The Maui News

Haiku kiteboarder Jesse Richmond finished fourth at the Red Bull King of the Air event last week in Cape Town, South Africa.

Richmond, the only American rider in the event, advanced through four rounds before falling just short of making the three-man final. He was eliminated by Lewis Crathern of the United Kingdom in the fifth round.

Crathern went on to finish third, behind champion Kevin Langeree of the Netherlands and Spain’s Liam Whaley.

This was Richmond’s fifth time competing in the King of the Air competition — he has placed in the top five each time, winning it all in 2013.

To get ready for this year’s competition, Richmond worked with Samantha Campbell of Deep Relief Peak Performance in Haiku. He has also trained with the likes of pro surfers Ian Walsh and Paige Alms — both won last year’s World Surf League Big Wave Tour’s Peahi Challenge.