Just a week before his 18th birthday, Britain’s Aaron Hadlow won the PKRA world tour for the third straight year to confirm his status as the world's best freestyle kiteboarder.
Hadlow kicked off the nine-stop Professional Kiteboard Riders Association tour in April in true style, winning the first three events in Venezuela, Belgium and Portugal. He experienced a minor dip the next three contests, where he picked up a third, second and seventh, before bouncing back to win stages in Iles de la Madeleine, Canada and Tarifa, Spain, where he won both the singles and the double elimination freestyle competitions.
His five PKRA victories ensured him the overall title for a third consecutive year. He also won the North Sea Open competition and came in first in the prestigious Velocity Games on his first-ever trip to the United States. Hadlow remains the youngest world champion in PKRA history.
Although it was often neck and neck during the year with many close outcomes, Hadlow raised the bar for the sport, taking his performances to the next level of power, speed, height, technicality, variety and innovation. Some incredible, new moves were demonstrated, including the true mobe 7, or double aerial handlepass, shown off for the first time in Isla de Coche, Venezuela.
After he had clinched the title, Hadlow said: “To think that I have won the championship for the third time in a row sounds good to me. I’m super stoked and this is one of the best feelings ever. It was always my dream to do it once, but three times…. It’s been a good season, but now I’m ready to push it and come back stronger next year.”
