Kitesoul Magazine #26 International Edition

38
BIG AIR
Carlos Mario and Mikaili Sol claim inaugural Air Games
Carlos Mario
and Mikaili Sol
claim inaugural
Air Games
Photo: Ydwer van der Heide
The inaugural edition of the Air Games is over, and
the Brazilians have reasons to celebrate. At the end
of the season, Mario and Sol have raised the greenand-yellow
flag.
The cold German waters ended up deciding the
world champion in a winner-takes-it-all season
showdown.
If Carlos Mario won another final, he and Jesse
Richman would finish the tour on equal points,
but the Brazilian would win on count-backs having
won more times than the American.
If Jesse won - and he'd have to beat Carlos twice
as he won the single elimination - the Hawaiian
would have an overall points lead.
Despite all the efforts from Jesse, Mario's kite loop
with late back roll, 317, and triple backroll secured
him another world title.
"Before, I was training only for freestyle, but I knew
that I needed to do big airs and board-offs," explained
Carlos Mario.
"So, I started to learn them in Tarifa and continued
in the Dominican Republic. I had to train hard to be
able to do them and win. I worked a lot, and now I
have to thank God for this result."