A (2:18)

I think already, like, 2023. It started when I made my first final. Like, after this, I kind of knew that I could get, like, on the, like, top three, top four spots. And then the year after, like, I really knew I could get it. Like, I went. During all the year, all the three stops, I went in every single final, and I actually just. I got two times third and one time first, and I would have actually just missed one second place. And we've got the title there maybe already. So. Yeah, so that pushed me more. I'm like, man, I can. I can do this. Actually, like, this is like. I. Like, if I have, like, the chance again, I'm gonna do it. And then this year in Brazil, like, it was a bit hard because, like, it was the best conditions, like, we had, like, was like 20, 22 knots. It was perfect. And to win there was, I think, even more special. To just have one event where the level is so high and to win it was. Was wild.

B (3:18)

Yeah. Well, let's talk about that in a second mate, who influenced your riding style? Because you. You do things a little bit differently. You don't wear boots, you ride straps. You've got quite a different style than the others. Where did that come from? Is that. Or is that just you?

A (3:32)

I mean, I started with boots, like, pretty much everyone, I would say. And then, like, I had a injury in Brazil, I think that was 2022. And then I just couldn't put my foot in the boot anymore because it was just too painful. And then I actually started using some straps just to ride a bit so I could kite. And then I kind of just got the hang of it and, like, didn't take them away again. And, I mean, now it works for me. I can do, like, all my tricks, all the triple passes pretty much unlocked all the time. And I'm not scared of it. So, I mean, that's a huge benefit for me.

B (4:07)

I guess that helps with the crashes too, right? I mean, the crashes are a lot easier wearing straps than boots.

A (4:12)

Yeah, for sure. That's like a pretty big pot. Like, I mean, 25 knots plus when I'm powered. I mean, for sure the crash will hurt, but I can still go for a backside night or KGB 9 or something, because, yeah, I don't care if I crash too hard then, because I'm just gonna fly out of this trap and it will be fine.

B (4:30)

By the way, you only had one crash in that whole event in Brazil. There. That's Crazy, right? I mean, is that. Is that. Must mean. I mean, I don't think I remember ever seeing one. Seeing somebody only have one crash.

A (4:43)

Two, man.

B (4:46)

Okay, Two crashes. I mean, it's. I mean, it's pretty impressive. Pretty consistent.

A (4:51)

Yeah, it was crazy. I mean, with the consistency and everything. I think, like, the first two heats were for sure the hardest. Like, the first heat, I mean, was taking a chill, but I was not too happy with the scores and everything. And then in the next heat, I mean, the pressure was kind of on with Davi and Eric in one heat and with only two spots. So this one was, I think, the hardest heat of the comp for me. Mentally, I was pretty scared of that one. But then I was happy that I could just put my heat together. On the last trick, I needed KGB 7, and I did it. And then, yeah, I mean, I moved on to semi with, like, just zero pressure, I would say. I was just like, okay. I mean, I already did the qualifier. I was so happy, and I'm just gonna give it my all. I know exactly what I have to do. The TR Tricks, like, with my coach, Nico, he, like, knew I had to do exactly this because it was just. It was the top four of last year was Maxim, Arto, and Chemo. I mean, I think that was the craziest free set of all time.

B (5:49)

And, I mean, you're stealing all my notes here, buddy, but keep going. I like to. I've written some notes, but it's all right. Carry on.

A (5:57)

Yeah, I mean, we just start with the. That. Like, my first trick, I felt like I want to go for KGB 7 as well. And then I just felt the guts. I felt like everything was perfect. I just went for a KGB nine straight away, and I was like, oh, now I missed one trick already because I crashed in the end. And then actually my heat after this, I locked in even more and it went even better. And then in the final, like, my first trick, I went for the KGB 9 again. Regarding the heat before, I just did it straight away, but I actually wanted to go for a KGB 7 again, but it was like muscle memory kind of. And went for the nine again. Crashed it. But that locked in even more again to get all the tricks done. So I don't know what's kind of strategy, but, I mean, it worked for me. So it was good.

B (6:43)

Right? Let's go back to my question. So that was good, though. So, I mean, I do want to say, though, that I think that was probably the best men's or turnout for a men's event I've seen in some time. I mean, you're talking about the level there. The level was crazy, right? And I want to particularly talk about that semi final. I, I wrote down in my notes. I think that might be one of the best heats and freestyle I've ever seen. You know, with Arthur getting 34.53 chemo. 29.53 by the way, that would have probably got chemo through in, in this, in the other semi final, you know, max 35.07 with the 10 there. And then you were 35.96. It's pretty spectacular riding.

A (7:21)

Yeah, man, that he was like wild. I think like, like my energy in this year, like the adrenaline and everything was, was huge. It was crazy. Like, like to do all the tricks and stuff. Like I had like written down like my easy, my medium heat, my heart heat and I had the impossible heat and I, and I knew I had to do the impossibility to pass. Like to do all of it was. Was insane. Was crazy.

B (7:46)

You know, you mentioned opening up with the KGB 9 there. You got a 4.23, but you didn't go back to it. You didn't go back to that trick until I think the second to last trick where you, you, you upgraded that to an 8.87. How come you didn't go for a KGB 9 again? Or do you have a. Have you and Nico set out what you' to do no matter what?

A (8:04)

Yeah, I mean, in the first, he like the plan was to just go for one easy, safe trick for kg7, but I just felt like I was high and stuff, so I just went for it. And then we just said, yeah, okay, just one more KGB 7 and then go for the rest of the tricks. And then in the end of that heat, I did the KGB nine. The first one, I almost. Yeah, I was at 9.8 for the first one. Then in the final, like I did the first one again and then till the end, like just before my last trick, like all you had three attempts. I need to land the KGB nine. And then like on the second one I did it and. Yeah, and then on the last one it was like already done. I knew it. I was. Yeah. And that feeling was crazy.

B (8:45)

In that semifinal with everyone putting big tricks down and getting big scores for it, were you in the flow state for that or did you feel the pressure or was that sort of pressure helping you guys all perform? Because I felt like you guys all rose to a whole different level in that almost. And it almost sucked. It Away from the final. Right. I think when the final came around, like we were expecting something like that semi final again.

A (9:08)

Yeah. I mean, like, I was kind of like, just like you said, like in the flow state, kind of just everything was perfect, you know, it was my day. It was like completely in the flow was perfect. Like, it was just every day at the lagoon, what I do. And I mean, yeah, it was. I don't know how even to explain it. Like, just trick after trick. It got like. Like, it got me hyped. Hyped. And I. I'm like, just before the trick, like, I don't even say, like, I'm gonna crash. Like, don't even think about it. It's just like, okay, you're gonna land it, you know, Was like, no doubt about it.

B (9:38)

And it was super cool because, you know, you mentioned Davi Rivera, who's not such a young guy anymore, but still young by freestyle standards. Matteo Dorotini coming through. Kimo, who's, you know, just such a great ride himself. It's great that we've got all these sort of, I guess, feel like the next grouping of freestyle is coming through to, you know, push the genre. I mean, you know, max, he's only 26 years old. I feel like Max has been around for so long, you know, but it's pretty cool to have this younger group come through, right?

A (10:07)

Yeah, man, I'm so happy, like, that we kind of pushed the freestyle again because, I mean, I just love it. It's such a technical discipline and it's just, yeah, for me, such a good, like, balance for bigger as well. And, yeah, I'm just happy that we push again because I think this event was just super good for us, for the sport, for freestyle. And, yeah, man, I'm happy that next year is we're going to push it even more.

B (10:29)

Are they looking at two events for next year? I think two freestyle events or three freestyle events?

A (10:34)

Three free sevens. Yeah. They said Mexico, then Germany will have one and then in Brazil. So, yeah, fingers crossed that's gonna happen.

B (10:42)

No Abu Dhabi.

A (10:44)

No, no Abu Dhabi.

B (10:46)

Hydrofoil. Freestyle Hydrofoil, yeah.

A (10:49)

Time to battle again with Fugo on the 15th.

B (10:53)

Well, let's get to that in a second. Hey, you mentioned. Mentioned working with Nico there at Seven Seas coaching. Do a lot of the other guys have coaches or is it. Are you really tapping into him just to, you know, Just to, you know, help you with your performance in the events as well?

A (11:08)

I mean, me and Nico, we met, like, just at the beginning when I started freestyle, like, My first few handle passes. And, yeah, I mean, from there on, we always had the contact kind of to just go train together, like just before the event itself. And then, like. Like three years ago already, I want to do the tour of him, to train with him, but he couldn't because he was doing the code for the French national team. And I was pretty bummed in that because. And, like, me and Nico were good friends and stuff. Like, you know how to, like, how I feel when I. When I, like, like my feelings when I ride. And then the year after, he said, okay, I will stop working with the French team this year and I will do, like, my elite team, kind of like the 70s team. And we did it this year and it was. Yeah, I mean, it was a dream for me. It was just the perfect thing, you know, because I want to win the world title with Nico as well, because we trained super hard for that all year. I think this year we counted, we spent, like, almost 150 days, like, training together just for this. And, yeah, I mean, in the end, it was just. Yeah, the emotions were crazy after that.

B (12:16)

Do other riders have coaches, or is that. Is that pretty uncommon?

A (12:20)

I mean, right now I would say it's pretty uncommon still. I mean, there is some more coaches, like, now on Big Air also, but I think it's still pretty uncommon. Like, we're still, like, a pretty crazy sport with a lot of technique and stuff, and to not have coaches is quite crazy.

B (12:38)

You know, you mentioned hydrofoiling. You had a great battle with Hugo there. You know, I know you've ridden in the GK Big Air. Is that the plan this year to, like, do, like, the Casadis and ride as many events as you can and. Because I know you. I know you just enjoy spending time on the water as well, right?

A (12:52)

Yeah, I mean, I just love spending time, as you said. And I mean, here in Egypt, I kind of have to do everything to be on the water every day. Like, the next day we have light wind. I mean, the next days it looks pretty insane with, like two days we'll focus like 30 plus knots. So I'll do bigger and then after looks like lighter again, 15, 60 knots for freestyle. So, I mean, I kind of have to everything to stay on the water, and it's a good training for me for all the year.

B (13:18)

I'd love to see Jamie Overbeek and Charles Burdell and, you know, join you and Hugo and the Casadis. I. I really think there's a lot of guys. And by the way, there's More people speaking to me want to do hydrofoil. Right. You know, they've all seen what. What Charles has done, and I think we'll see more guys do that. I mean, it's kind of. It's kind of an exciting new. Well, it's not a new trend, but it's. It's kind of exciting to me that there's so many good writers who are interested in doing that as well, you know?

A (13:45)

Yeah, for sure. I mean, fall for me, it's always like, I will never throw it away because, I mean, just for bigger to get it. Like now we see like with the world records as well, they're all done on the 4. I think Ford is still like such a big thing where we didn't like push yet, like all of the riders except Charles, I would say. But I mean, yeah, for sure. Like the next years on the fort is just gonna grow and grow, like, compared to the last year is going to be. Yeah, it's gonna be crazy.

B (14:12)

Charles was overscored or underscored at King of the Year, in your opinion?

A (14:16)

I mean, I think, like, pretty good because, I mean, for the landings, like, he wants to do the twin tip comms and stuff, but, like, I mean, with the landings and stuff, it's just a slow landing, you know, like, compared to twin tips, like, you sink in a little. I mean, a four, you can't really do different. But yeah, I mean, it's really hard to judge. I think in the future we should have some more foil comps, for sure, with the higher level. But I mean, his riding was insane, so. Yeah, nothing to say about it, but yeah, I mean, it's. It's a difficult way. You can see from that way and that way. So, yeah, it's quite hard to say.

B (14:52)

What do you mention the landings? Do you. Do you think the judges want to see him just land on the foil only? I mean, I think that's a pretty big ask in 35 plus knots in Cape Town, right?

A (15:03)

Yeah, for sure. That's a pretty heck. It's pretty much impossible. It's super hard. But yeah, I mean, you don't like. It's sick if you see a landing with like speed. Like, for example, like when you land, like full speed and you land the trick, it's quite insane feeling. And then you see with the four, for sure, it's like way more difficult probably, or the same if you land with a lot of speed. But I mean, you go, you get the second lift and then you just land and you kind of sing for like, A second. Like, not resync, but like stay and. Yeah, I mean, for me, probably with landing with a lot of speed on Twin Tip looks more impressive than with the foil, but I mean, from the difficulty, it's pretty insane. Also the foil.

B (15:41)

Last year you competed in a couple of bigger events. Obviously, you know, Lords of Tram. Last year you did the Windsor Sino, which is a local event. Are you going to be available for more events on the. On the calendar? Because it looks like, you know, the judging for King of the Air, they're looking at other events now. They're not just looking at the video. Is that something that you're going to put into place with Nico and. And your team around you to hopefully qualify for Red Bull King at the end. At the end of this year, at the end of the coming year?

A (16:07)

Yeah, I mean, for sure we'll try to do as many events as I can. I mean, I will do the two TK events, Lord of Tram and the one in Mykonos as well. Yeah, because I'm in it. I'm ranked fifth now. What's pretty good. So I'm in it already. And then I think I will do the Winds of Sinai again because I won it last year, so I am pretty much in already. And yeah, I mean, I would have loved to do more this year. I had the ticket from Windsor side. I had to go to the qualifier in Tarifa, but I was too young. At least I was still 15, so I couldn't do it. But yeah, I mean, this year I'm trying to go do as many qualifiers as I can and yeah, then to get into a cosa. I think, yeah, this year was pretty like. I mean, we all saw that. It was kind of as more qualifiers as you do as higher chances to get into a main event.

B (16:54)

I mean, pretty cool to see Leo, you know, get the podium. You know, he got second place there. You guys are the same age. It's pretty awesome to see younger kids dominating at the top now. I mean, you know, we. I guess we consider Lorenzo and Andrea older guys now, but I mean, it's all. It's awesome to see these young kids there, right?

A (17:11)

Yeah. I mean, I'm super happy for Leon's. Well, he's a pretty good friend of mine and yeah, I'm so excited, like at the podium. Portuguese brother as well. And yeah, I mean, I hope next year we all can get in, like all those young kids, like Shah was there as well and he had to push like the older guys now, like Andrea and Lorenzo, like you said so kind of push away a bit from.

B (17:30)

The podium and they're only 20 years old, though. It's crazy.

A (17:37)

It's crazy. I know. It's fine.

B (17:40)

Where do you see your future in the sport? I mean, I want you to continue on and keep doing the freestyle. Is it possible to do the freestyle at the highest level and try and be at big air and hydrofoil at the highest level? Is that possible? You know, even. Even Lorenzo said to me it's to. It's tough to do them all right. To do them all at the very best.

A (17:58)

Yeah, for sure. It's not easy because, I mean, if you just focus on one and you can, for example, just like I have to trade freestyle now because before the one event, but there's just an insane forecast in Tarifa now to go to trade for bigger. So. Yeah, I mean, it's difficult a bit, but like, this year we have such little events, so then I think for sure it's possible, like this year was perfect for me. I could in the beginning of the year focus on fully bigger and then switch like, like half the year to bigger freestyle. So, I mean, yeah, it was pretty perfect, but I mean, if we have like, more events like before, like five stop or something, then it would be pretty difficult. But for now, I mean, it works.

B (18:36)

And is there any sort of local freestyle comps on in Egypt? I know Egypt has quite a lot of different sort of, let's say, domestic comps all over. Are some of them freestyle? Because I feel like there should be more. I know there's a lot of kids wanting to do big air in Egypt. I feel like free freestyle could. It could be a great breeding, a breeding ground for freestylers, you know?

A (18:56)

Yeah. I mean, right now it's like pretty hard, I would say, because the trend is just so much into bigger. So, yeah, it's not that easy. But we had one event, like we have some six spots like in. In Russell with the lagoons there. So, yeah, it's a really sick spot for freestyle as well. But I mean, I think we would just have to do an event like ask me, Kibo, to go there as well maybe and just push the freestyle bit and set like a new trend a bit, kind of. So, yeah, the young kids will do it as well and send it there.

B (19:25)

Because, you know, freestyle actually looks kind of sick when you see it up close, you know, like, you know, I know big ears got that wow factor, but when you watch freestyle up close next to people, it actually is super sick.

A (19:36)

Yeah, for sure. I think for freestyle, like the main thing we have to do is do a better live stream. For sure. Just a more high quality live stream from good angles so it just looks better. Like when you're at the beach, it looks insane. Like with the travel and stuff you go, you go massive. Like when you watch auto as well, looks really insane. So yeah, I think, yeah, if you just say afresh, like just too much technique, not so hard. Like you should come watch the event like in person and then you will see how it looks.

B (20:05)

Finn, you can learn a new big ear trick in one session, right? And maybe crash it a few times, but work it out and you're like, oh, I've got another one unlocked in freestyle. That doesn't happen like that ever.

A (20:15)

No, like for sure. That's the thing. Like in Vigor I go out, oh, nice. I land like district, another board flip, another tick that osmosis or whatever. And man free said like, for my like dream trick, I would say blind backs at nine. Like I started working beginning of the year like in January or February and with Nico and we're like, yeah, like I was so close already. I knew I can do it. And then it actually took me to the summer in Greece in July to land it the first time. What was crazy, I would say. And I mean it's so much technique and so much little detail movement to just get it. And I mean you don't have that in bigger. I would say, like it's more like if you go for it, you can do it for sure. There's a lot of tricks of technique, but yeah, it's more like go for it and do it and freeze is just like that. We do so much like before, like brain work, like to work in the brain. Like if I have the trick like in my head, an example, like do it like on my trampoline and stuff. And I ever have it, then I kind of do it on the water. Because in the bigger trick you can sing and in the freestyle trick you have to have it in the head and you can't sing.

B (21:18)

How many times have you landed the blind backside nine?

A (21:20)

Now, Now I mean I pretty much have it unlocked. Like if I have a good session in Brazil, I pretty much get it every time.

B (21:28)

And that's your favorite trick you've landed this year? Of course.

A (21:31)

Yeah, probably to get this one like it was like pretty insane. The first time I went to Brazil this year I pretty much got it like perfect. And then, yeah, I mean for sure. The KGB 9 as well. Like after the Comp. I don't know what it was, what happened in my head on the cop day, but yeah, it was the day where I pretty much called it.

B (21:49)

No pressure, brother. I mean, are you happy with the format that freestyles in at the moment? Do you like the combos? I kind of feel like no one's ever done those combos super well. But are you happy with the way the format is for freestyle?

A (22:03)

I mean, for sure there could be some changes. Like for the spot in Taiba, I think it was really good to have like, like with the tricks and stuff like that. We see the height, the power, the good kite position and everything. Like a flat sport, for example. But I think we have spots, like choppy spots and stuff. We have to change the format up a bit because it's just not the same level and stuff. I mean it's like if you put the bigger riders at like a choppy spot or like in the Taiwa Lagoon, you know, for like. Yeah, show me what you can do. You know, like when we go to Dunkirk, for example, or the choppy spot there, I think we have to change it up a bit to go to Time Heals Back. So you have pretty much action all the time. I think that would be something pretty good. And yeah, with the combos, what you said, I think we have to. The judges, I think have to first kind of think what they want to see. I mean, all the combos that we saw now was pretty much like, yeah, pretty low score. Like it was hard to get like a huge score on a combo. So I think that has to be improved. But I think what they want to see in the future is to go actually for a switch combo maybe that you maybe go for it. I don't know, like a slim 7 or something. Then you go for a KGB 5 switch after. I mean, yeah, that would be pretty insane. I think that would score huge.

B (23:14)

I'd like to see some, some comps in like big waves. I. I don't know. I think it's Christoph Tech. I've seen him, he's in China and dude, he's like, he's doing like stuff off like. It looks like six foot highways, man. It looks sick. I would like to see something like that, right? I mean, it would be kind of cool to mix it up. I know, I know guys. I know in Colombia people complained about, you know, the conditions being too rough, but I still would like to see that. Like it just, it's just a whole lot of natural features, right, that you guys can use.

A (23:40)

Yeah, man. Like for example, like you said, the spot in Colombia, I loved. It was like one of my favorite spots. I was like, for sure it was super strong. I mean, in the morning, like when you go, it's still a bit light and stuff. And with the waves, like you can do like, like Pete. Like for me I could do Pete 10, like nine over the P7 or something. Or like push the chrome up stuff or like the switch rewinds and everything over the wave. That would be. Yeah, I would love to go back there because at the time when I went there, my level was not that high. But now I think I would. I would absolutely love the spot.

B (24:13)

But freestyle don't want that, bro. They want flat water only. Perfect takeoffs, perfect landings.

A (24:18)

Yeah. I mean now, yes. But yeah, I think if we want to like push the spot as well, we have to go to some different spots as well. Like to just show it to the people kind of. Like. We can also do like sick tricks and like. Yeah, I mean, not perfect conditions, but. Yeah, I mean we kind of. All the riders have to get that in their head and. Yeah, then we have to make it happen.

B (24:40)

So 2026 is going to be a big year, right? A lot of comps for you?

A (24:44)

Yeah, quite a lot. I mean all the freestyle stuffs, then we have the 2gk bigger stuffs as well, like in Bakarz and Mykonos and then. Yeah, the Red Bull qualifiers as well. And yeah, hydrofoil also. But I mean, hydrofoil, I think it's one or two stops as well.

B (25:00)

So one of those hydrofoils is the same time as Lords of Tram.

A (25:05)

Yeah, I mean it's. It's pretty much. I mean, yeah, it's. It's hard. Like, I mean like we're like quite a lot riders like, especially in the hydrofoil and the bigger that do both and to do at the same time, I would not say, like, yeah, pretty stupid, but not smart for sure. I mean, I will try to do both if I can, kind of. But yeah, I mean, if I get in, probably lots of tram would be the priority.

B (25:30)

Well, before we let you go, Finn, the blank kite test, the 12 meter free ride test comes out before the end of the year, or at least episode one's going to be up before Christmas. And we've got you riding some of those kites actually. And that. Did you enjoy that experience riding those blank kites in Egypt with us, man, for sure.

A (25:47)

That was such a fun experience to do it actually. Like, I really enjoyed it because. Yeah, I mean I always Watched it for sure with my friends. They're all super big fan of that and yeah, I enjoyed it a lot. So, yeah, anytime you need me again, guys, I'm down to do it, mate.

B (26:00)

We'Ll have you back for sure. If you haven't seen the Blank Kite Test, we get a bunch of kites from all the brands, they're just a single color and we invite riders to come in and ride them and give their feedback and try and guess that and you get more of an honest feeling about the kites. And Fin did an awesome job and congratulations on winning that freestyle world title, mate. It was awesome work. Good luck for 2025. I'm looking forward to sharing your story and letting more people get to know about you because I think you're going to be one of the superstars in the sport moving forward. And mate, I'm looking forward to, you know, everyone getting to know about Fin Flugel and just be hyped on you as well because I think you bring X Factor to the, to the sport, man, and I love it.

A (26:37)

Thanks, man, for being here. It was a pleasure again to talk with you. Adrian was absolutely sick. So, yeah, I hear from you and see you in Bakker as well.

B (26:46)

Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed that episode. Don't forget, if you want to support the show, the easiest way is to do it for free. Rate us on Spotify, share them in your local WhatsApp or kite surfing groups, or just simply tell your mates. If you want to support us more regularly, head over to portraitkite.com and check out all the madness there. These projects are funded by people just like you. If you believe in what we do and you want to support us, check out portraitkite.com Remember guys, the podcast will always be free. We only have a few podcasts left leading into Christmas. If you want to find more episodes just like this one, use the search button@kitesurf365.com to search your favorite writer or topic. And we'll be back this Thursday for the last megapod of the year.