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250 metres, 6 loops, one leap: Kitesurfer makes history at Ain Dubai
The kitesurfer, a two-time winner of the Red Bull King of the Air kiteboard contest, boarded the wheel at ground level, launching his kite from the bottom cabin
- PUBLISHED: Fri 27 Feb 2026, 6:55 PM
A 250-meter dive. A 58-second descent. Six consecutive loops. That’s what one gutsy 21-year-old kitesurfer pulled off on Friday when he launched himself from the top of Ain Dubai — the world's tallest observation wheel.
For this feat, Italian kitesurfing star Andrea Principi converted his kite into a parachute and stepped off the iconic Dubai landmark at 6.54am local time to touch down smoothly on the waters of the Arabian Gulf.
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During his descent, Principi executed six consecutive "Around the World" loops, a possible world first for the advanced kitesurfing manoeuvre. A two-time winner of the Red Bull King of the Air kiteboard contest, the Italian is known for his innovative style, pushing the limits of big air kiteboarding.
Watch the video here:
Execution
The technical execution took precision and was unlike anything seen in kitesurfing. Principi boarded the wheel at ground level, launching his kite from the bottom cabin with drone assistance and a manual quick-release system. As the wheel went up, he flew the kite alongside it; fighting light winds that left it barely airborne.
"At the beginning on the bottom the wind was so light [that] my kite was barely flying,” he said. Metre by metre, he nursed the kite upward, keeping it stable until he reached the top — 250 metres above the water.
He said the feeling after completing the jump was indescribable. "When I was at the top with my kite above my head and the board ready, I couldn't believe it," he said. "I said to myself 'Okay, it's time — don't think about it, go for it, jump'. I didn't even look down. I just looked at the amazing city and flew into the water. The sun was red in front of me. I could see the whole city from up high. I have no words to explain the feeling; it's too much."
Dubai has cemented its status as the go-to destination for high-impact projects with iconic landmarks like Ain Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, the Museum of the Future offering an unrivalled canvas. Last month, another Red Bull athlete— slackliner Jaan Roose — walked and even hung upside down along a 100-metre line at a height of over 700 feet between the iconic Jumeirah Emirates Towers.
18-month operation
The idea for the Ain Dubai drop came to him 18 months ago, when Principi spotted a smaller observation wheel. As soon as he arrived in the UAE and saw Ain Dubai, he knew he'd found the right place. He said he didn’t know how but he knew it could be done here.
Overseeing the 18-month operation was Sergio Cantagalli, Sportive Director of the Red Bull King of the Air and a 40-year veteran of high-performance board sports. His expertise in safety systems, and high-risk productions proved essential, although even he was surprised by how it came together.
“You have to consider that this equipment is not a parachute, it's not made to fly,” he said. “But Andrea knows his limits better than anyone else. Beyond his experience, his mindset was there. We spent day and night together trying to find a solution."
At times, it looked like the project might not get off the ground. After three days of failed plans and sleepless nights — the team waking at 3am each morning — a breakthrough came on the final day.
"When I want to do something and I really have it in my mind, until I reach it, I'm not done," said Principi. "I could have stayed here another month. If it didn't happen today, it would have happened eventually; I would never leave this city until I jumped. Now I feel a massive weight off me."
