No judges, no flags, just riders, their WOO, and the will to send it. On April 28th, gusts hit 44 knots, and the beach lit up with monster airs, new faces, and full-send energy. Jen Tyler caught up with WOO Sports’ Arlin Ladue to find out how Code Purple came to life and why it’s shaking up the big air scene!

When the stadium meter in Tarifa hits 40 knots, you know what time it is—Code Purple. No judges. No flags. Just riders, wind, and their WOO devices.

On Monday, April 28, at 8:06 AM, the anemometer read 44 knots, and the beach came alive. Riders stacked on 6m kites were still overpowered, car doors barely budged, and the stoke was off the charts. This wasn’t your average send session—it was a one-day, full-send showdown.

With a €2,300 prize pool and a leaderboard lighting up in real time, Jason van der Spuy (31.2m) and Francesca Maini (20.4m) took the top spots. Juniors got in on the action too, including Ingmar Woerdeman, who hit a massive 18.3m. Between savage gusts, broken struts, and a few near-death wipeouts (we’re looking at you, Francesca!), Tarifa delivered an unforgettable day that set the tone for the upcoming Full Power Tarifa event.

But behind the chaos is a clever concept catching fire in kite communities worldwide. We caught up with Arlin Ladue from WOO Sports to hear how Code Purple came to life—and where it’s headed.

Arlin, tell us about Code Purple! Who came up with the concept of one-day, local challenges?

Over the last ten years on WOO, we’ve noticed that the best riders instinctively grab a WOO and go when the wind nukes. The forecast for April was looking wild—40+ knots—so we teamed up with WET Watersports in Tarifa and turned it into a one-day, open-format boost-off for whoever was in the area.

Did the one-day format change how riders approached performance?

Absolutely. It created a totally different kind of pressure. There’s no fixed heat time—riders go when they feel ready, and from any spot in the region. We saw them timing their sessions carefully throughout the day, often staying out just 30 minutes at a time to catch the right gust.

How do you choose the locations?

It’s all forecast-driven. We partner with local kite shops, like WET Watersports in Tarifa, to be the regional host and help spread the word. That way, when the storm hits, they’re ready to rally riders, offer demos, and showcase the local scene.

What made Tarifa the perfect launch spot?

Tarifa always draws top riders in the spring. When it nukes, you have a stacked lineup of talent and an insane amount of energy on the beach. You don’t need much to make it happen—just wind and stoke.

Seeing newcomers like Riccardo Zuanetto and Ingmar Woerdeman land huge jumps was amazing. What was that like?

That’s the beauty of this format. It gives emerging riders a stage. They might’ve been training for years, but one good gust on a Code Purple day can instantly put them on the map.

How is the format evolving, and what’s worked best so far?

We’re experimenting with different setups, such as event length, criteria, and team formats. One of the most fun has been Teams, where riders push each other and share the outcome. There’s a lot of potential to tailor each event to the local vibe.

If you could drop the next Code Purple challenge anywhere in the world, where would it be?

The current World Record (36.7m) was set by Hugo Wigglesworth near Wellington, NZ in Plimmerton. It’s a spot where the wind compresses and funnels into a bay, creating unpredictable updrafts, waterspouts, and turbulence. It is not “safe,” but it’s helped the local “Flying Kiwis” to podium at WOO Worlds every year we’ve run it.. Every year, we’ve run it. I’d love to document a 40 kts+ session there, including prizes, safety boats, and a few of the world’s best. 

Code Purple Tarifa Winners

Men:

  1. Jason van der Spuy – 31.2m (7m Airush Lift Team)
  2. Beto Gomez – 30.4m (7m Duotone Evo)
  3. Valentin Hoenderop – 30.2m (6m Rebel D/Lab)

Women:

  1. Francesca Maini – 20.4m (5.9m Orbit Pro)
  2. Alessa Sophia Mensch – 17.8m (6m Naish Pivot)
  3. Rose Hourtoulle – 8.7m (6m, completely lit!)

Junior Highlight:

  • Ingmar Woerdeman – 18.3m (Canos)

Thinking of hosting your own Code Purple?

You don’t need judges or a full event team. Watch the forecast, rally your local crew, and fire up the WOO. With plug-and-play support from the WOO team, it’s a great way to showcase talent, stir up local excitement, and create world-class content right at your home spot.

 

By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.