Woo World Record Jumps to 36.7m
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.
"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!"
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.Hugo achieved the world record jump with the following setup:
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.
