Giel Leaves Core | The Megapod

Summary

Kitesurf365: The Megapod – "Giel Leaves Core"

Date: June 11, 2026
Host: Adrian Kerr (with Colin "Colin" Carroll, Brian, and guests)

Episode Overview

This week's Megapod dives into seismic changes in the pro kiteboarding world, with the headline story: Giel (a.k.a. Double G/Heel) leaves Core Kites. The hosts unpack industry upheaval, sponsorship drama, insight into competition economics, and the ever-evolving landscape of pro kiteboarding. Other highlights include Mykonos event updates, the latest from big air record chasers, a sneak peek at the long-delayed Dotzer project, and a few personal adventures from the hosts. The episode is marked by irreverent humor, blunt industry analysis, and quotable banter.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Giel Leaves Core: Industry Impact and Analysis

• Context:
  Giel's departure from Core prompts deep discussion about sponsorships, the state of the industry, and the shifting economics of kiteboarding.

• Industry Downturn:

  • Adrian: "I think it's just a symptom of this recession that no one's really calling that or talking about, but that's what it is... Kiteboarding behaved as an industry very badly during COVID and overproduced massively. So now there's shitloads of stock everywhere. The price has crashed and everyone's pissing blood." (00:55)

• Value of Riders:

  • Brian: "You can get a cheap rider, you can get a young 15, 16-year-old guy who's already competing at the same level as Heel... It's going to cost you nothing." (01:53)
  • Adrian: "Guess how many kites that little turd is going to sell?" (02:27)
  • Adrian: "Heel and Reuben sell a lot more kites... These are people that like cut through and people remember. These are like legends of the sport." (03:43)

• Modern Sponsorship Dilemmas:

  • Brian: "Proper business [people are] involved and these guys are coming and swinging the ax..." (01:53)
  • Adrian: "For every heal, there's got to be 10 who are too stupid to know better and have said, 'yeah, no worries, I'll just do it for free.'" (04:47)

• Core’s Conduct:

  • Adrian: "This is also not Core's fault...Core have just like quietly gone about their business making epic gear and will continue to do so...But they've been hit by a force. A greater force." (05:50)

Notable Quotes

• "His [Giel's] situation is a symptom of that. And yeah, it's sad and I don't like it." – Adrian (00:55)
• "You're seeing business people in, and if they do some research you can get a cheap rider...guess what? It's going to cost you nothing." – Brian (01:53)
• "Trust me...Heel and Reuben sell a lot more kites than any 15-year-old...They're right at the top of the food chain." – Adrian (03:43)

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2. Giel’s Career and Influence

• Game Changer:

  • Brian: "He's a game changer in the sport. He's in that same level as Reuben Lenton... If Ruben brought us the Mega Loop, he was the one who stepped it up with the multiple rotations." (03:13)

• Developmental Impact:

  • Brian: "Whether it's leaving Core, going to Ocean Rodeo, developing the Alula, bringing that technology back to Core... He's had a huge impact." (06:26)

• Signature Moves and Achievements:

  • S-loops, triple loops, 2022 GKA Move of the Year, Rider of the Year, pivotal role in popularizing the XR kite for Core. (08:23–10:57)

• Recent Equipment Choices:

  • Giel has been spotted riding Harlem, Duotone Rebel, and Rotor boards, with the co-hosts speculating on his brand future. (08:37–09:46)

Notable Quotes

• "He changed the look of the sport for a bit there, didn't he? Really did. The double loop really shook everyone. Changed the course of how kites were being developed." – Adrian (07:39)
• "In that space of six years, he's been actively involved in every part of the industry and it's super cool to see." – Brian (10:57)

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3. Mykonos Event Updates and Rider Economics

• Zara Hurgenrad Withdraws:

  • Zara decides not to compete, prompting debate about the financial feasibility for pro riders. (11:36–13:12)
  • Adrian: "To turn up at an event like that...€3,000 minimum, 5,000 maximum." (12:15)
  • Brian: "Should you be riding something if you're not getting paid for it, you know, should you be promoting that brand?" (12:51)

• Women's Fleet Update:

  • Zara and Lana Herman (injury) replaced by Rose Hulu and Kalani Frederick. (13:26)

• Wildcard Heat:

  • Names announced for the Men's wildcard heat; Baptiste Bordalas provides a weather forecast, highlighting the unpredictable Meltemi wind typical for Mykonos in June. (13:26–15:57; Baptiste at 14:23)

Notable Quotes

• "Unless you've got a brand supporting behind you, it makes total sense to me." – Adrian (13:12)
• "[Mykonos] might be becoming maybe a permanent fixture on the GK schedule, which would be great." – Brian (16:26)

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4. Equipment Choices: The Foil Kite Debate

• Forecast and Equipment:
  • Mykonos weather and kite choices could be a game-changer, especially between foil kites vs. tube kites.
  • Discussion about whether brands will let their riders use foils even if it's not their own brand's product, and if being a world champion trumps brand loyalty. (17:24–18:24)

Notable Quote

• "If you're a brand, do you want your rider to win—even on another kite?" – Brian (17:42)

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5. Woo World: UK Record Broken

• Toby Roar Breaks UK Record:
  • New Woo UK record: 32.9 meters by Toby Roar, surpassing Aaron Hadlow's recent 30+ meters.
  • Toby shares his experience with wild conditions and breaking personal and national records. (18:35–21:58; Toby at 18:49)

Notable Quote

• "One of those rare sessions where everything lined up—the conditions, the gear, somehow it like all came together for me." – Toby Roar (20:55)

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6. The Dotzer Project Update

• Long-Awaited Release:
  • Adrian and Brian finally release the much-anticipated Mykonos trip video— a now "10 minutes of straight bangers" edit, dropping soon on Portrait. (21:58–23:53)
  • Emotional exhaustion and the creative process behind the delay. (23:08–23:27)

Notable Quotes

• "We were so overwhelmed with its greatness." – Adrian (23:02)
• "Living in the house with the trap for two weeks... I was also mentally broken. I needed a break from it. So I'm glad it's coming now." – Brian (23:08)

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7. Personal Stories & Sign-off

• Permaculture & Eco Retreat:

  • Brian recounts his vegan Thai eco retreat adventure and newfound passion for permaculture gardening. (24:36–26:38)
  • Adrian: "I just want to grow my metaphorically garden." (26:05)

• Upcoming Content:

  • Teasers: Fantasy Mykonos picks podcast, more Portrait event wrap-ups, and potential sit-down interviews with Giel. (26:48–27:30)

Memorable Banter

• "Do you know what it's like to sit on a chair when everyone else is on the floor, Mate? Empowering is the word I was looking for. I was like king of the jungle." – Brian (24:53)
• "That's nerdy audio file chat there for you." – Adrian (27:30)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:38 — Giel leaves Core: Start of the main discussion
• 03:13 — Giel’s influence compared to Reuben Lenton
• 06:21 — Reactions to Giel’s Core farewell video
• 08:23 — Giel’s innovative kiting and competition history
• 11:36 — Mykonos event updates; Zara’s withdrawal
• 14:23 — Baptiste Bordalas' Mykonos weather report
• 18:49 — Toby Roar on breaking the UK Woo record
• 21:58 — The Dotzer project returns
• 24:36 — Brian’s Thai eco retreat story
• 26:48 — Upcoming podcasts & wrap-up

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Summary

The Megapod delivers a candid, often humorous but sharply insightful look at the current state of professional kiteboarding. Giel’s exit from Core Kites signals turbulent times for sponsored riders as brands slash budgets and the industry grapples with recession fallout. The hosts celebrate Giel’s game-changing impact, question the value of star power versus up-and-comers, and highlight the precarious economics facing athletes like Zara. Listeners also get updates on Mykonos, explosive big air performance stories, and the long-awaited release of the Dotzer project footage.

Throughout, Adrian, Colin, and Brian maintain their trademark irreverence, share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and offer thoughtful commentary on the challenges and excitement of life at the edge of kiteboarding innovation.

End of Summary

Transcript

[Adrian]

In this episode, Agent breaks out of his vegan Thai prison, returns to civilization and has decided to start a permaculture. I still don't know what that means and I just spoke to him about it or he bought me shitless. Also, we talk about Heel departing Core, all the latest stuff coming out of Mykonos and the infamous Dotzer project.

[Brian]

Catastrophic equipment failure.

[Adrian]

Going for the boogaloo double just to get the landing.

[Toby Roar]

Had a couple of strings and it was extremely dangerous.

[Adrian]

Guys, I send the trap and it

[Brian]

is gold for Ellie Aldridge and gold for Great Britain. Colin, big news this week, our boy Double G himself leaving Core. I mean it's pretty crazy times. Where does this leave Heel?

[Adrian]

I don't think it's really got anything to do with him, to be honest, and I hope he feels that way. You've been speaking to him more than I have, so you'd have a better idea. But yeah, I think it's just a symptom of this recession that no one's really calling that or talking about, but that's what it is. And also the fact that kite boarding in specifically behaved as an industry very badly during COVID and overproduced massively. So now there's shitloads of stock everywhere. The price has crashed and everyone's pissing blood. And yeah, unfortunately Heal is kind of a symptom of that. His situation is a symptom of that. And yeah, it's sad and I don't like it. I don't like it.

[Brian]

I think Zara and here are in a tougher position than we probably think. Right. Because now brands, a lot of brands have got new investment but they've got business people involved. Not before we had kite borders who were running kiteboarding companies who maybe weren't as skillfully as skillful and can navigate these trying times. Now they've got proper business involved and these guys are coming and swinging the ax and if they do some research you can get a cheap rider, you can get a young 15, 16 year old guy who's already competing at the same level as Heel. And guess what? It's going to cost you nothing.

[Adrian]

And guess how many kites that little turd is going to sell?

[Brian]

Zero.

[Adrian]

Guess how many kites he sells.

[Brian]

I don't know.

[Adrian]

He single. He single handedly sold a shitload of Ocean Rodeo. A shitload.

[Brian]

Then Ocean Rodeo closed.

[Adrian]

Yeah, after Head had left.

[Brian]

I don't think we can use that, that model anymore. I do think that model does work for a very few individuals, especially guys who are single Riders riding at a brand. But when you've got a big, a big stable of riders, you can't say that he'll selling more kites than Stephen Acker's dyke or you know, Andrea selling more kites than Finn.

[Adrian]

I think if you're a. Andrea is selling more kites than Finn.

[Brian]

Listen, Finn has a bigger presence in the German market and the German market is a way bigger industry than anywhere else. Maybe they were buying it because of Finn.

[Adrian]

Good point.

[Brian]

You know, it's difficult to know, but all I'm saying to you is that it's going to be really interesting to see where it leaves these two guys. Because when I think about Heel and we can talk about some of the amazing things that he's done in the sport, especially over the last six years, he's a game changer in the sport. He's in that same level as Reuben Linton. If Ruben Linda bought us the Mega Loop, he was the one who stepped it up with the multiple rotations. Maybe not the competitions. He didn't, he, he didn't win as many competitions as he wanted. But he's a game changer and that's something big.

[Adrian]

Trust me as a sure, as a sure footed, mere observer of the industry. Adrian, a humble, humble podcaster. Heel and Reuben sell a lot more kites, a lot more kites than any 15 year old hill would sell more kites than Finn Flugel, I reckon Reuben Lenton as well. These are people that like cut through and people remember. These are like legends of the sport. They are, you know, like in an economy of influencers. They're right at the top of the food chain eating all the little shitty ones.

[Brian]

And I understand what you're saying, but, but people at Zara and Hill's level,

[Adrian]

they want, doesn't matter what their level is, cash to do what.

[Brian]

That's true, but they want cash to do what they do. And without cash it's a problem.

[Adrian]

I'll tell you another thing for everyone heal. There's got to be 10 who are too stupid to know better and have said, yeah, no worries, I'll just do it for free.

[Brian]

There's 20 of those and that's what I'm saying. Smart guys at the top are going to be able to. And look, I don't want to say people's names, but you can probably look at that fleet in Mykonos. There's probably half the fleet there not getting a single penny. They're getting free gear and travel and all that stuff, but no actual salary. And that's what I'm saying.

[Adrian]

Very speculative.

[Brian]

It is speculative. But I'm prepared to put myself out there knowing the market trends, knowing how little money is going around. Surely some of those guys are not getting paid a single cent. What I'm saying is that it is very unprecedented times and maybe this is where we're going. If you look back to the pkm, do you remember when we're on the boat sitting with Yuri Zoon and he was talking about how much money was getting paid out back in the day at pk? It's outrageous amounts of money. We're down to a pittance. We're down to a fraction. Not even a fraction. It's pickup sticks, man.

[Adrian]

One more thing. This is also not cause fault. I really don't think that. Although you know, they've had to make this decision. Presumably CORE didn't do the mad discounting or over producing. Core have just like quietly gone about their business making Epic Epic gear and will continue to do so. But they're. They've been hit by. Yeah, a force. A greater force. Previously aforementioned.

[Brian]

Did you see his sort of Goodbye to Core video? Very well done.

[Adrian]

But Epic.

[Brian]

I don't know if you read the comments but like this troll got involved and I got a screenshot of some of it. But this guy, I don't want to say his name out but Cor spended too much time with you. He replied, too much? Yes, they send more than much. You know why? Because discipline is now not new and in really you don't develop too much. And he'll replies, I didn't develop big ear. What did you developed? I mean just like dude, that guy needs his medication. I mean that's mental health at the lowest form right there. I mean give that guy his meds. I'm not even going to say his name but it was a lot of people laughing at him and respected Heel who And on this page it says sponsored by Red Bull was sponsored by Air Rush. And I was saying to people in Discord, I said do you think Red Bull sponsors a guy that's got 169 followers? Guys, come on, let's. Let's just take a breath here. But yeah, I mean pretty crazy to for someone to go against Heel who is especially in recent times has had one of the largest impacts on kiteboarding as a developmental rock guy, you know, whether it's leaving core, going to Ocean Rodeo, developing the Alula, bringing that technology back to core, which they maximized on. He's had a huge impact on this industry. What what does his impact mean to you?

[Adrian]

Yeah, he changed the look of the sport for a bit there, didn't he? Really did like the double loop really shook everyone. Changed the course of how kites were being developed.

[Brian]

Crazy.

[Adrian]

It changed the course of competitions. It changed the direction of how it looked and was received online and really propelled. It really lit like a massive fire under the sport for a bit there, didn't it? Like his contribution to kiteboarding, his massive. Yeah, in significance and emotional significance but also like financial. It would be massive.

[Brian]

So yeah, we, we're speaking like it's over. I mean it's not over for Hill. I mean as I said before, he's in that game changer category along with Reuben. I, I look at those guys like exactly the same, mate. Have you seen what he's been riding in Bound area though?

[Adrian]

Yeah, Vantage Harlems, Duotones.

[Brian]

Look, did you see that? At one stage he's riding the same setup as Jamie. The Duotone Rebel and the rotor board. It's the raw, the rar Rah. It's the RA setup. Jamie's. He's maximized it. The RA setup. I'll be very interested. I don't think he's going to turn up the advantage. I think we'll see him on that Rebel and that rotor because I think those are the sort of setup of choice. I remember while I was getting ready for this podcast I was going back and sort of remembering the first time that we had sort of recognized hill was 2020, the cold Hawaii. It was the first time they'd done the cold Hawaii and when they first set it up they had like four or five superstars which Tom Bridge and Lassie and Kevin and Nick were. And then they had a whole bunch of up and coming riders which hill was part of. I think at the time you and I called him a Yannick clone. Sort of rode it a little bit quite like R. Yannick and he didn't do very well there which he, he openly admitted. But you know, after to the back years and I think him, Mike and Yannick really pushed the sport out and especially for CORE at the time. Right. They really were pushing that XR and really making that the kite that everyone wanted to ride.

[Adrian]

Yeah, for sure. Those guys took the XR which was considered unloopable and out of it.

[Brian]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

And maybe being on the XR actually gave him that time looping something that the looping the unloopable to then go and do a double. I don't know. I never put those two and two Together.

[Brian]

But maybe I remember when he left CORE to Ocean Rodeo, I mean, that was big, right? I mean, we're all thinking at the time, Ocean Rodeo is this, this Canadian brand with the funny notches on the wingtips and.

[Adrian]

And had never made a good kite.

[Brian]

I think we all question that, the rise and stuff. But, mate, I mean, as you said before, the double loops, that S loop that he won the 2022 GK move of the year. Crazy. I think he's probably done the best triple, you know, three loops all getting lower. He was GK Rider of the Year 2022. The full power victory after Yannick's crash was awesome. Then he returned to CORE and bought all that Alula technology back and arguably CORE got better again from that. So in that space of six years, he's been actively involved in every part of the industry and it's super cool

[Adrian]

to see and I hope even the podcast side of the industry.

[Brian]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I remember that podcast when the Doubleheads were kicking off and Mark was pushing in New Zealand and yeah, it was. It was crazy times. And look, this isn't the end. I hope Hill can look back after these last six years and just think, man, it was a. It was a pretty crazy ride, a wild ride.

[Adrian]

We want to bring a HEEL interview to you from Mykonos, which will be landing in on Monday. Adrian's making his way from sunny Thailand, hopefully. Which. Which route are you gonna go?

[Brian]

Well, by the Middle east, right through the hot spot. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's gonna be good. Or I've been super positive about it. Yeah, it's gonna be good. Hey, let's speak about Mykonos. We are Zara Hurgenrad out of the gk, deciding not to compete. I had some mixed comments on that. A lot of people were like, saying she should be riding other people saying, we respect the decision. What was your thought when she decided to pull out and not compete? Bearing in mind she one of the finalists in Lords of Tram, which does mean she's in contention for a world championship, probably a difficult task coming from, you know, that position. What was your thoughts when she decided not to compete?

[Adrian]

So to turn up at an event like that in a really expensive place after flights, accommodation and food, I reckon it's going to be car hire as well. I reckon it's going to be €3,000 minimum, 5,000 maximum.

[Brian]

But she's going to be there anyway

[Adrian]

to support heel, is she?

[Brian]

I would have thought so.

[Adrian]

No, that's crazy. If she's there, she may as well, she must not be, she must not be going. Come on.

[Brian]

Well, listen, I, I hope not. I think maybe it's like maybe she hasn't really set on any gear. But again, going back to, should you be riding something if you're not getting paid for it, you know, should you be promoting that brand? It's going back to that same old loop that we're going into. Jamie does it, but he gets away with it because he rides it under the kite. Mana. But I mean, we're getting into that nasty, nasty situation.

[Adrian]

Yeah. And I just think cash wise, it just does not make sense whatsoever, does it, going to these events. So, yeah, unless you got a brand supporting behind you, it makes total sense to me. Yeah.

[Brian]

Let me just update the women's fleet there column because there is two changes. Obviously the force change with Zara going out, but Lana Herman is also out and injured. She had a big crash at Blue Lagoon. Those two are being replaced by Rose Hulu and Kalani Frederick. So two new riders coming in. So that's going to be interesting to see. Obviously everyone's stepping up on, on the male side. No changes, but the wild card qualifying heat has been confirmed which is Baptiste Bordalos vs George Quintus vs Maxime Gillius and Philippus Tomontanus all riding under the Greek flag. Let's hear from Baptiste Bordalas with a weather update from Mykonos. Without Baptist, guys, none of this would be happening. But in true podcasting fashion, as soon as we finish recording this, Baptist sent me another weather update. So I'm going to put both these together so you can feel a timeline of what's going on. These guys are really monitoring it and they really want the best for the riders. So here is Baptiste Bordalas.

[Baptiste Bordalas]

Hey, Adrian, what's up? Yeah, the Focus has been doing us some tricks lately. It's showing wind and no wind. So. Yeah. But from what I can see so far is that on 19, 20, 21 it's a proper Meltemi win. I hope that it's gonna reach at least 35 knots, hopefully. And yeah, hopefully that will stay. It's been a weird year so far compared to other years. Usually June, we have like non stop win last year we had 40 days non stop two years ago as well. That's why I wanted to do the competition in June. Let's see now what's going on this year. I see there's a lot of heat happening around Europe so might affect the winds. So let's see already some guys arrived yesterday. Jason Finn, Alessa they were training on the water, I believe the finish first session in Mykonos and they were looking pretty good. Throwing some big loops up there. So, yeah, super excited. Hopefully we have a strong forecast and this is the first year. Hopefully next year we extend that win window to at least two, three weeks. That will be ideal and hopefully we're gonna have a big show. Really excited and hope to see you all soon in Mykonos. And the focus looks pretty good from my side on 1822. Looks pretty fire. Let's see. Hopefully it stays like that, but I'm confident that's proper Multami wind. It's going to be epic.

[Adrian]

What I can tell you though is that it's an El Nino year, which often does this. It is the warm one. La Nina is the other one that's the colder one. And because it's warm, it raises the surface temperatures and then mucks around with the normal weather systems and trade winds. So yeah, that's why this is happening.

[Brian]

Interesting little nugget there as well, him talking about a next year. So it looks like Mykonos might be becoming maybe a permanent fixture on the GK schedule, which would be great. Extending the window to two or three weeks. Wow, that's going to be tight. I mean, look, we've spoken about the financial commitment to go there. I guess riders are just going to have to fly in once the forecast hits like they do with most other events. Seems to be Buckeras, Tarifa, Cape Town guys are happy to go sit and wait, but I guess it's more of affordable places to be than just to just to just to turn up, which is going to be super interesting. Interesting though the names of people who said they're Finn, Jason, Hugo. All foil riders. All guys who've got that foil. I just recorded the fantasy podcast which is online now. I'll put the link in the bio. This could throw a spanner in the works, man. Could be a one class design. All sonic fives fly server, rubbing their fat little hands together, making all the moolah.

[Adrian]

Yeah, it'd be interesting, wouldn't it? To see who does jump on those kites and who doesn't. Who of the top people do you think would resist going on a foil kite?

[Brian]

I don't think Harlem will let their riders ride it.

[Adrian]

Yeah, I don't think Kasati brothers are jumping on four kites in a competition.

[Brian]

I know they did in the hydrofoil Big Air in Abu Dhabi, but that definitely caused some issues and I'm sure they don't want to. Jason's on Nash now. Done. One competition wasn't the best result. Do you think they would allow him to ride it? And that's what it comes down to. Is it the brands care about them or do they want their riders to be world champions? That's the big debate. If you're a brand. If you're a brand, you're the brand. I go to. Hey boss, think man. The world championship song. Can I ride someone else's kite in this event? What are you going to say?

[Adrian]

I mean I would argue that it's a completely different sort of product and that you don't even make, so why not? Still says Nash on my board.

[Brian]

That's the great debate.

[Adrian]

GK probably won't even be able to get the kites in the frame anyway. So.

[Brian]

Let's talk the world of Woo. Where UK rider Toby Roar put the goat back out to pasture, breaking the UK record with a jump of 32.9 meters. I believe Aaron broke the 30 meter mark a few days before. Let's hear from Toby.

[Toby Roar]

Hey Adrian. So Saturday was absolutely wild. Literally just finished work and rocked up to the beach thinking that it was going to be a really good session. The wind was absolutely pumping, somewhere between like 40 and 50 knots. Driving down I was thinking about taking like a small kite, maybe a seven. But when it's when the conditions are like that, you know you can't waste the opportunity in the UK these days don't come around that often. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, right, if there's ever a day to try and beat me on record, it's probably going to be today. The conditions were quite full on for me. It's more of like a survival session more than anything. So like most people I've been chasing beating my own wheel height. Lewis had held the record for such a long time, like 29 and a half meters which you'll already felt massive and almost untouchable. I've been close a few times but never ahead of the pier jumper. Earlier in the week Aaron smashed through the 30 meter barrier and honestly set the benchmark even higher. Seeing that happening was insane in itself and if I'm being honest, I didn't actually think it's possible for me to get anywhere near those kind of heights. 30 meters just sounds unreal when you say it out loud. I was riding a 20, 26 Duotone Rebel 8 meter, 136 big airboard. A setup felt really, really good all the session. The Rebel had like the perfect mix of lift and control, huge hang time and it's really like confidence inspiring. Still stable when things got hectic and the gusts come through and everything felt really clean and like predictable, which is exactly what you want when you're trying to push your own limits. One of the funny things was like, I didn't really know how big the jump was at the time. The watch had an apple watch on and it wasn't working. So I came off the water, packed down the gear pretty quickly and rushed back to the car because I needed to get home and put my little boy to bed. It's when I checked everything afterwards, I should have realized how big the. The numbers actually were. I thought I'd gone big, but never like that big. I want to give a massive shout out to the beach water sports in LittleHampton and Duotone UK for all the support. Having people behind you that genuinely back your ride and makes a huge difference, especially on days like this. They really give you the confidence to go out and push yourself. And there's such a great bunch of people down there. At times it's almost like having your own cheer squad when you go out. Everyone is absolutely awesome, if I'm honest. Taking the record of legends like Lewis and Aaron, after seeing Aaron break their 30 meter barrier and I genuinely thought the benchmark was almost untouchable for me. It's such a surreal feeling being able to get up there. Just one of those rare sessions where everything lined up, the conditions, the gear, somehow it like all came together for me. Looking back on it, I was still like, in awe.

[Adrian]

Dot zip.

[Brian]

It's happened.

[Adrian]

Finally coming back to your screens.

[Brian]

Been looking forward to this one for a long time. This one's been stewing. You know when you want to make a good curry.

[Adrian]

Yeah. It's like cooking.

[Brian]

Yeah. You have to let the fusion happen. I'm looking forward to this. When can we expect that?

[Adrian]

This week. So, readers, the situation is this. In 2025, we flew the trap to Mykonos. It blew its tits off and they went mental for 10 days and it destroyed all of us. We then put all of that footage onto the Internet in 1080p and 4K. For those who are completely psycho, the footage was downloaded a lot of times. Of all those times, a few edits were made. It then sat around and we weren't quite sure what to do. Hang on, we should. We shouldn't sell it like that.

[Brian]

That's the truth. We've got to tell the truth, Brian. We've got to tell the truth. We Sat around. We didn't know what to do.

[Adrian]

We didn't know what to do. We were so overwhelmed with its greatness.

[Brian]

Also, I think that that trip was so emotionally draining. Living in the house with the trap for two weeks or 11 days or 12 days or how long it was with the late night festivities, the early morning shoots. I was also mentally broken. I needed a break from it. So I'm glad it's coming now. I'm ready for it.

[Adrian]

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So now it's under 10 minutes of straight bangers, compilation of the edits people have done. And. And it's coming to Portrait this week. Today. I could drop that shit today. Adrian, it's ready. Thursday it's not. I have to do the color and then it's ready.

[Brian]

Would that be done by Friday?

[Adrian]

Absolutely, mate.

[Brian]

Because next week it's bloody Mykonos. I can't believe it. We're going to be there. We will be doing the pre show, the daily wrap ups and then the event wrap up. Those are all free on Portrait. Just keep following the socials to catch up on all the content coming up from there. I'm looking forward to this, dude. It's been a long time since I've done these pre and post shows and I'm ready.

[Adrian]

Yeah. Have you been doing your vocal warm ups over in Thailand?

[Brian]

No. My voice is getting worse. So every year it's slowly getting worse. I am a little bit worried about my voice. My voice is starting to. My parents were here a few weeks ago, as I might have mentioned, but even my dad said to me, your voice is becoming very husky. And I said, and I said in a sexy way, dad. He said, that's not the way I was going to describe it, but I'm saying it's a sexy way.

[Adrian]

And just lastly, the people do want to hear how the rest of the eco retreat was, mate.

[Brian]

It was. How could I explain it? Look, put it this way, number one, there was four hours of lectures every day. There was three or four hours of work.

[Adrian]

You're sat there listening, taking notes.

[Brian]

I was sitting on the ground, dude. Dude. At one stage though, because it was like, you know, it was like, did you get hammer? Let me get to the story. So everyone's sitting on the ground cross legged on like mattresses that would basically been crushed down to rizzlers by thousands of asses sitting over the last five years. I was like, after like the first 20 minutes I said, excuse me, is there any chairs around here? She said, I think there's some chairs at the cafe down the road. So went down there, can I borrow a chair? Came back and I sat on a chair for the rest of the week. Like a right, everyone else is sitting on the floor and I was sitting in a chair. Like, do you know what it's like to sit on a chair when everyone else is on the floor, Mate, empowering is the word I was looking for. I was like king of the jungle, you know. Oh, a chair. King of the jungle. Yeah, mate, really good. But man, I'm no spring chicken anymore. And I always pride myself by, you know, being able to keep up and, you know, pushing hard and doing that. But I realized that after first couple days, mate, I was broken, dude. I couldn't even bend over to feed the ducks. But it was, it was good. But when I got back to AC and I got back to a hot shower in my bed, I was like that, I'm done. No more eco for a few years. I'm just going to be a garden. I want a garden. I want a garden. I don't want to build houses.

[Adrian]

I just want to grow my metaphorically garden.

[Brian]

Or actually, yeah, no, I'm actually going to start a. Literally, I'm actually going to start a permaculture orientated garden that's going to grow fruit, share it with the community and do something good on my little patch of earth. I haven't, I don't own or I want to own or I'm trying to own or along those type of lines. That's the, that's the general plan. But you're, you're a, you're a farm. I've been on your farm. We'll be the same. You'll have a farm, I'll have piece of land.

[Adrian]

In a funny sort of way, I've enjoyed walking. Hey, that's epic though. That's epic though. Good for you. It's off topic though. So we are going to be ending the podcast here. Thank you to us. Always.

[Brian]

Let me just. What Guys, before we go, the fantasy Mykonos is online. I'll put the link in the bio. It's Rolly and I talking about our picks and how we're planning to do this. The members podcast guys, we haven't had a chance to do it this month. We will do a great members podcast from Mykonos. We might try and get heal into that one. We'll. We'll cut that up and use it in, in some of the mega pods. But it might cool for. He'll just sit down and just know he's in a more of a quieter space because guess what? He'll can really go off and I'm looking forward to that. When he gets going, I'll be on the faster of the room. Microphone turned down just for the. For the. Actually, I'll record him in 32 bit float so if he wants to yell, we won't blow up those speakers.

[Adrian]

That's nerdy audio file chat there for you. Okay, I've said goodbye. Goodbye again.