Kitesurf365: The Megapod

Episode: Cohan Joins Red Bull | Can Hugo Rule WOO

Hosts: Adrian Kerr (A), Colin Colin Carroll (B)
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into two main stories making waves in the kiteboarding world:

1. Cohan van Dijk’s signing with Red Bull Netherlands – The hosts break down what this means for Red Bull, Cohan, and the evolving branding approach in kiteboarding.
2. Hugo Wigglesworth’s dominance in Hydrofoil Big Air and the upcoming WOO Worlds – Includes a look at Hugo’s unique mentality, technical chat about gear, playful banter, and a segment on Woo history and the upcoming competition.

The episode is thick with inside jokes, irreverent commentary, and sharp takes, but brings core insight into the competitive and cultural landscape of the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Red Bull Signs Cohan van Dijk (00:54–08:42)

• Big News for Big Air:
  Adrian and Colin celebrate Cohan’s addition to the Red Bull team, seeing it as a long-overdue move.

  • Adrian (01:14): “It’s fitting, isn’t it? It’s about time that Red Bull Netherlands gave it to one of these hotshots and...picked the right one.”

• Red Bull’s Athlete Selection:
  The hosts debate how Red Bull makes its athlete choices and whether local agents or nepotism have influenced past decisions. Both agree this time, they got it right.

  • Colin (01:31): “Red Bull seem to be getting it right...they’re freshening things up.”
  • Adrian (01:37): “You know, they get it wrong all the time...but in this instance, they got it nail on the head.”

• Trend Back to ‘Rockstar’ Athletes:
  The recent signing of athletes like Andrea and Finn reflects a return to bold, edgy personalities, versus safe, clean-cut images.

  • Colin (07:06): “It’s a sign that Red Bull are taking Big Air really seriously...they’re rock stars, basically.”
  • Adrian (08:33): “They’re getting back to the extreme stuff when it comes to Red Bull.”

Cohan van Dijk Joins the Call (02:54–07:03)

• Surprise Hat Ceremony:
  Cohan shares how he got the Red Bull deal, the surprise of seeing Andrea at the ceremony, and his excitement.

  • Cohan (03:19): “Yeah. I’m also super stoked, man. Like, it’s a milestone, but definitely just the start, you know.”

• The Red Bull Van?
  Colin jokingly asks if Cohan will get a Red Bull sticker for his van. Cohan nixes it, citing the van’s rustiness.

  • Cohan (06:32): “I don’t want to, you know, link Red Bull to rusty old van.”

2. Hugo Wigglesworth, Hydrofoil Big Air, and WOO Worlds (09:30–18:22)

• Hydrofoil Big Air from Silt – Hugo Dominates:
  Colin recaps the event, highlighting Hugo’s gear advantage and confidence.

  • Colin (10:05): “Hugo Wigglesworth...He made the Kasatis look like, like round two big air riders, you know. He was just all over the place.”

• The Confident Champion:
  Colin shares Hugo’s unshakable self-belief in interviews.

  • Colin (10:40): “Not Hugo, he just...said, ‘I’m gonna win’. And that was it.”
  • Colin (11:01): “Hugo’s mental game...10 minutes of his heat playing Candy Crush, you know, not care in the world.”

• Gear Spotlight – The Sonic 5:
  Benny Bölli is teased as a future guest to talk about the Fly Surfer Sonic 5, which is making an impact on event results.

  • Hugo (12:32): “I was using the 15 and 12 meter new Sonic 5s... gave me a big advantage over the other riders.”
  • Colin (13:27): “He was scoring sevens and eights. Most people were getting threes and fours.”

• The Future of Hydrofoil Big Air:
  Colin sees promise in the discipline, praising its broad wind range and growing legitimacy.

  • Colin (14:21): “I really think there’s some legs in this hydrofoil big air...wind ranges massive.”

3. WOO Worlds Trivia & Upcoming Competition (21:19–27:57)

• WOO History Quiz:
  Adrian quizzes Colin on historic WOO records for jump height. The segment is lighthearted but informative.

  • Adrian (21:19): “Who was the first person on WOO to break 20 meters? ...It was done in 2015.”
  • Adrian (22:34): “First person to break 35 meters...January 2023.”
  • **Colin ultimately gets about half right, leading to classic banter.

• Preview: WOO Worlds 2025
  Biggest prizes to date are announced, with over $100K in gear and cash, and the competition to run September 13–October 12.

  • Adrian (23:57 & 29:38): “Kicks off on Saturday the 13th of September... four week competition.”

• Hugo Tipped as a Threat:
  Hosts believe Hugo could sweep multiple disciplines, especially with his gear for the “most distance in one hour” contest.

• Brand Rivalry for Supremacy:
  Pits Core vs. Fly Surfer (ERA 2 vs. Sonic 5) as the two brands to watch.

4. Kiteboarding Community Banter & Inside Jokes (16:09–29:38)

• On Jetto and Steezy Pete:
  Playful mockery about Jetto’s fearlessness and Pete’s methodical teaching approach. The dynamic between extreme risk and safety is explored for comedic effect.

  • Colin (19:36): “Steezy Pete is a qualified instructor and he is a rocket scientist. Well, he could be if you wanted. That’s why him and Jetto are such a good combo.”

• Audience Feedback & Memes:
  References to emails and social media comments on recent stunts, memes like Jetto’s “reading tattoo,” and hosts’ irreverent weekly emails.

  • Colin (27:04): “Some say...Jetto got yanked harder than your mum’s ponytail on her wedding night.”

• Fan Collaboration:
  Host teams for Woo Worlds are recruiting and competitive. Both joke about their team management skills and encourage listener participation.

  • Colin (30:22): “If you are on my team, Colin and the Shipmunks...you’ll be full to the brim with both confidence and capability.”

• Red Bull Salaries & Prestige:
  Discussion about Red Bull Big Air athletes’ status in the sponsorship pecking order.

  • Colin (08:42): “The kite surfing athletes at Red Bull must be one of the lowest paid people in that group.”

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Red Bull’s new direction:
  Colin (07:06): “It’s gone rockstar again and I’m all for it.”
• Hugo Wigglesworth’s confidence:
  Colin (10:40): “He just said, ‘I’m gonna win’. And that was it.”
• On the van sponsorship:
  Cohan (06:32): “I don’t want to...link Red Bull to rusty old van.”
• On Jetto’s teaching style:
  Colin (20:25): “Jetto’s teaching would be what you see with Jetto. Erratic, you know, dangerous at times.”
• Colin on himself:
  Colin (15:48): “I was always way better than him.” (about Hugo at age 10)
• On writing the infamous newsletter:
  Colin (27:04): “Some say...Jetto got yanked harder than your mum’s ponytail on her wedding night.”
• Colin’s final team plug:
  Colin (30:22): “If you do want to join my team, be sure to send your Woo username or handle to the Instagram account @PortraitKite.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Red Bull signs Cohan van Dijk: 01:09–08:42
• Cohan call & reactions: 02:54–07:03
• Hydrofoil Big Air & Hugo’s win: 09:30–15:17
• Gear chat & Sonic 5 discussion: 11:30–14:21
• WOO history quiz: 21:19–22:49
• WOO Worlds preview: 23:57–29:38
• Jetto & Steezy Pete banter: 16:09–20:22
• Team recruiting plugs: 30:22–31:06

Takeaways

• Red Bull is betting on bold personalities again in kiteboarding, signaling a swing back to “rockstar” marketing.
• Hugo Wigglesworth’s rise is in full force, with unrivaled confidence and technical edge in hydrofoil Big Air.
• WOO Worlds 2025 is set to be massive, featuring a slew of prizes and keen brand rivalries.
• Signature podcast banter blends irreverence with expert insights—essential for fans following competitive kiteboarding.

(Skip this episode’s intro/outro and ads for pure kite geek entertainment and playful community insight.)