spots and it's the biggest competition by a mile. Well, not really. Actually, Red Bull Mega Loop's a really big deal too. And Calderwise climbing up There, but it's got the top spot for now and that's why everyone's so upset and angry about it. However, let's get back to the criteria a bit. So they look at the bloody videos and they judge them as if it was in a heat. Eight people judge it based on the criteria outlined in the competition. Like it's king of the air, right? They're meant to be only five tricks. There's not meant to be any drone footage, there's not meant to be any competition footage. And no GoPro POV shit obviously, because that's completely hopeless. The riders often break this and don't really listen and do a shit job of their video entries. Which is why we've got this list, we've got Adrian and it's my job to this morning to take the position that this list is the correct one. So I will defend it and you will attack it for you. What's wrong with the list?
- [06:08]
A
Let's not talk about the listing, let's talk about the system. We've got the video entries, which it is. And now we've had these three qualifying events which has now been brought up to some significant rub. If your video is not up to scratch. My question to Sergio, which he didn't really answer the way I wanted him to, maybe he doesn't want to give the answer, but is that I don't think the riders knew from day one that committing to the qualifying series could be the difference. If your videos were close. I don't think anyone was privy to this information. And if they were, then you have to hold qualifying series all around the world, which allows people from like Hugo in New Zealand in particular, for him to jump on a plane to fly to cold Hawaii is not going to work. And then the next hot one is on is like the day before his Hydrofoil World championship. Where does he toss up, does he toss a potential world championship in the bin for this? So you're basically got a system that only favors European or European based riders. That's why that system is not working. I'm not saying that. I mean, I think I've said it to you many times in the past. I would like to scrap the pre qualification mate. You win, great. You become a king. Awesome. You have the, you have the series and you turn it into a points race. You turn it into a straight points race. Because if you're doing qualifications then no one qualified should ride. I mean only one person won a golden ticket by winning an event this year. Cohen got his, got second. Charles Got his by getting second only Jeremy won again. That's a broken system. So I would like to see clarity. I'd like to see scrap anything. No one comes in with a ticket. You got to earn it. Which means the top riders are going to commit to these, the these, this, this Qs and they're going to be battling for points. The top 18 guys get tickets to King of the Year. That's great. But then the other side of the development side for Red Bull get scrapped because for example like Italy, Italy had 11 guys who did not compete who are in this fleet and then Spain and Col. Hawaii only had six. So that just shows that fleet was kind of. But it's a great opportunity to give people a chance and people who got a chance in that suddenly got looked favorably upon. That doesn't. That's what I'm saying. There's some fundamental flaw breakdown between not having the right video and then how do we fill up that decision? Do we fill it up by this QS series that doesn't. Doesn't support the world.
- [08:46]
B
Okay, so it sounds like you've got two issues. The first one is that the qualifier series isn't representative of the world, I. E. All the qualifiers are in Europe which yeah, I think is a fair point you've made. But there's no reason why Hugo or Mark couldn't have got on planes to get to cold Hawaii. The wind window was long enough. They gave enough warning they could have got there. They just decided not to. So I feel that's on them.
- [09:16]
A
Yeah, they did. But I don't think either of those guys knew the influence that that was going to play on it. Remember by this stage Hugo already had a semi final performance. There's lots of guys here who only did by the way, the only the people one qualifying event this year. Andrea Principe, Jeremy Bandu, Baptist Jaman and Elliot Bhutan. Four guys, two guys who are in and then the two, let's say the guys who are shaking it up a little bit and Baptist Jacqueman did one event. His best result was around three. Ali Bhutan got a final on that. But Hugo and Jamie both did one event and both made semis. Then there's no rhyme or reason. You're telling me that Jamie's video and Hugo's video and Hugo and Jamie have got into every comp this year whether it's the mega loop and guys. I'm just saying then we can put Finn in that group as well. They're both written in the mega loop. They're Both written cold Hawaii. They're both written in Lords of Tram, the big three powerhouse events of the year before they got in. No worries. They got in ranked. You're telling me there's young French kids have turned that table on those guys.
- [10:22]
B
Before we get into whether they're worthy or not. I think your point that it wasn't communicated to them that the qualifiers are important. What part of Red Bull qualifier in the title is not clear that that might be a good place to go and qualify for the event. It's called a qualifier, bro.
- [10:46]
A
No, I understand. But, you know, we heard Andrea saying, I'm not going to ride these. I'm already in. Okay. Did the Port Apollo one because a bit of a home event for him. They need some star power there. As I said, they had a really, really random fleet. Guys like to test themselves. And I said. I said to you before, I know I'm sort of, you know, cutting off my nose to spite my face here, but I did say that maybe they like writers who are committed to this series, but I didn't say that that was going to be. I didn't say that that was going to be the thing. You know, I didn't. I didn't realize that was going to be. Actually be legitimate points. But anyway, I mean, yeah, I just. I just. I mean, again, like we always do with Kota, there's just always some gray areas all over the place, and you just either have to live with those gray areas or. Or they drive you crazy. But, yeah, I just. I just think this whole qualification process needs to be revamped, be clearer. Everyone needs to be on the same page.
- [11:44]
B
Let's just cut the shit and talk about these two French boys who have gotten over the top of Hugo Wigglesworth and Jamie Overbeek. Those are the two that have reasonable qualifier results and have reasonable video entries. None of the other people that have been omitted from this list have a strong video and a strong qualifier result. Like for instance, Finn Flugel, amazing video, but didn't turn out to any of the qualifiers. Marc Jacobs, not a strong video, no qualifiers. Hugo Wigglesworth, good video. But what was his best place finish?
- [12:29]
A
Semi final. He lost to Cohen, who got the.
- [12:31]
B
Golden ticket, so forth. Whereas Elliot Bhutan came third in Italy.
- [12:39]
A
I mean, yeah, dude, that's fine. And dude, by the way, I don't actually have an issue with Elliot. I mean, I can't. I mean, it's kind of the irony that I said, hey, you can't make king of the earth. You can't win. Pro2Tarifa. Guess who won Pro2Tarifa. Elliot Bhatar. That's how crazy he went. Pro2Tarifa, third in this event in Italy, which to be all. I mean guys, I don't want to keep going on about the fleet, but it wasn't great to now be in Kota.
- [13:05]
B
No, yeah, I think that's, that's a really contentious bit though because Hugo and Jamie were competing against the best. For example, in Jamie in cold Hawaii, he had the whole trap there, you know, and, and Hugo got to semi finals in an event that Lorenzo won and then Kurt van Dijk came second and qualified through that. The Italy event was like a C grade fleet. There was loads of local Italians who no one's ever heard of.
- [13:38]
A
I mean Elliot Bataan did beat. He did beat Shahar Sabri to be fair, in round. In, in. In his round three and then he beat Zach Adams. So he did, he did go through. That's why I said I don't have too much of an issue with that because he did go through too legit competitors. And as I said, I don't have a mega issue with Elliot because that he had a decent run in Italy. The Baptiste Jacquemin one is. I mean, I cannot, I've tried. I cannot put a case together why he should be there. I, I looked at everything. I looked at all his results. Lords of Tram. I looked at Italy, I looked at Tarifa. I looked at everything like how I'm.
- [14:17]
B
Also gonna struggle to. To give you an answer.
- [14:22]
A
What did you think of his video? I. Honestly, man, I'll tell you what I think first and you can say where I'm right or wrong. I thought it was okay. It's a lot of underpowered double loop stuff which seems to be not so popular these days. Dude, it's not super high.
- [14:38]
B
The first, the first clip is a ridiculously big back to late back board off double loop. And he probably goes 200 meters downwind.
- [14:46]
A
Continue on. Have you watched the whole. Have you watched them all?
- [14:51]
B
I'm watching it right now. Again. Yeah, yeah, okay. It's not that good. Look, it's not that good.
- [14:56]
A
It's quite heavily double focus again. Which is not super popular. So there's. There's some great tricks there. But there's also what I would call more underpowered double stuff. What guys were doing two or three years ago when they're feeling out the doubles game on small kites. That's the way it looks to me.
- [15:10]
B
Apart from that very first move that I said it is. And then he shark attacks and it's not that lit, is it? And it's Tarifa, so the kite looks lower than it actually is. Okay. Yeah. You gotta though think about him in the context of the other people that he's around because he's basically in a tiebreaker, right, against Jamie Overbeek and Hugo Wigglesworth. And now that I've said that out loud, I do agree that this is the wrong decision. Yeah, the. Those two video entries are way stronger. Damn it. I can't. I'm meant to be bloody defending this.
- [15:47]
A
That's okay. That's okay. Is in. Is Duotone a sponsor? I mean, I don't know, dude. I mean otherwise they're only going to have only be represented by Andrea Pinchippi, Baptiste another and. And Elliot Bhutan, both Duotone athletes.
- [16:02]
B
I think that's. I mean, seriously theory that there's no.
- [16:05]
A
Yeah, well, let's throw some conspiracies in there as well. I mean this is.
- [16:07]
B
Yeah, but there's no actual. There's no actual evidence for that at all.
- [16:11]
A
Sure, sure. I mean, the only other. The only other person who did no qualifiers by the way, was Leonardo Casadi, which I can understand because his video is unbelievable.
- [16:22]
B
His video is like. It's ridiculous. It's barnstormingly good. Okay, but. And I said this in the article, Red Bull 1, they get to decide. Nothing else influences them. So what's the point in us even talking about it, right? Other than it's sort of our job to hold them to account and make sure that the biggest, best competition in the sport continues to look like it. And by looking at this fleet, it sort of doesn't look like it this time with the names that are not on that list. But they've brought in young fresh riders without much pedigree before they bought in Andrea Pinchippi and Lorenzo Casati and Jamie Ovovic and Jeremy Bellando before their time, bro.
- [17:13]
A
They've been dominating Backle for about three years at that time. Dude, what are you talking about? They've been absolutely hammering back all. Mark got lucky they came that year because any other year it was going to be an Italian steamroll and we saw that.
- [17:27]
B
But what's to say that Baptiste Giacomo won't take it out? Adrian.
- [17:32]
A
Okay, look, that is fair. You know, he wrote it. Lords of Tram, by the way, went out round two with a 5.63. In that heat, Baby Shark won it with a 20.24 and Lorenzo was second with a 19.60.
- [17:44]
B
And what did he score?
- [17:46]
A
A 5.63.
- [17:48]
B
Mate, this is an impossible job for me. This is impossible. I'm like the worst lawyer ever. I'm. I'm trying to defend him and I'm like, no, the guy is crooked. He's. He's, he's. He's cooked.
- [18:01]
A
Round one, he lost to Zach. He only scored a 1495. He got to walk through in round two because Mario Sanchez was injured. In round three, he scored 6.03, the lowest score of the round. He had a 4.2. Four consecutive crashes and a 1.8 impression. Apparently he had some problems with his kite.
- [18:17]
B
But where was this?
- [18:20]
A
This is in the one in Italy. That's. That's what I'm saying. At the start there. Is this damaging their brand? Because if you're going to start pissing off riders, riders will be like, well, it. Why, why am. I mean, people already don't want to spend the time in Cape Town, you know, it's like, are they. Do they care about the product enough that they don't give a shit about the writers? Because I think they say, oh, that, that attitude, we can do what we want. It's our thing. That's not the way athletes want to hear. The best promotions are like, hey, we look after the athletes first and then we springboard and we build this product on top of happy athletes. It's not. It's not like, boys, guess what, it's cold showers in the winter because we can't be bothered paying.
- [19:04]
B
Tough shit.
- [19:05]
A
Do it. That's the way it comes across to me at the moment.
- [19:08]
B
Honestly, I think it could be an administrative error that Jamie's not in and Baptiste. Giacomo is.
- [19:17]
A
Giacomo?
- [19:17]
B
I didn't. I didn't ask that.
- [19:19]
A
No, no, never mind.
- [19:20]
B
Sorry. I didn't even get his name right.
- [19:22]
A
You were thinking Giacomo.
- [19:24]
B
I was thinking of Francesca May, his father, for a second there.
- [19:28]
A
Maybe they're related.
- [19:29]
B
Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, I mean, it is a massive headline. Like, there's never been a more controversial king of the air list ever. Jamie's one of the only people that could actually go the distance and could actually win it. He's one of the only people. And he might not even get to ride if there's no. No one pulls out. Which, by the way, they probably will. Let's be honest, they probably will. And if he does get the call up, he is going to be so motivated to stick it to them. I just. That is going to be bloody epic. So I'm crossing my. I'm actually crossing My fingers that someone pulls out. I'm not crossing my fingers. That someone gets really hurt. Okay, sure. I'm not doing that. But I'm hoping that Jamie does get the call up.
- [20:19]
A
You know, you said. I think it's the most controversial selection thing since Julian Leloux. I think Julian Liu was another one at the time when he made coach, and he ended up not riding because he got injured. But I think at the time, back in the day, that was a big surprise too, because it's a bit of a lock ship back then, you know, but, man, we're not going to see a new king. We're going to be stuck on the seven. The seven kings for some time at this rate. You know, we're just. We're just taking away opportunities.
- [20:43]
B
Yeah, but you're contradicting yourself there. They're putting in new, fresh blood, giving them the platform, giving them the information.
- [20:48]
A
You just said they're taking out people who can win it like Jamie.
- [20:52]
B
But he's proven that he can't win it for how many years in a row?
- [20:55]
A
Well, he's got a second on his very first time as a 16. The youngest person ever to ride King of the Air. He got second. He's still the youngest. And then baby shark. So there is. There is something in that.
- [21:08]
B
Let's talk about baby shark.
- [21:11]
A
I mean, disappointing for him, to be honest. Spoken to him a little bit this weekend, actually. He's bitterly disappointed. I said to him, bro, get your ass to Cape Town. Prove them wrong. Get out on the water. You know, do what you did before when you were trying to make it, you know, get out there and ride your ass off. You know, go out there when Baptist and these guys are out there and put on a show and just say, hey, you might be in, but guess what? I'm still the man to be. You know, just be that person and be there and be excited to be there. And if you get the opportunity, you go in there with a smile. You don't go there bitter, which could happen.
- [21:47]
B
What do you say to that?
- [21:49]
A
Oh, think about it, bro. Because he doesn't want to go at the moment. You know, he's. He's pissed about it. But I'm going to keep working on him. I want him to be there. But you know what, though? Taking out the. The Jacquemin situation, if it was Hugo or Jamie and even Elliot was in, I wouldn't be that. I would be. Obviously we'd be talking about Elliot Bataan. He saved his bacon there with that third with that final in Italy. But even then, man, these guys are going to struggle. This is not riding Porto Polo. This is not riding Pro2. You're going into the most fierce competition, mate. It is. It is a killers from round one. It's like, you know, every single heat is a final. Sometimes you don't. Do you like this, man? I've only got better in round three. It can be like that. Seriously, it's like that. It's like, shit, man. I'm super stoked to have Beto in round three. You know, it's like crazy. Beto, who's a semi finalist, you know, you could be running into anybody.
- [22:52]
B
Less so this year, though, easier fleet than ever. Is this the easiest fleet of all time for the trap to win?
- [22:59]
A
I think last year's was weaker, you reckon, because.
- [23:04]
B
No, no, no, Jeremy.
- [23:06]
A
Yeah. No, no, Jeremy, no baby shark. We had a bunch of young guys. That was Zach Parker all in for the first time. Nathan Texier for the first time. Yeah, we had quite a few. Few new guys getting a chance as well. So, yeah, I don't know. This one. This one definitely looks stronger. It's great to. And by the way, great to see Shahar Sabri in there, you know, joining his little group there. Yeah, I mean, I actually don't mind the fleet. I don't mind it, bar a couple of selections.
- [23:38]
B
Well, that's a bit of a change of tune to about five minutes ago. Sounding like you were definitely minding it.
- [23:42]
A
No, I mean, but you know what I'm saying, bro? You know what I'm saying?
- [23:46]
B
I mean, that's literally the only comeback I've got. I'm grasping at straws here. Okay, good, good, good, good. Now, shall we move on and talk about the women's.
- [23:55]
A
Yeah, yeah. Women's man, for sure. And, you know, talk about going from so wrong to so right. I mean, the woman's feet's awesome.
- [24:02]
B
It's sick. Yeah, yeah, it's sick. So just quick reminder, because it's only six of them. It's Francesca Manning, Mikalo Soul, Natalie Lambert, Prana. So Svenia Peters and Zara Hugenrad. That first reserve spot, I believe, is Lana Herman, who I would have thought was nowhere near on the pace because she's had bad luck with injuries this year. She leg problems. Infection in her leg made her bedbound for a long time. She's really struggled, but looking from the footage of her in riding in Egypt in Baby Bay, she's looking epic. I was like, okay. She was obviously doing a lot of visualization. In hospital.
- [24:43]
A
Yeah, I'm super happy with this fleet. Really happy to see Mika there.
- [24:47]
B
Jackie.
- [24:48]
A
She's gonna do it, dude. I mean, when I go. The last time M rode in a female flat was Lords of Tram and you and I were there. She didn't even get her hair weight in the final. She did not get her hair wet in the final. She won by like, you know, by the way, Francesca Many was pushing hard. Zara Siddiq was pushing hard. She was just going through the motions, you know, just didn't seem to be too worried. I was sort of helping her with some scores. I said, hey look, you can upgrade this. And she's like, no, I'm just going to go do this, you know, and just completely calm. Whether she's been practicing left foot forward into kickers, I have no idea. That's going to be the interesting thing to see how she approaches that. And it's going to come down to conditions. If it's a similar conditions to last year, which was that sort of 25 to maximum 30, let's be honest. She's just going to eat that field life. If it gets over 30, it becomes a way more even playing field, I think.
- [25:43]
B
But now you've got Zoe, Zoe Svenga Peters in there as well, who's sick in those sorts of wins too. And she's ambidextrous as well. She can go left foot forward and right foot forward. Really technical. Rider can do adids like a piece of piss. She's in Brazil at the moment. She's really committed. I know she's super. Super wants it currently unsponsored, but there's rumors of her joining Duotone. I don't know if you've heard those rumors as well, but that's completely unconfirmed, hearsay. So I think she could be a problem, honestly, despite it being her first time. What do you think? You think she doesn't have the experience?
- [26:21]
A
I think well, she's done a few comps, dude. You and I have been around her. She's done some competitions. Look, she seems to be very, very razor focused at the moment and I think you and I have noticed that, you know, we've, we've had calls with, from her when she. When things haven't gone to right and you can. And that emotion that comes out on her is just due to the fact that she's working really hard, you know. So, yeah, I think that it's going to be. It's going to be a very interesting fleet for the ladies. It's very Cutthroat, you have to be on the on point from the off because you only have. If you win round one, you go straight to the final. You really only have to win two heats, so there isn't much room for, hey, let me warm into this event. Let me check it out. Let me, you know, just feel how the judges. There's none of that. You have to push from the very beginning. There is one chance of a second chance, but yeah, you, you need to be on it. So it's going to be interesting to see of those girls who's prepared the best. When it comes down to the person who's done the most competitions that are maybe in that thing. I mean, M's got that in days, right? She can do that for days.
- [27:24]
B
Indeed. I'd be also interested to see what kite she's going to ride and Pippa as well. Like will they go on the Rebel, which every dual turn athlete seems to be doing. But in my mind for female riders it's. I feel like that is more tuned to. Yeah, the target market. German, Audi owning dentist for the gut. So, yeah, I'm interested to see what kites they're on and we'll bring you that as soon as we, as soon as we can when we get to Cape Town and start building the hype.
- [27:58]
A
For this with the girls. Do you think the windier it gets, the more even the field becomes? Because you'd have to see. The thing is, it's true, I mean, listen, we also haven't seen, we haven't seen Francesca back since she got the concussion and there is something, there is mental pressure in that. Right. You know, you. That starts to become on your mind all the time. You start thinking, what, do I want to take another knock? Do I want to be out for some time? You know?
- [28:26]
B
Yeah, yeah. I really hope she. I know that she's been taking that seriously and hasn't been taking any risks. So, yeah, we wish her the best in recovery. But to answer your question, I think no, honestly, because I think, yeah, you're right. Pippa and Svenja have got an advantage in the lighter, lighter winds. And Mika, Micah, I think though, if Mika, it's harder to go right foot forward when it's seriously blowing his tits off. So maybe Mika's at more of a disadvantage. Maybe she's gonna sneak some right foot forward stuff in to nab the variety score as well. Man, honestly, I don't know. I don't know. That's good podcast, isn't it? Good journalism.
- [29:11]
A
The other thing, as well with Mika she could just totally turn up and kick some ass. She could easily turn up and just do a whole bunch of stuff with like where's that come from? I know, I just worked it out a few days ago. You know she can do that. She can easily do that. She's probably going to do that.
- [29:27]
B
I mean you'd have to. If we were betting men, you'd be really stupid to bet against M Soul. But there's a chance she won't go. I really think there's a strong chance she won't go. And we'll. Yeah, I get. I guess we'll see. I guess we'll see on that. Okay, so we covered both fleets. We've explained how they got to them and whether it's fair or not and what we think just reflect on the actual process of it. I know earlier you said that it would be great if the qualifier series became an accumulative points based qualification system. I think that is the, the solution because the video entry has so many inherent problems with it. One, you got camera angles. Two, you got. It becomes like a money thing as well. Like someone like Baby Shark, he needs, he cannot film it in Brazil so he needs to film it when he's in Europe. But when he's in Europe he's riding competitions. So Baby Shark's video is. Looks like it's one session in Greece which doesn't really do him justice, you know, but that's the state of it. It's also just not perfect because the angle of the camera is different. Yes. But also like they're submitting five tricks but only three of them should count. Which you know, it just brings in so much subjectivity to it. It's like even more subjective than the riding in the actual competition which is already too subjective. So it's kind of a disaster. And yeah, I think your solution is the one honestly just make it a tour but then make it more worldwide.
- [31:17]
A
Yeah, I mean, I mean I don't want to just put untold pressure on Red Bull to do that. But I also don't like the pre qualification because otherwise, you know, as I said, only one guy won an event this year to get a golden ticket. Otherwise we're giving, you know, giving it to people who are runners up and stuff like that. So it would be great to. It would be great because it also forces people to ride. But then again by doing that then you're actually taking away opportunities for a port Apollo type fleet. If everyone's busting for that sort of, you know, 16, 17, 18, 19th position, which is kind of exciting, right, Going into events. And Chip, man, I've got to finish above Colin to get into this thing. You know, it's cool that you get that, you know? You know, you wheel of Formula one, that's what makes the Constructors Championship important, right? Because it, it, it makes exciting racing throughout the, throughout the grid. And we should have that same thing in, in kiteboarding as well. Guys who are like, man, I've just. I've got to make round three, otherwise I'm not going to get the points. You know, I've got to get here, I've got to finish above him. It. It makes people strategize more, I think. Have to think carefully and be more prepared.
- [32:21]
B
Amen. Okay. Anything else?
- [32:25]
A
Elliot Batan, though? Should we talk about Elliot? I mean, I've never seen anyone win Pro2, Pro2 events and go through into. Yeah, I mean, but again, getting a podium, knocking out Shah, knocking out Zach, that stuff there just, you know, it just fills up your resume and fills up at the right time, too. Maybe it's a little bit of recency bias as well, right? Because, man, that Terefa event seems like a long time ago now, you know, that's a long, long time ago. So maybe there's some recency bias in that. And they're just seeing that and the judges like, well, we just saw that kid last weekend. He was awesome. He made it to the final, of course.
- [33:04]
B
Yeah, yeah, of course, of course. Okay. It's still going to be a sick event. There's some people in there that maybe shouldn't be, and there's some people that are not in there that definitely should be. But it's my belief that it's still going to be a sick event and the conditions can't be any worse than they were last year. Touch wood.
- [33:29]
A
Can't all be going good. Now. Look, I agree. I mean, look, I mean, take away all the moaning and stuff like that, but that's what sports about, man. You know, professional sport brings emotions involved and that's why we like sport. That's why we do this, because we get emotional about it. If we weren't emotional about it, we wouldn't give a. We'd just be watching football, you know, so this is why we love the sport.
- [33:49]
B
It's your, Your podcast, though, so unfortunately, no one else can turn you down.
- [33:54]
A
Not in the edit.
- [33:58]
B
For me, I think I needed Jamie to be in this list. I think that's. We've already said this. The other one That I. The other two that I feel should be there are Hugo Wigglesworth and Finn Flugel. But Finn didn't do the qualifier series at all, whereas Hoogie Woogie is. Is a weapon. And. Yeah, but then he chose, you know, he prioritized hydrofoil, big air over the qualifier. So.
- [34:27]
A
Yeah. What would you do, though, in the same situation? Would you have the opportunity. See this.
- [34:33]
B
This is hydrophobic. Is not a sport.
- [34:36]
A
Listen, would you want to have a world championship asterisks after your name, or go to Italy to an event that you're at the time probably thinking, I'm gonna make King of the Year. Come on, I made all these big fleets.
- [34:51]
B
Yeah, exactly. So the entitlement catches you up.
- [34:55]
A
You think it's entitlement or baby shark, for sure.
- [34:58]
B
Expected to be in for sure. And it's not. Right.
- [35:05]
A
The. The fin one is interesting as well, right? Because, look, Red Bull are good businessmen, let's be honest, like Sergio Kendigali, professional guy. They know what they want. They do. The German market is a massive, massive, untapped, untapped market. And we just don't have enough German professional riders and Big Ear, that's for sure. They've, you know, we've. They've come and gone a little bit, but not really stayed. Finn could be a megastar in the sport in both Big Ear and freestyle. He could be. I think he is.
- [35:35]
B
I think he's going to be, though. This is like Shahar Sabri last year could have been in the fleet. He had the Level 2, but he sat out. He sat out one year was there and watched it and looked a bit sad. But actually, if you'd rushed him into it, it might have been a bit much for them. Was Leonardo Casati. He's carried us, what, three or four times?
- [35:55]
A
Sure. Yeah.
- [35:56]
B
Come on.
- [35:57]
A
Time is time here.
- [36:01]
B
All right. Slightly moany, slightly grovelly episode, but I feel like that does actually represent what people are actually thinking. Everyone doing here? Yeah.
- [36:15]
A
There's not one person outside of the Jacquemine household is going, mate, this is the greatest fleet I've ever seen. God damn it, I love it.
- [36:23]
B
But anyway, we'll be off to Cape Town shortly to bring you the latest on it. And I'm still buzzing for it. I still think it's going to be sick.
- [36:32]
A
So Colin and I decided to flip the mega pot over till Monday. So on the Thursday, you will hear the Hugo Wigglesworth interview I've got with him. It is bittersweet because is celebrating the success of the World Championship and then talking about the disappointed missing out of King of the. And his plans. That's a really interesting podcast to listen to. I didn't have a lot of time with him, but, yeah, I'll get that out on Thursday for you to. To listen to. But, yeah, we wanted to bring this one today because it is important and we'll update you when the changes happen because for sure, things are going to change and for sure there's going to be changes and we're going to bring you all the action.
- [37:08]
B
One thing we haven't mentioned, and it's. It brings. It tears me up. No Aaron Hadlow or Marc Jacobs for the first time in 11 years.
- [37:18]
A
Yeah, you. You put something great in the article. It's the first time a semifinalist has missed out on the next year's event.
- [37:26]
B
Not just a semifinalist, also a former king. Yeah, yeah, he should have got a wild card, but his video was not good. Sorry, Mark. It was not.
- [37:39]
A
Yeah, disappointing. But listen, I mean, that's. That's not. I mean, Mark missing out does. Pales in comparison to the other stories. So. Yeah, yeah, I mean, a little. Lot of disappointment in New Zealand for Hugo. I felt that when I was talking to Mark the other day, he actually, to be honest, man, and this is a testament to Mark, man, he wasn't even disappointed about him. He was disappointed for Hugo, you know, and that's the sign of a great mentor and a person who, you know, wants the best for that industry as well. So he was just gutted for Hugo not to make it. And that's. I really like that about Mark. And I said to Mark, make sure you come, bro. We want it. There's a chance. He said, mate, do you think 10 people pulling out is a chance? I said, never. So, yeah, man, I hope he comes down to King of the Air and it would be great to see him there because, you know, know, we do like to see those guys around the event site.
- [38:26]
B
Last thing I'll say, and then we're. Then we actually will go. Hugo Wigglesworth and Finn Flugel will have their time. They will do the next five King of the Years back to back. Their time's coming. It's just not right now. Okay, thank you, as always. We'll see you in the next one. Goodbye.