Kitesurf365 Emergency Episode: Charles Brodel Breaks the Woo World Record

Podcast: Kitesurf365
Host: Adrian Kerr, with Colin Colin Carroll
Guest: Charles Brodel (Charles Padel)
Date: October 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This emergency episode of Kitesurf365 is prompted by one of the sport’s rarest and most seismic moments: Charles Brodel (referred to as Charles Padel in the episode) has broken the Woo world record for the highest ever kiteboarding jump—this time, on a hydrofoil—redefining the top of big air kiteboarding. Hosts Adrian Kerr and Colin Colin Carroll go deep with Charles about his record-breaking ride, the future of big air (twin tip vs. hydrofoil), and his secretive new kite built from innovative Quadex material. The conversation also touches on Charles’s gear setup, training, his overwhelming reception from the community, and playful rivalry with previous record-holder Hugo Wigglesworth.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Significance of the New Woo Record

• Colin’s Urgency: Colin sets the tone by narrating his rush back from Dartmoor after hearing the news.
  “Woo world record’s been broken in my time in the dark... the whole community comes together acknowledging that someone somehow has gone even higher.” [00:02]
• Adrian Reflects on the Moment: He questions whether hydrofoil and twin tip records should be separated, noting Charles just made the case for hydrofoil as either the future or a distinct class.
  “Do we now say Hugo has the twin tip world record, Brodel has the hydrofoil world record, or do we just keep it all together?” [01:57]

2. The “Hydrofoil vs. Twin Tip” Debate

• Community Division: Adrian and Charles ponder if there should be separate leaderboards or celebrate “maximum height” across all board types.
  Charles: “I still think you need to have who goes the bloody highest... at the moment, you have to say Charles is doing that on what he’s choosing to ride, which is the hydrofoil, which is crazy.” [03:49]
• Hydrofoil movement is gaining momentum—a possible end of the “twin tip-only” era for big air.

3. Charles Brodel on His World Record Jump

• The Details: Charles shares the jump officially hit 37.2 meters.
  Colin: “How much bigger was this jump than all the others in your life?”
  Charles: “This one felt really different... At the top of the jump, I was like, oh my God, I’ve never seen other kites that low under me... Everyone was shouting... Yeah, it’s massive.” [05:42]
• Not Expecting the Record: Did not “woost” (the classic motion riders use to squeeze a few extra centimeters).
  “I was really not looking to break the world record... Maybe with my board over my head I would maybe reach 38.” [06:29]

4. The Kite: Secret New Quadex Material

• Development Story: Charles has worked for two years on the new kite, resulting in a unique Quadex build—stronger than Aluula, more flexible where it counts.
  “I was crazy to get a new design again... Now this kite is just insane.” [07:00]
• Material Science:
  “On this one, we are stronger than the Alula on the warp and we are more flexible on the weft... you can have a really strong height to resist the gust, but also a flexible kite.” [07:52]
• Broad Usability: The kite will suit both hydrofoil and twin tip riders. “Even yesterday after the comp, twin tip asked me to try it... they were really surprised about the efficiency.” [08:45]

5. Immediate Media and Community Reaction

• Charles’s Phone Explodes:
  “24 hours later, you’re on 34.1 thousand [followers]... my phone is going crazy, like my battery is going low every time... Maybe I received 1% of messages for the comp and 99%... for the world record.” [09:31]

6. Technical Deep Dive: Wind, Kite Position, Foil Setup

• Kite Placement for High Jumps:
  “Most of the time I’m sending it like at 1 and then I bring it back to 12 to get the lift... on this one, I had just to leave it at 12 and it was like the wind. And the guy did everything for me.” [12:02]
• Managing Power on Foil:
  “No secret, just winning weight and power in your body... Now I can hold a big kite as the other.” [13:16]
• Foil Board Ejection: On why riders sometimes kick their foil away in mid-air. “If you’re not used to it... most of the guys... are a bit unbalanced and they just need to release the board to just get on balance again... [But] it is pretty dangerous because... you land on it.” [14:54]
• Foil Tuning Preferences:
  “I really enjoy to have my foil... lifting a lot on my front leg... I just need to release my pressure on the front foot and then boom, it go high... way more difficult to hold the foil because it’s gonna lift you every time.” [17:59]

7. Spot Analysis: Port Apollo

• Praise for the Spot:
  “Port Apollo is a really sick place... The wind is super consistent, really lofty... the quality was insane.” [11:07]

8. Community Impact & Rivalry

• Hugo Wigglesworth Responds: “Disappointing to see my record go, but I guess records are meant to be broken. So next year, definitely more motivation to bust out another big jump.” [16:09]
  • Focused on Abu Dhabi Hydraul Big Air and the next King of the Air face-off.
• Hosts on the Rivalry:
  Charles: “He’s found himself and he’s earned respect.” [21:41]
  Colin: “We respected him, but we didn’t really take him seriously enough... Now this is a whole different level.” [21:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charles on breaking the record:
  “At the top of the jump, I was like, oh my God, I’ve never seen other kites that low under me... Yeah, it’s massive.” [05:52]
• Colin on the moment:
  “Charles Brodel just changed kiteboarding. No doubt, no doubt... now he’s the top of the Woo leaderboard.” [20:12]
• Charles on community attention:
  “It’s just impossible for me now to check all the messages… Like, I never thought that breaking a world record like this, it would be that insane for me.” [09:31]
• Hugo Wigglesworth’s sportsmanlike response:
  “Records are meant to be broken... Next year, definitely more motivation to bust out another big jump.” [16:09]
• Charles on his motivation now:
  “But now with this record... I know that I have the potential, and I will go even higher... maybe 40 meters one day.” [16:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 Colin’s rush & the importance of Woo world records
• 01:57 Adrian & Charles debate: twin tip vs. hydrofoil leaderboards
• 03:49 “Who goes the bloody highest?”—rethinking the leaderboard
• 05:42 Charles describes the record-breaking jump
• 07:00 Development of the new Quadex kite
• 09:31 Charles’s social media blows up after the record
• 11:07 Charles on Port Apollo as a competition spot
• 12:02 Technical breakdown: kite positioning for big air
• 13:16 Training and setup required to handle power on a foil
• 14:54 Why foil riders sometimes eject the board mid-air
• 16:09 Hugo Wigglesworth responds to the new record
• 17:59 Charles details his unique foil tuning philosophy
• 20:12 Colin: “Charles Brodel just changed kiteboarding.”
• 21:41 Hosts reflect on Charles’s rise and respect earned in the community

Conclusion

This episode captures a pivotal, historic moment for kiteboarding. Charles Brodel’s 37.2-meter jump on a hydrofoil propels the sport into new territory, stirring debates about discipline, setting new standards for gear innovation and athletic performance, and inspiring the next wave of record chasers. The playful rivalry between Charles and Hugo adds anticipation for future showdowns, while the emergence of Quadex kites highlights how advancements in equipment are pivotal to pushing limits. The hosts, both excited and reflective, agree: this is a day that redefines what’s possible in big air kiteboarding.

For more insights and community reactions, listen to the full episode and keep an eye out for the next MEGAPOD.