New Zealand kitesurfer Hugo Wigglesworth pushed the bar a great deal higher in Big Air kitesurfing on 7th September 2024, leaving professionals and fans alike amazed. The 17-year-old jumped 36.7 metres, making him the current Woo Worlds record holder. Hugo has been chasing this record for a long time. So it was particularly pleasing that all the conditions were right last weekend and the unique jump was finally achieved. Hugo broke the record with the FLYSURFER ERA, a performance-orientated kite that was specially developed for Big Air.
©Joshua McCormack
“Then, on my 6th jump, just before hitting a 1m kicker, I felt the kite shoot forward in the window; I took off the kicker and immediately accelerated upwards with the kite at 12. After 5 seconds, I reached the peak of the jump. I knew it was a huge one! I did two Heliloops pulling on the left, then switched the direction of the Heliloops to come down quicker. Another two Heliloops pulling on the right slowed me down enough, and I controlled the landing. 36.7m popped up on my watch, and I immediately rode to the beach shouting and waving nonstop!
I’ve never had so much adrenaline in my life.“ – Hugo Wigglesworth
The path to this record-breaking jump was far from easy. As a passionate kitesurfer, Wigglesworth spent countless hours on the water, always searching for the perfect conditions to reach new heights. The Woo World Record in Big Air is measured using a special device that records the height and other parameters of the jump. This technology has gained significant importance in kitesurfing in recent years, helping athletes track their performance and compete with other kitesurfers worldwide.
For Hugo, it wasn’t just a personal triumph but also an important milestone for kitesurfing in New Zealand. As part of a small but growing kitesurfing community in his homeland, he has played a key role in elevating the sport to a new level and attracting international attention.
“Next year, I’m looking to compete in all the Big Air competitions. My goal is to get into the KOTA fleet and hopefully win that title one day.” – Hugo Wigglesworth
Hugo achieved the world record jump with the following setup:
- ERA 7
- FORCE Control Bar [M], 23m lines
- 133cm custom TEAM SERIES Board (comparable to the RADICAL)
The ERA is a state-of-the-art kite specifically designed to meet the challenges of Big Air kitesurfing. Designed to maximize height and stability in extreme conditions, the ERA has quickly gained a reputation for superior performance and innovation. It is designed to provide immense lift and control, enabling riders to reach record-breaking heights, as Hugo Wigglesworth has once again impressively demonstrated.
“The biggest challenge was designing a kite that would work for the best riders in the world and be the most accessible kite for the average kitesurfer. The challenge was about finding that balance between having the best Big Air performance kite for the team riders and making it super accessible for the majority of the market. ” – Luke McGillewie, ERA co-developer alongside Maximilian Kühnhauser
