Kitesurf365 Podcast: Jamie Overbeek | Episode #432
Date: April 7, 2026
Host: Adrian Kerr
Guest: Jamie Overbeek

Episode Overview

In this episode, Adrian Kerr sits down with Dutch kiteboarding sensation Jamie Overbeek, fresh off his dominant victory at the Lords of Tram event in France. The conversation dives deep into Jamie’s current peak form, the nuances of achieving the flow state in high-stakes competition, key choices in gear, his strategy evolution since the 2024 World Championship, and thoughts on upcoming events. The discussion is rich with technical insights, competition psychology, and Jamie’s candid self-reflection on his development and goals.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Post-Event Reflections & Form

[00:41 - 01:19]

• Jamie expresses feeling "really good" after returning from France, emphasizing that "a lot of things happened there."
• Adrian highlights Jamie’s form, mentioning he landed 26 out of 28 jumps during competition and only crashed twice in ten days post-event.
• Jamie credits his light wind training in the Netherlands as foundational, reiterating that putting in the hours pays off.

2. Technical Breakdown: Jumps, Loops, and Safety Tactics

[01:41 - 04:08]

• Jamie explains the difference between safety loops and heli loops, dissecting his 42m jump.
• Safety and control are prioritized over pushing for riskier tricks in strong gusty conditions:
  • “There's at least a 50% chance that I'm going to crash the jump. So... I do one big heli so I'm 100% sure that I'm going to land safely.” (Jamie, [02:10])
• His approach led to a flawless landing record during the event, noted by both spectators and fellow riders.

3. The Lords of Tram Victory & Competition Flow

[04:13 - 06:08]

• Jamie discusses the increasing enjoyment and momentum as he advanced through the event, notably “looking at all the other competitors... like, yeah, I already won, but I was like, I have two more attempts, so... I can do even better.” ([04:30])
• Describes experiencing the “flow state” more fully as the event progressed despite challenging conditions.

4. Support Teams and Adaptation

[06:08 - 07:14]

• Jamie competed without his usual support crew (brother Sean and father). Instead, Timo Martin caddied for him.
• He felt confident with Timo, noting, “If I instruct my caddy the right things... I knew that he could do it... I have to do the riding.”

5. Strategy & Gear Choices

Event Approach

[07:14 - 07:55]

• “Ride faster, edge harder and go bigger than the others... it's all worked out again.” – This bold and simple strategy continues to deliver results for Jamie.

Board Selection

[07:55 - 09:51]

• Jamie outlines development of a new board with his sponsor Rota.
  • “We worked on a new board and I gave him all this feedback... it needs to be fast, fast and all of that stuff. So he basically made the board that I wanted.” ([08:12])
• He emphasizes that the right board amplifies his natural speed advantage.

Kite Selection

[09:51 - 12:04]

• Chose Duotone D Lab Rebel for Lords of Tram, over the Harlem Peak.
  • Rebel gives best high-end performance on flat water; Peak excels in wave/kicker conditions.
  • “On flat water... the Rebel will outperform the Peak.” ([10:09])
• For Mykonos, expects to stick with the Rebel due to similar reasoning.

6. Riding Style: Flat Water vs. Waves

[12:04 - 15:21]

• Jamie identifies as a flat water specialist but continues working on his wave riding (“I'm not feeling 100% confident in waves yet, but... I'm getting better at it and I will keep training it.” [13:43])
• Trains predominantly in the flat conditions of the Netherlands, with wave practice opportunities limited.

7. Preparation Methods: Training & Focus

[15:21 - 17:24]

• Jamie's strategy for Mykonos: maintain current training regimen, prioritize gym work for strength.
  • “I don't see [other young guys] a lot in the gym. And I think... building strength is also very important for your takeoff and everything and for your power on the water.” ([15:51])
• Not planning extensive pre-event trips, trusting his process: “If I just keep doing my thing, yeah, the result will come or not.”

8. Review and Scores

[17:24 - 18:25]

• Jamie briefly reviewed the final heat but admits impatience for full playback.
• Adrian details Jamie’s unprecedented scores: “You averaged 6.7 round 1... 7.3 in the final, and then a 9.67... a nine, five, a nine, three, a ten in the final.” ([17:54])

9. Rivalries and Reflections on Competition

[18:31 - 23:28]

• Discussion of young rival Finn Flugel, who took risks on a foil kite with high technical difficulty:
  • Jamie: “The risk wasn't worth it to go on a foil kite... it was just better to go on a tube kite and show them, like, a really consistent performance” ([18:48]).
• Jamie is impressed by Finn: “I think the biggest talent out there right now. And he’s a real danger in competition. But it also motivates me, again, to push even harder.” ([20:53])
• Adrian comments on Finn’s versatility in both big air and freestyle.
• Jamie recognizes the sport’s accelerated progression and the influx of younger talents like Max Maxwell Dahl and Martin Kublishki: “I also talked to the two guys, Max and Martin... they're for sure gonna keep pushing... stay in the top of the big air.” ([23:48])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On landing success:

  • “I was the only one on that day that landed all of his jumps. All the others had, like, multiple crashes at the landing, but I landed all of my jumps.” – Jamie ([02:10])

• On flow state:

  • “The further I got into the competition, the more enjoyable it was getting.” – Jamie ([04:30])

• On strategy:

  • “Ride faster, edge harder and go bigger than the others because I know that I can and I'm very confident at the spot.” – Jamie ([07:28])

• On rivals:

  • “He’s a real danger in competition, but it also motivates me, again, to push even harder to see him do all those tricks.” – Jamie on Finn Flugel ([20:53])

• On progression:

  • “The sport is just going so fast, the progression is going so fast, so you never really know what's going to happen. But I think it's really good for the sport.” – Jamie ([23:08])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:41] – Jamie reflects on returning from France in “really good” form
• [02:10] – Technical breakdown: safety loop vs. heli loop; approach to jump landings
• [04:30] – Jamie discusses confidence and enjoyment as he realizes he’s winning
• [07:28] – Reveals competition strategy: speed, edging, size
• [08:12] – Board development and gear talk
• [10:09] – Kite choice and detailed reasoning for Lords of Tram and Mykonos
• [13:43] – Honest assessment on wave riding progression
• [15:51] – Emphasis on gym training and physical prep
• [17:54] – Adrian recaps Jamie’s record-smashing scores in the final
• [18:48] – Jamie on Finn Flugel’s risky trick selection and equipment
• [20:53] – Jamie acknowledges Finn as top current talent and personal motivation
• [23:48] – Jamie on the next generation, speaking about Max and Martin

Language and Tone

The conversation is upbeat, rich in technical details, and candid about both triumphs and areas for growth. Jamie maintains humility despite recent successes, constantly highlighting both the critical importance of preparation and the fast, unpredictable pace of progression in modern kiteboarding. Adrian’s questions foster both technical insight and personal storytelling, engaging Jamie in reflecting on both process and future ambitions.

This summary provides a comprehensive guide to Jamie Overbeek's episode, capturing competition highlights, technical insights, gear discussions, rivalry dynamics, and the psyche necessary to ride at the sport's summit.