Although some may deny it, last week during the selections, when the enemy teams gazed around, attempting to discern who the greatest opponent might be, the writing was on the wall, and its color was red. Right out of the gate… Wow. Not much more to say. When you are a kid, lined up as a team, looking at your opponent, sometimes it becomes brutally apparent who stands as the greatest or perhaps the most capable competitor. During the Team Battle, when the teams were picked, Team SCARLET, captained by Ramiro Gallart, was undeniably stacked with skill and projected to deliver on all accounts. Standing beside Ramiro were Jack Reider, Alex Meindi, Chase Hasch, Einar Saad, and Nadja Bianchet. While every team has its highs and lows, Team Scarlet appeared to predominantly soar in steady strides, working in flawless unison. One of the most intriguing techniques of Team SCARLET was coincidentally how little they appeared to ride in comparison to the rest of the field. Instead of spending hours on end scrounging for puffs of steady wind, Team SCARLET was tactful with their time, choosing to ride deliberately for short stints, saving their energy and trick selection for when it mattered most. As a result, Team Scarlet was ferociously efficient both on and off the water, allowing them to stockpile incredible footage during their strikes to the park while also dedicating time in the studio to meticulously edit their Team Battle submission. Together, the collective group of Team SCARLET was not only a threat on the water, but equally as superior on land. One of the most crucial aspects of the Team Battle is choosing a team that can harmonize, and Ramiro proved to have successfully created this valued formula. From all of us at the Kite Park League, we would like to congratulate and crown Team SCARLET as our 2023 Team Battle Champion! Along with winning the Team Battle, during the awards, Alex Meindi was recognized for his drone pilot mastery, and captain Ramiro Gallart was voted to have completed the Best Line. Thank you for joining us for the 2023 Team Battle presented by Knot Future. Please rise for a standing ovation as we all congratulate Team SCARLET. Although you can choose to stay standing, we implore you to crack, pop, sip, or chug your finest beverage, while being captivated by the visual efforts of Team SCARLET, the winner of the Team Battle.
KPL NEWS
The last glacial period occurred well over 100,000 years ago, and since then, the earth has been slowly melting, causing rivers to flow, oceans to fill, and ice to become a precious commodity. On a hot summer day in Hood River, Oregon, there is nothing better than plunging into the cool glacial runoff that empties into the Slider Project’s immaculate park. While a glacial plunge is certainly nice, there are few things colder and more defiant than ice itself. For the 2023 Team Battle, Team ICE posed as perhaps an underdog and an unforeseen threat to the podium. However, one of the greatest aspects of the Team Battle is the unknown and the potential for disruption. Up until the videos are premiered, competitors are unaware of the cards the other team might be holding. Team ICE, captained by Xander Raith, along with Katie Potter, Tim Walsh, Ian Daly, and Asher Clarke delivered a frosty, stone-cold heater at the end of the week, earning them second place in the Team Battle, as well as a handful of subsequent accolades. Perhaps one of the more notable differences for Team ICE was the team’s composition. Besides being the youngest Team, During team selection, Xander was the only captain to choose a female rider as his first pick, which proved advantageous as Katie rode incredibly well all week and was voted Best Female by her peers. While Katie dominated the park all week long, her talent was matched by the efforts and performance of Tim, Ian, and Asher, who all helped Team ICE earn Best Edit. Along with Best Edit and Best Female, Team ICE’s captain, Xander, was able to clench Best Kicker hit. For the 2023 Team Battle, Team ICE’s crew verified their unique distinction and share with the world a video that encapsulates their efforts. Please sit back and enjoy the visual efforts of the runner-up, Team ICE.
Along with inclusivity and collaboration, the Team Battle acts as a platform to exercise creative expression, and beyond the short list of requirements, and ingenuity, individuality can flourish as fundamental pillars that offer near-limitless potential. As a result of this creative expanse, the tone, feeling, riding, and styling of each video is incredibly unique and Team Forest led the forefront of this effort as their video is terrifically original.
Captained by Ewan Jaspan, Team FOREST was fully stacked with a list of prestigious riders who are all overwhelmingly talented. The expertise of Eric Rienstra, Chris Bobryk, and Colleen Carroll helped Team FOREST secure a third-place finish in the 2023 Team battle. Joining this list of distinguished riders was Leo Verrechia, a new-comer to the Team Battle and voted by his peers as the best Rookie. Together, these five kept the pressure on throughout the entirety of the Battle, making the most of the week’s variable conditions and forging ahead to curate a masterpiece worthy of the podium. For the 2023 Team Battle, the Kite Park League would like to congratulate Team FOREST for their third-place finish and incredible display of riding, creativity, and video composition. Please sit back and enjoy the visual efforts of Team FOREST.
Stay tuned as we release TEAM ICE video this time tomorrow!