Matt and Max, the winners of the Big Air Master UK 2023
Max Tullett, junior winner and master runner-up, smiling, can now be happy.
How to become a 2023 Big Air Masters UK champion like Matt? 🏆
If you're a kiteboarding enthusiast and enjoy jumping—oh, and always have your WOO on—you've probably been closely following the Big Air Master UK 2023, the most spectacular online competition of the year. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the overall winner, Matt, and how you can learn from his tips and tricks to improve your skill. Don't miss it!
What is the Big Air Master UK 2023 and how do I participate? 🚀
The Big Air Master UK 2023 is an online competition organized by @bigairmasteruk, @woosportskite , and @uniqsurface, which aims to find the best kiters in the UK in terms of height, flight time, and jump power.
To participate, you only need to meet a few basic requirements: live, work, or study in the UK, use the Woo device, which measures jump data, and upload your sessions to Instagram with the hashtag #bamuk2023. Sessions must be conducted in the UK, on the day of the entry, and use an inflatable or foil kite and a TT board.
There are four categories: men's, women's, junior (16 years old and under), and pro (professionals sponsored by a brand). To be eligible to win a category, you must complete a minimum of six sessions in six different months. Winners are determined by the highest height recorded by the Woo in each category.
The championship runs throughout 2023, from January 1st to December 31st. During this time, updated rankings can be viewed on the @bigairmasteruk Instagram account, as well as videos of each participant's best sessions. In addition, raffles, contests, and events are held to encourage the community.
Who is Matt and how did he make it to the top? 🥇
Matt is a 25-year-old kiter living in Brighton who has been kiteboarding since he was 15. His passion for the sport has led him to travel around the world, seeking out the best spots and conditions for jumping. He has competed in several national and international competitions, but his greatest achievement is winning the 2023 Big Air Master UK.
Matt signed up for the championship from day one, and from then on, he hasn't stopped surprising everyone with his impressive jumps. His style, technique, and power earned him the respect and admiration of all the kiters, who followed him eagerly on social media.
But it wasn't all easy for Matt. He had to compete with other very strong kiters, like Max, who came in second with 24 meters, and Jack, who came in third with 23.4 meters. He also had to overcome several challenges, including bad weather, pandemic restrictions, and the pressure of maintaining his lead.
However, Matt didn't give up and continued jumping until the final day of the year, when he achieved his best performance of the entire competition. He jumped a whopping 28.7 meters, breaking the championship record and his own category record. With that jump, he secured first place in the overall category and the overall champion title.
His feat earned him recognition from the entire kiteboarding world, who congratulated him on his incredible performance and his spirit of perseverance. Among the congratulations, @bigairmasteruk stood out, presenting him with the overall champion trophy and inviting him to compete in the pro category in 2024. He was also congratulated by @woosportskite, who gifted him a state-of-the-art Woo kit and named him a brand ambassador.
What can we learn from Matt to improve our kiteboarding? 💡
Matt is an example that with passion, dedication, and fun, you can go far in kiteboarding. But he's also left us with some tips and tricks we can apply to our own practice. Here's a summary:
- Choose your equipment carefully. Matt uses a 10-meter kite and a 140-cm board. These sizes are tailored to his weight, height, and skill level. He also wears a helmet, a life jacket, and a safety leash, always to protect himself from falls or impacts. And of course, he uses Woo, which allows him to measure his jumps and share them with the world.
- Find the best conditions. Matt knows that to jump high, he needs strong, gusty winds and flat water or small waves. So, he checks the weather forecast and chooses the best days and times to hit the water. He also looks for the most favorable spots, with good wind direction, no obstacles, and easy accessibility.
- Warm up well before entering the water. Matt doesn't jump into the water without a good warm-up first. He stretches his muscles, especially those in his legs, arms, and neck. He also does some joint mobility, balance, and coordination exercises. This way, he avoids injuries and prepares his body for action.
- Practice basic jumps before moving on to more advanced ones. Matt didn't start by jumping 28.7 meters. First, he learned to jump with the help of a kite, controlling the timing of his pull on the bar, the angle of the board, and his body position. Then, he added spins, grabs, loops, and other tricks. Always with the help of an instructor or an experienced friend, who corrected and advised him.
- Have fun and enjoy yourself. Matt doesn't view kiteboarding as an obligation, but as a way of enjoying himself. He loves the adrenaline rush, the wind, the water, and the freedom. He doesn't get frustrated when he misses a jump; he tries again with a smile. He also doesn't compare himself to others; he focuses on his own progress. And above all, he shares his passion with other kiters, who support, inspire, and guide him.
And what about the junior category? 🏅
We can't end this article without mentioning the junior category, which was also incredibly exciting and challenging. This category featured kiters aged 16 and under, who proved that age is no barrier to high jumps and incredible tricks.
The junior category winner was Max, who also finished second overall. Max is a 16-year-old from the UK who has been kiteboarding since he was 10. His passion for the sport has driven him to train hard and participate in various local and national events. But his big leap to fame came this year, when he entered the 2023 Big Air Master UK and managed to jump 24 meters, breaking his personal best and that of the junior category. With that jump, he secured first place in the junior category and second overall, behind only Matt.
Max received the junior champion trophy and applause from the entire kiteboarding community, who recognized his talent and progress. Max also received support from @damiancrafts, the renowned kite maker, who offered him a sponsorship and gifted him one of their latest creations.
Max is an example that the future of kiteboarding is secure, and that there is a new generation of kiters ready to give it their all on the water. From SUELTALABARRA, we congratulate Max and all the junior category participants, and we encourage them to continue enjoying and learning from this wonderful sport.
Do you dare to follow in Matt's footsteps? 🙌
Now that you know Matt's story and his secrets to becoming a kiteboarding champion, are you ready to follow in his footsteps? If so, I invite you to join our SUELTALABARRA community, the blog where you'll find everything you need to enjoy kiteboarding to the fullest. Here you can read more articles like this one, watch videos of the best sessions, learn tips and tricks, participate in giveaways and contests, and much more. Just subscribe to our blog and follow us on our social media.
We look forward to seeing you in this article for the Big Air Master UK 2024 !
