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- [00:01]
A
Welcome to the kitesurf 365 podcast.
- [00:04]
B
Welcome back to the show. I hope you all had a great weekend. And I know it's Tuesday, so it was a long weekend, so it sort of kind of works. But today I'm joined by Jamie Overbeek. We talk about his Lords of Tram victory, finding the flow state, the choices of gear and what he'll do differently to his 2024 World Championship run. Don't forget to follow Meitzer365 for all the latest episodes. Ladies and gentlemen, join me. Jamie Overbeek. Jamie, how are you feeling, mate, after coming back from France?
- [00:41]
A
I'm feeling really good after coming back from France because there happened a lot of things there.
- [00:47]
B
Mate, have you ever been in this much form? I mean, I feel like this is the form of your life.
- [00:52]
A
I think also in 2024 I was in a really good form during Lords of Tram and also Colt Hawaii Games. But I think in this competition and in this week, I was kind of back in that form again.
- [01:05]
B
I mean, if we include the competition and we include Wu, I know in the competition you landed 26 from 28 jumps and I know the week after, I don't think you crashed anything. I think you only had two crashes in a whole ten days in Buckeras. I mean, that's kind of crazy, right?
- [01:20]
A
Yeah, yeah, it's kind of crazy. But yeah, then you see that's all the light wind training in the Netherlands on the big foil kites and everything just pays off because it's not like I have the most hours in looping conditions. I just. Everyone can put those hours in, but not everyone does. So I think that's the difference.
- [01:41]
B
Before we get to Lords of Train, because we spoke about woo last week when we did that podcast, the video hadn't come out. Tell me about that safety loop, that downloop that you do. Because comparing to the last trick in the competition when you had the sort of heli loop situation, you were sort of had that it looked like on the video you are being hung under by a helicopter. This is quite different. Can you explain the difference between those two heli loops or safety loops?
- [02:10]
A
Yeah, what's. What basically happens in my 42 meter jump is I first got lifted up and then like the biggest second lift that I got, the kite was going super. Yeah, super much in front of me. So the thing is it. It comes back above me and a little bit behind, but I still have so much speed because it went so fast, everything. So yes, I can go and do A double heli loop. But the thing is, when I do one fast one, the kite, with. With the speed and everything I got in that jump, it probably won't get behind me fast enough again. And then I have to pull another heli. But. But the kite is not really behind me, so there's like at least a 50% chance that I'm going to crash the jump. So a lot of people do that. And you also see that when you're kiting on a spot with super strong winds, people that are little bit less experienced do that, what I just talked about, and then they crash their landing because they don't have the tension at the landing. So what I choose in those conditions to do sometimes is just to, yeah, put it up and put it a little bit to the left and let it go to the side really long and then pull one big heli. So I'm 100% sure that I'm going to land safely because a lot of people thought, oh, that was so sketchy. But for me, I was fully in control because I knew exactly what I was doing to be able to land the jumps. Because I think 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.
- [03:53]
B
I love looking through the comments and I love. I can't remember who commented. Someone said, mate, the jump's impressive, but that landing's even more impressive because even in Jason's commentary, he's like, oh, my God, he's landed it. Because if the Lords of Tram jump, you went up and you stayed up. This one, you went up, but you came down quick.
- [04:09]
A
Yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. It can be a lot different. Depends on the gust.
- [04:13]
B
Let's talk about Lords of Tram. I mean, unbelievable. Jamie. I go to a lot of events and the ones I miss, something special always happens. And I. I'm so gutted I missed that to be there with you because I've been at you with your events when things haven't gone your way, but what a performance, mate. You must have just been enjoying that final so much.
- [04:31]
A
Yeah, yeah. The further I got into the competition, the more enjoyable it was getting. And especially when I did my fifth attempt, I was just, like, looking at all the other competitors on the water from, like, yeah, I already won, but I was like, I have two more attempts, so, yeah, I won, but I can do even better. You know, when, when you get in that position in a heat, I. I don't think everyone would do it, but I was just thinking I can, yeah, put a six score on the board if I do even better. So that's what I did.
- [05:05]
B
Athletes, they talk about this flow state, right? They talk about being in the flow. Did you feel that from round one in the morning on day one? Did you feel like, man, I'm. I'm in good form here?
- [05:15]
A
Yes, of course. But not like totally when I was riding, but when I was watching the whole competition, the whole day, I could feel that I. Yeah, what, what you talked about in the flow state, because in the first heats, I could have even done better, but the wind was also super gusty there. So you don't know which gust you're gonna take. And if you get the good gust, you don't know if it's going to drop you or anything. So you cannot, like, take too much risk with your tricks. But I was feeling pretty good. And the further I got into the competition, I was feeling better every time because every. He just went like, the same way. The. Like. I didn't have one bad heat, maybe, maybe one little mistake, but that was it.
- [06:08]
B
You mentioned sort of starting to feel that flow state as the. As the event went on, but you had Timo Martin cutting for. You normally have your brother Sean. Were you worried about going into this event not having, you know, the regular team around you? Because it's always Sean and your dad, right? That's. That's the. That's the core team for the overbeaks. Was that a concern to you?
- [06:29]
A
Maybe a little bit, but not too much, because I knew if I would instruct my caddy very well and he would know what to do exactly. And especially Timo, I know that he's really dedicated in what he's doing in life, so then he would also be a good caddy. I knew for sure. So, no, not really. And I was like, yeah, if I instruct my caddy the right things, like doing the most of, like, building up the equipment before your heat and stuff, giving me the scores, I knew that he could do it. And, yeah, you know, I have to do the rest. I have to do the riding. So it was quite okay for me. I was quite confident with, yeah, like
- [07:15]
B
this coming into this event. What was your strategy going to be? You've won this event before. It's a place that, you know super well, flat water. You. You seem to ride the best in these conditions. What was the strategy coming into this event?
- [07:29]
A
My strategy was the same again as every year getting into this event and basically all the events but this one in this event, I. Yeah, it's, it's all worked out again. My strategy was to. To just ride faster, edge harder and go bigger than the others because I know that I can and I'm very confident at the spot. So, yeah, it worked out again.
- [07:56]
B
Riding fast, edging harder. You know, you've got a new sponsor now with Rota. Jason Vanderspace spoke about on the podcast. He said, look, Jamie just seemed to be getting more speed than everyone else. Tell us about board. Where does the speed come from? And is. Is that one of the key components that you really wanted to get out of this board?
- [08:13]
A
Yeah, yeah. The, like a bit of time ago, we started developing the board and I was first testing the one that he already has, the silica. I tested it, it was quite all right, but for me, for my riding, like, it's a free ride board, it's for. For everything. And it was quite good for big air for a freeride board, but just not what I needed. So then, yeah, then we worked on a new board and I gave him all his feedback, including this, that it needs to be fast, fast and all of that stuff. So he worked on it and he basically made the board that I wanted in a board to be, because there are a lot of boards on the market. But also when I was getting like the Duotone board from Kite Mana, it was working good, but like, never in my sessions. I really felt like, okay, this is exactly what I want. Because in some conditions I had some problems with the board for me. So, yeah, the board, yeah, it's, it's. It's just the best board that I've ever ridden for my style, I think, also for a lot of people. And that board also really helped me in this. But as a lot of people know, I already was fast before on Flat Water. So it's me. And the board helps me to do it even better than I did it before. Because I think right now I was even faster than I was in 2024 at this spot. So I need to look it back to really see how fast I was right now. But I think I was faster.
- [09:52]
B
Let's keep talking about the gear because this year you've been riding the D Lab Rebel, which you compete on, but you've also been out on the Harlem Peak. And those are the sort of two main, let's say competition kites that have seen you ride. Why did you choose the the D Lab Rebel over the Harlem Peak for this event?
- [10:09]
A
For this event, I took the. Took the Rebel because in Cape Town in The waves. I was riding the peak a lot in November, December and January, February. What the Peak does very well is the high end is really good, and it keeps getting above you, no matter how strong the wind is, especially in the kickers. Because if you have a Lula kite in the kickers, when you get so much in the high end, the kite wants to also get a lot in front of you at the takeoff, and the peak just keeps getting above you, especially in the waves. So, yeah, in the waves, I was just getting way more height in the high end than on a Rebel. But on flat water, with my takeoff and everything, it doesn't matter which kite I'm riding, I'm always getting it above my head. And then it doesn't matter that the Alula is a bit harder to get above your head because the Rebel has more performance, but you need to get it above you to get the height. And on flat water, that's possible. In the kickers, it's a bit harder in the high end. And if I would take the peak on flat water, yes, it would get really good above my head, but I only take the peak because it does do that good. And if there's a spot that all the other kites are also working, it doesn't make any sense to go on the peak because the Rebel will outperform the peak.
- [11:42]
B
So the second leg of this world championship is in Mykonos. It's a spot that you know super well. I've ridden a bunch of times. People ask me, is it a flat spot? Is it a wavy spot? And I'm like, it's kind of a mix of both what and how are you going to approach that spot? Are you going to stick with the Rebel, or will you try the peak in. In Mykonos, you never know.
- [12:05]
A
But I've also read a Mykonos a couple of times. It's a spot where I feel very confident with my riding. You know, you can never feel 100% confident at that spot because it's so gusty. It's, it's. It's. It's really not the best spot. But right now, if I think about it, I would 100% take the rebel.
- [12:28]
B
Okay. Do you consider Mykonos a flat spot or a wave spot? Because it's sort of like riding in the troughs between the wind chop almost, you know, how do you sort of describe it to people?
- [12:38]
A
I consider it as a flat spot because you don't have a lot of current. It's just you can also go to, like, A spot in the Netherlands where the wind is onshore. You go behind the bank where it's deep and you also have like the longer chop and then some space in between. So it's basically like long chop with waves in between. So it's not really a wavy spot. And I would only call it a wavy, like a wave spot for competition if you have like the sideshow wind but the wind is fully onshore. So it's basically just, it's basically a flat water spot, but you get the bonus wave like from the back. So, yeah, I, I won't consider it as a wave spot.
- [13:24]
B
Jamie, people ask about what you're like in waves. I know I always say, look, you've, you've improved a lot in waves. Is that still something that you want to work on when you're. I mean, you've been to Cape Town way more than I ever remember you going to Cape Town. Are you feeling 100% comfortable in waves now? And, and, and that shouldn't be something that people talk about.
- [13:43]
A
I'm not feeling 100% confident in waves yet, but I've been in Cape Town a little bit longer this year, what you also said. And I'm, I'm getting, I'm really getting better at it and I will keep training it because, yeah, I'm just a flat water rider. I'm always trading on flat water. So, yeah, it's, I'm, I'm just not the best in the waves. But, but I'm getting better and I will keep on training for the next event. So I, I will be better next time.
- [14:15]
B
I mean, it is funny, right, because people like Jeremy and Leo and Lauren in particularly, and particularly those three, they just seem to find every kicker every time. And I think it's just like you said, it's time in the sea, right?
- [14:28]
A
Yeah, yeah, it's time in the sea. And in the Netherlands, we don't have a lot of wind like right now. If I look at the, right now, if I look at the forecast for the next two weeks, I only see some winds for my 18 and there's just not more than 12 or 13 knots on the forecast. So it's really like that. So how do you want to go trainer in the waves? Because the thing is, when you have a southwest wind day, it's not many days you go to, you go to the sea and there's. The waves are shit or there's something wrong with the current, then you're super far away from flat water spots and then you also don't have your training. So usually when we have southwest wind, I just go to a flat water spot because I know that I can do training there. That at least it's going to be good enough to train. And going to see spots here is just so sketchy.
- [15:22]
B
Are you going to keep an eye on the forecast for Mykonos and do a few training runs there? Because you've been in this position before. In 2024, we went to Gran Canaria. Obviously you had some gear issues and a big crash, which I know you spoke quite openly about, how much that shock or what a shock that was to the body. How are you going to prepare for this one differently opposed to 2024 when you're in the same position as the sort of front runner going into that event?
- [15:51]
A
I, I think I will just keep training the same. I would also before, so just train in the Netherlands, maybe go somewhere else a little bit to train. And also important, in my opinion, keep training in the gym because you see a lot of young guys right now just traveling the world, having fun with each other, but I don't see them a lot in the gym. And I think going to the gym and building strength is also very important for your takeoff and everything and for your power on the water. So I want to go kites as much in those places again that like a lot of other guys do. And I will just keep doing my thing like I did before. And no, I don't think I will do a couple trips to Mykonos. Maybe I will go there one week or one and a half in front to. To go train there a bit, get used to the spot. But I don't think I will go there more often because I think if I just keep doing my thing, yeah, the result will come or not. I will just do my best and then we will. We will see what, what I can achieve there.
- [17:02]
B
You know, Jamie, it's funny that you said, oh, you know, the guys aren't training. I remember when you were young, Jamie, I said, do you go to the gym? You said, no, don't believe in it. I just believe in going out on my skateboard for like a 10, 10k skateboard. Do you remember that?
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A
I know, I remember it totally. But then you're younger and not so serious yet in what you're doing. And now I'm even more serious, so I know what's important to do, mate.
- [17:25]
B
Have you gone back and rewatched the final and just enjoyed the action from start to finish?
- [17:30]
A
No, I haven't watched it fully But I've skipped every time to all of their. Their jumps. I, I don't have the patience to wait like, the whole final. But yes, I have looked back the final like the evening after. So, yeah, I've seen everything. And yeah, I was, I was riding pretty good.
- [17:55]
B
Yeah, you were really good. I mean, it's, it's incredible. I look through your averages, you know, across the, the rounds, you averaged 6.7 around 1. 7.2 in round three, 7.3 in the final, and then a 9.67 in the final. On. On back of. I mean, dude, crazy scores, you know. I mean, a nine, five, a nine, three, a ten in the final. I don't think we're going to see a final like that again. I, I would be very, very. I mean, you'd have to score 2 tens in the final to. To beat that. I don't think that's gonna happen.
- [18:26]
A
You never know. You never know what's going to happen in the future. Don't underestimate anyone.
- [18:32]
B
Let's. Let's talk about someone who is pushing super hard. Finn Flugel got second to you, also got a big nine. Now, Finn opened up with those two big tricks or opened up with that huge trick on the, on the foil kite, unfortunately, crash it. How do you think that would have scored?
- [18:49]
A
It would have. I haven't seen it like, again, but it would have probably gotten a nine. But yeah, it's. It. It was a good risk that he, that, that he was taking. But the thing is, the wind is super gusty there, and the way he was looping, like doing the contra loop on the Sonic, when I'm in a training session, I never do it like that on that kite because, yeah, you. There's just a big chance that you're gonna crash and it's gonna pull so hard it's gonna stall. So when I have a training session, I always loop it a little bit later because then you get like, a lot of airtime. But of course, his goal was to get it low and get a big score, so that's why he did it like that. But I think, I think the risk wasn't worth it to go on a foil kite. I think it was just better to go on the tube kite and show them, like, a really consistent performance on what you can do on it. But, you know, he took the risk. So everyone has their own strategy.
- [19:50]
B
Did you think it was a crazy choice when you saw him go out on the Sonic 5? Did you think, well, this is risky?
- [19:56]
A
You know, my. Yeah, my Thought was, or this is gonna go really well and I'm gonna be fucked or this is gonna go wrong. One of those two. And I was like, when he got out on that 7 Sonic, I was like, okay, maybe I have to get back to the beach and take my 10 meter rebel because I wasn't going to take the Sonic because I was so tuned in on the Rebel and everything went right. So I was like, okay, if this goes super well for him, then I get second place. But I just still do my good thing. But luckily it didn't happen. But in the beginning, I was thinking when he did that, to go on my 10 meter rebel, to have even more power. But I didn't need to in the end with the wind, I mean, were
- [20:37]
B
you impressed by Finn's riding? Because he, he arguably comes from a sort of similar background than you. Not, not with the freestyle, but spends a lot of times on. On the, on the foil kites. Really understands and understands the benefit of those. Were you impressed?
- [20:53]
A
Of course. Of course I'm impressed. He's, I think, the, the biggest, the biggest talent out there, out there right now. And he's a real danger in competition. But it's also someone that's really pushing the sport and it also motivates me, again, to push even harder to see him do all those tricks. And then I'm like, okay, I also have to do this. So, yeah, it's cool to have someone like that in the competitions again, a young guy that's pushing so hard.
- [21:24]
B
We were speaking at the top, Jamie, about finding that flow state. It's kind of. And I said in the last podcast, it's crazy the fact that Finn had the crash, he lost the board and then the blowout and then to go back and get different gear and then to come back and perform because, you know, when you lose momentum, you know, it's very difficult to get going again. Right. Because you start pushing too hard or you take extra risks that you shouldn't. I mean, for me, that was so impressive. To see how he operated and see him get back in the game and then come back and get second was. Was crazy.
- [21:54]
A
Yeah, of course, of course. I know what you're saying. But I think Fin has a lot of competition experience. He really knows how it works. He knows how to deal with the mental game. And Finn knew that he had really good preparation for the competition. So if something like that happens, a lot of people also when you're at the live stream, you're thinking, oh, I would get so stressed if this Happens to me. But the last thing you want to do in a competition is stress because you just have to think, okay, I still have all of these attempts. I did really good preparation. Jamie is also doing big things. I can also come back into the competition. So, yeah, I think there was some pressure on him, but I think that he could really handle it because of his competition experience.
- [22:45]
B
Finn's going to be a problem and he's. And he still wants to do freestyle, which I think is awesome. Hey, we've seen guys like Arthur Gabe, who was a freestyle champion, come across and do Biggie, but never to the level. Level Finn has. Right. And to be that competitive, I think he's the first guy who potentially could be at the top of both disciplines if he really, really wanted to push. And he managed his body well, I think. I think we have to say that as well.
- [23:08]
A
Yeah, of course, of course. But, you know, Finn is there right now, but what's coming next? What's coming in the next years? You don't know. They're going to be also going to be new talent. So 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, what's happening.
- [23:29]
B
You know, we had Max Maxwell Dahl and Martin Kublishki in this event as well. Two young guys. I mean, they were. They rode so well. I mean, it's like, like you said, the door is just opening and these young kids are just going to come through. But those two kids really impressed me. Did you see a little bit of yourself in those guys, you know, being 15, 16, coming into these big events?
- [23:48]
A
Yes, of course, of course. I also talked to the two guys, Max and Martin. They were really nice guys. So, yeah, they were very social, super nice guys to have a session with on the water. I think they're also going to be really good in the future. They're even a lot younger than me. So, yeah, they're for sure gonna keep pushing and gonna stay. Stay in. In the top of the big air. So. Yeah.
- [24:21]
B
Well, look, Jamie, congratulations on winning Lords of Tram. I might. I couldn't be happier for you. Congratulations on breaking world record. I know you've wanted that back. I know that's something you haven't publicly spoken about it, but that's. That's another title. You want it? You wanted as well. And, mate, good luck for Mykonos, man. I know last time it didn't go to plan. I hope everything works out and you can push on and go for that world title, mate, because I think it will be a very, very popular winner, my man.
- [24:47]
A
Yeah, I will try. I will try everything I have. I will do my best and then we, we will see what's the, what the result is going to be.
- [24:55]
B
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