Map
ENDEFRESITNL

Airton + James strapless big air

We catch up with James Carew and Airton Cozzolino on their friendship, rivalry and the making of their new big air strapless freestyle edit, “Game On”.

Hear the full interview

Hear the full interview

Hi guys, tell us a little about the new edit, how did the idea come about and give us the lowdown on where it was shot and who captured the footage and made the edit?

JC: This new clip out with myself and Airton is basically the first strapless big air video ever done. It started with me and Airton being in Tarifa and training a lot. We get a whole lot of wind there and we were just pushing the big air, with bigger loops and bigger tricks. It was Photographer Sebastian Lang that gave us the idea to do a big strapless video and that was it. We said yeah, we need to show people where we are pushing it and where we are going and what is possible on a surfboard now. Julien Leleu shot and edited the whole edit and it was shot in and around Tarifa in the south of Spain over the span of two months.

James, You used to be solely focused on waves but with the tour being a split discipline, when did the big air aspect begin to become interesting to you?

JC: Yeah I used to be solely a wave guy, then I started with the strapless freestyle and growing with that. With the big air, I’ve always been a bit of a big air fiend, when I was little and conditions got up over 30 knots I was out doing kiteloops and jumping. I didn’t have the skills to do it on a surfboard, as no one was doing it so I didn’t really think of it, to be honest, then as my strapless freestyle began to progress I started to go higher and bigger and developed these skills to where I can go really big now and do these things that were before just in my head. I can figure them out now. I think kind of in the last year or two years its become a big thing, but I think the ignition was that windy event in Fuerteventura I think in 2018. I won that big air event there after the GKA main event and I think that’s what really started it for me.

Airton, you have been the rider pushing the limits of big air, how has it been to see James come up and be pushing the limits too?

AC: Before I was alone, I was pushing the game with no one to guide my motivation. I was getting my motivation from the big air freestyle riders. After 2018 James came in and improved so quickly! He was doing all the tricks and going big, he was so explosive, he was the one to push me to advance and learn more tricks in strapless big air. He kills the game and I’m super stoked to have worked on this project with him.

James, Would you say your toughest competitor is Airton in the big air arena?

JC: In the big air scene, yes! He’s definitely my biggest competition. He’s the guy I’m pushing against and causing some friction and that’s what is taking strapless big air to the next level.

Airton, What do you think about James’s riding and how does it motivate and inspire your riding?

AC: James is a machine, I really love the way he rides, with so much power and super explosive. It motivates me and pushes my riding and it’s great to see him pushing the game and bringing the freestyle strapless to a new level.

Would you consider James your toughest competitor?

AC: Yeah James is probably the toughest competitor on tour, because of his super-powerful style in the surf and in any condition he’s really tough to beat. When I see he’s angry I have to take it easy!

Coming back to you James, how does Airton motivate and inspire your riding and how do you both get along?

JC: Airton definitely motivates me, he’s a big motivation for why I’m doing what I’m doing. He’s the best, he’s been the best for a very long time and that’s where I want to be and surpass. He’s one of the guys that came before me and I think it’s natural to want to reach and surpass that level. He definitely inspires me by what he does on a surfboard, he does some ridiculous stuff all the time and it triggers my mind to think about what I can do to do that and what can I do to be better than that. Airton and I get along well, we were in Tarifa together for a few months and it’s always a good time when we’re together.

How much time do you get to spend in Tarifa and spots with strong winds and do you find you are searching more for these conditions now?

AC: Over the last two years I’ve spent a lot of time in Tarifa, around 2-3 months a year, usually early in the season when Levante winds are pumping and when Balneario is open to ride. I think it’s my favourite spot in the world right now. I’m always open to ride new spots but I think right now Tarifa is one of my favourites.

Tell us a bit about the mental preparation before going for one of these big air sessions. Let’s start with you Airton:

AC: I don’t really think about it when I go for a strong wind session otherwise the nerves start to get to me. When it’s big wind I try not to think too much, pump my 8 meter and go on the water and kill the game! I’m always thinking about the conditions and not my mindset, I go on the water and just try to have fun!

And for you James?

JC: Somedays the day or week before, as soon as I know the session is going to go down or that the forecast is coming my heart starts beating a little faster. I start to think about what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it. I put myself in that mindset so I can really attack it and take control of all that rawness and power of nature.

What kind of pre-training and physical fitness do you need to be in to prepare for these extreme conditions?

AC: Physical preparation for what we are doing now is so important. With all these impacts on the water if you don’t train you can break yourself so easily. That’s why I do free-body training without too much weight. I train from 3-4 times a week when it’s not strong wind. When it’s windy I skip the training and go for a session. And for you James? JC: I think it’s very important for big air as you take some very big crashes. Not too long ago I damaged my ribs, it’s a good example because at that time I wasn’t feeling strong. I was feeling a little weak and took a crash and straight away hurt myself. I think training all the time and keeping your body really strong and ready is really important. I put in a lot of time off the water, I’m always in the gym keeping my body loose and strong.

And for you James? 

JC: I think it’s very important for big air as you take some very big crashes. Not too long ago I damaged my ribs, it’s a good example because at that time I wasn’t feeling strong. I was feeling a little weak and took a crash and straight away hurt myself. I think training all the time and keeping your body really strong and ready is really important. I put in a lot of time off the water, I’m always in the gym keeping my body loose and strong.

Where do you see the future and limits of strapless big air going?

JC: I used to see a lot of limits but now I don’t see so many limits, I just see opportunities, I see the future of strapless big air being very big. I think It has a very bright future. After the last few months and years of training I see a lot of growth potential, for example, the king of the air, I really believe a strapless big air rider could win the KOTA. With a kicker and 40 knots, we can go as high as the twin tip guys and we do gnarlier moves, we already have the board off our feet and the landings are a lot harder on strapless. I think with those things considered the chances for a strapless guy to win is very high in the future.

AC: I call it the new era, it’s not on yet, it’s coming, big things coming!