Kitesurf365: The Megapod – 12M Blank Kite Test Begins

Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Adrian Kerr
Co-host: Colin Colin Carroll

Episode Overview

In this Megapod episode, Adrian and Colin broadcast from the Harlem Kitesurfing HQ in the Netherlands just days before heading to Egypt to kick off the highly anticipated 12m “Blank Kite Test.” The hosts give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at prepping for one of the industry’s most secretive and influential gear tests, discuss the spirit of the Harlem brand, run through news from the Woo Worlds competitions, and announce a community contest tied to the test. The tone is casual, cheeky, and insider—offering plenty of laughs, banter, and real insight into the world of pro kitesurfing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Blank Kite Test: What Is It and Why It Matters

• Test Format: Multiple 12m kites from various brands are unbranded (“blanked out”), with test riders using generic bars and lines, so they have no idea what kite they're flying.
• Purpose: Remove all bias by making the feel and performance the only differentiator.
• Location: Egypt, Makani Beach—returning to the roots of earlier 10m freeride tests, but now with the most commercially relevant 12m size.

Quote:

“Everyone has a 12. Right. It’s like your… you should [have a] standard big kite.”
– Adrian, 01:53

• Production Complexity:
  • 8 different kites, each needing a perfectly matched but unlabeled bar & line set (03:05–04:00)
  • Test bars set up to match brand specs (split point, line length, etc.) but with no visual hints.
  • Expert setup by the Kite Mana team for fairness and consistency.

Quote:

“The tester has no way of knowing what that kite is.”
– Colin, 03:39

2. Inside Harlem HQ & Brand Spirit

• The Megapod duo sits in €10,000+ chairs at Harlem’s lean but ambitious office (00:24–00:46).
• Harlem has evolved from 3 to 20 employees but retains their obsessive focus on quality and innovation.
• Ralph Grossel, Harlem’s kite designer, is celebrated for his minute attention to detail; past tester Aaron Hadlow’s obsessive setup tweaks get special mention.

Quote:

“The drive that this Harlem team have to be the best… they’re very particular about the stuff they do… they still have that small brand drive.”
– Adrian, 04:56

• No favoritism: Harlem is simply hosting; they are not benefitting in the actual test results (05:59–06:11).

3. On the Road: Prepping and Flying Out

• The podcast shifts to an on-the-road segment recorded at 5:50 am in a 1993 Volvo en route to the airport, gear in tow (06:45–07:40).
• Adrian and Colin discuss the faff and stress of traveling with piles of kitesurfing equipment; recount past baggage check-in nightmares.

Quote:

“The blank kites… 10 blank kites and then five old kites, probably 10 bars, two boards. That was terrible. Was so far overweight.”
– Colin, 12:20

• Adrian’s new perspective: embrace being the airline’s cash-cow by traveling with a smile (12:54–13:24).

4. Community Contest: Guess the Setup and Win a Weekend at Makani

• Listeners are invited to watch the Makani Beach Club webcam and guess both:
  • The models of all 8 kites (in order)
  • The identity of the test rider (07:40–09:01)
• Prizes: An all-inclusive weekend in Egypt at Makani Beach Club & Ocean View. Only perfect guesses win.

Quote:

“You have to guess all the kites correctly in the right order and guess the rider. We will choose the person who is closest… [but] if they don’t get it right, we’re going to hold the prize and give it away.”
– Adrian, 09:34

• Global time zones provided for webcam viewers (08:26–09:09), with playful banter about dedicated LA and Hood River listeners.

• Cryptic Rider Clue:

“Tie dye. … It’s a very good clue. Okay.”
– Colin, 20:51

5. Woo Worlds: Big Community Competitions

• Upcoming “Team Total Height” and “Team Total Distance” 48-hour competitions (10:48–18:54).
  • Team Height: aggregate of the top five jump heights per team over the event.
  • Team Distance: aggregate total distance covered.

Quote:

“My strategy is to have members in different countries… maximizing the time zones, the wind.”
– Adrian, 16:16

- Competing teams: “Wu Tang Clan,” “Ship Monks,” and others.
- Adrian and Colin debate competing strategies—diehards driving all night vs. geographically dispersed coverage.
- 511 teams competing; top teams savor bragging rights.

• Listener tip: Woo is offering a 40% trade-up on older Woo units to the new 4.0 model at dealers or tradeup.woosports.com (14:43–15:11).

6. Real-Life Banter & Notable Tangents

• Anecdotes about custom chairs, cold Volvos, and lack of heated seats (13:45–14:10).
• Discussion of airport duty-free “deals,” Adrian’s favorite Victoria’s Secret store, and low-cost flight gripes (15:11–16:06).
• Jokes about the low level of episode preparation, but proud to bring listeners along for the ride (09:49–09:58).

Quote:

“I think it shows our willingness to invite the audience into our world.”
– Colin, 09:58

• Final word: encouragement to get involved in the contest and follow the journey, plus a quick clarification on contest and fantasy-prize distinctions (21:05–21:48).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the Blank Test Goal:

  “Makes it a little bit more the mystery, right? And makes the kites fly perfectly.”
  – Adrian, 03:40

• On Harlem’s Culture:

  “They're a big, big brand now, but they still have that small brand drive to be the best.”
  – Adrian, 04:56

• On the Contest:

  “To spread the joy, we're going to… leave them pumped up, in the sun, in the wind for four hours… So you can have an opportunity to pick and it's going to be...”
  – Adrian, 08:26

• On Airline Overweight Baggage:

  “Give you more attention. So you gotta look at a different way. Let's look at it that these guys are gonna be excited to see us because they see ka ching, ka ching, ka ching.”
  – Adrian, 13:00

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49–04:50: Setting up for the blank kite test; technical fairness, secret setup.
• 05:34–06:11: Harlem office culture and impartiality in the test.
• 06:45–07:27: On the road, the logistics of traveling for the test.
• 07:55–09:09: Contest details and instructions for viewers/listeners.
• 10:48–18:54: Woo Worlds competition deep-dive, team strategies, and event info.
• 20:51: Bonus rider clue for contest (“Tie dye”).
• 21:05–21:56: Contest prize details, episode wrap-up.

Takeaway

This episode delivers a unique glimpse at industry-leading kite testing, the passion behind Harlem Kites, and the grassroots, sometimes chaotic, often hilarious nature of the global kiteboarding community. With its mix of technical discussion, irreverent humor, and interactive listener engagement, the Megapod continues to be a must-listen for anyone passionate about the sport or the scene behind it.

Contest Link: Watch Makani Beach Club webcam and submit your guesses for a chance to win!
Woo Trade-Up Link: tradeup.woosports.com

(Contest rules, Woo deal, and all relevant links are also included in the episode bio)