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Kitesurf365
Jason Van Der Spuy and Steezy Pete | Episode # 402
00:37:08
On today's episode, Adrian is joined by Jason Van Der Spuy and Steezy Pete. Jason and Pete are the stars of the latest series, Road To Pro, available on PortraitKite.com WOO Sports: Support the show: ...
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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. On today's episode, I'm joined by Jason Van Der Spee and Steezy Pete. Jason and Pete are the stars of the latest series from Portrait called Road to Pro. I'm sure you've been following along, but it's a lot of fun. There's a couple episodes to go. If you haven't seen it, definitely check it out. Don't forget to follow me at Kite Surf365 for all the latest episodes. Ladies and gentlemen, two Jason Van Der Spee and Steezy Peat. Let's get straight to it. I wanted to get you guys on. Unfortunately, Jitto, he doesn't make the cut because he's just. He's too hard to pog us with. We're getting to the end of Road to Pro. I'll start with you, Jason. How did you find this experience and, you know, how did you find working with Jetto and Pete?
- [00:55]
C
It was entertaining, to say the filming part of it was actually a lot of fun. It didn't feel like any work. We were just vibing and chilling the whole time, laughing. And now Ben's got to do all the work and chop up the videos and do the editing. So I'm just enjoying the viewers, the views experience, chilling and watching. It's actually very entertaining.
- [01:12]
B
How do you find seeing yourself in that type of role? Because obviously that's quite different than you've done on camera to other stuff.
- [01:19]
C
That's cool. It's definitely more of my. My true self. Like, I can even be a bit more of a kook sometimes, but I think bending you put those parts in. No, but it's cool. I enjoy it. It's actually just like a nice watch. It's not so serious. I'm a pro and I'm all grumpy and angry the whole time. It's cool.
- [01:35]
B
What about you, Pete? Was this a lot less stressful than Road to the Mega Loop? Because I know that put you under and I. We still feel bad for putting you under that pressure. Was this a lot more comfortable for you to do?
- [01:46]
A
Yeah, I mean, obviously Road to Megaleap was an amazing experience, but, yeah, I think at the time, very, very stressful. Less so, for sure. It was just kind of go out there, ride, have fun, do some questionable activities with a kite and, yeah, kind of see what comes out of it. And I think, as Jason said, it's been so fun just watching it back with kind of friends and family and. Yeah, and it seems like people have been enjoying it as well and it's gone down well. So. Yeah, no, definitely less stressful and a huge amount of fun to film.
- [02:21]
B
Jason, we were in London a few weeks ago for the Queen's Parade and you want to see Steezy Pete. He's a bit of like a minor celebrity in the uk, kiteboarding. Well, I wouldn't even say a minor celebrity. He's a celebrity in the kiteboarding scene. Dancing on the bars. He's on the microphone singing songs about you. It's kind of funny, Pete.
- [02:38]
C
You're singing songs about me.
- [02:40]
A
I was. Well, the song about you, Jason, it was sung, it was requested, it was. It was tough to hear for all parties, but, yeah, no, it was trotted out.
- [02:51]
C
You're quite an icon in London then. Or in the whole of the UK list.
- [02:55]
B
I, I think, I think, I think in the kiteboarding industry, Pete's. He's becoming a bit of a name, as you said.
- [03:02]
A
I mean, I, I think you're laying it on quite thick, Adrian. But yes, it is very sweet of you to say. It's. Yeah, a couple of people who've, you know, been watching along and recognize me, but yeah.
- [03:14]
B
Jason, did you know about the song? Had you been told that they were going to sing a song about you?
- [03:19]
C
Initially, no. And then Ben played back a little bit of something, but I didn't like. He played back, what, like 10 seconds of it. And I found that super entertaining. Then I accepted the collab before checking. It ended up being an entire three minute masterpiece. Well, it's quite a stretch, but it was something for three minutes.
- [03:38]
B
There was some debate whether that was going to go in, by the way, because Ben was like, no, it's terrible, it's. And everyone's just like, no, it's awesome. But I'm so glad it went in because, I mean, it's. It's there for fun, right?
- [03:49]
C
Yeah. But to be fair, the production was actually pretty good. Like, I mean, I mean, it really wasn't that bad for what it was, though. No. Like, I found it very entertaining, maybe because it's about myself, but I don't know.
- [04:03]
B
What about you, Pete? Did you enjoy doing that? I mean, you're quite the singer, by the way.
- [04:09]
A
I think enthusiastic would be the best that we could give me there, as opposed to talented. But yeah, it was actually quite fun to. Really fun to film. And I don't know if this is going out post episode five or pre episode five.
- [04:25]
B
This is Going to come out on Monday. This will come out in a few days. So it's going to be before the final. Before the last episode.
- [04:33]
A
But yeah, no, I mean, we had a kind of a day where we couldn't do much else and it was. It was pretty fun just coming up, coming up with lines about Jason and then filming it with Jetto. It took so many takes to get what was a. Well, I'd say barely cohesive product, but it was so much fun. And, yeah, it was a huge amount of fun to film. Singing it on the bus in London, more mortifying than enjoyable, but, yeah.
- [05:02]
B
Jason, how did you find this experience? You know, working with. Working with the team and. And doing something that's a bit more fun? Because obviously, you know, when you're doing maps at home, you're trying to tell a story about, you know, you guys, you and Luke are having fun, but you're trying to tell this the, you know, South Africa, your home. You're trying to represent that. Did you feel like this you could just be a lot more the self and. And is. Are people actually seeing the real Jason Van Der Spay when they watch this?
- [05:23]
C
I think so. This was definitely more like. It was intense in some way, but not. Not the normal kind of intent. It was actually just super laid back and fun and entertaining and it was more rewarding if you were just more yourself. So you had to put on. You had to put on less of a serious show. So it was a lot of fun. Maps of Home and all these other projects are cool, but the feeling of this one is definitely something that I want to pursue a little bit more, like this kind of content because it's so like, you can film us in a gym for 20 minutes and it's actually entertaining. You do that in any other kind of format when you're serious. No one watches past the minute.
- [06:01]
B
Did you have any input or direction of where you wanted the series to go?
- [06:08]
C
I mean, Ben and I kind of chat a lot about, like, the Grand Tour and this kind of format, but honestly, I was just. I was just there and I was being instructed what to do. I had some idea, but I was just more along for the ride, to be honest. It was just entertaining the whole time. Whether the outcome of the. It was. Whether it was good or not or whether Ben edited well or not, whatever it was. Just doing the whole thing was extremely entertaining. I mean, just cruising around with Jetta and Pete and the stuff that happens, like, you can't even script it. It's ridiculous.
- [06:38]
B
I think in one of those early episodes when they went to get a car and they went into the Lamborghini or Ferrari garage and they're like, this is the place where you hike us. The guy's like, no, no, it's next door.
- [06:48]
C
No, exactly. Yeah. But also, that was entertaining. But how do you get a man from an island that is called like in Japan to come to Cape Town to stand at Misty Cliffs, which is an extreme biggest spot, and eat a gummy and lose his tooth? You know what I mean? Like, it's. It's. It's too good. It's ridiculous.
- [07:13]
B
I've known judo for a few years now, and it just never fails to surprise me with what happens with them. It's just he's just a magnet to accidents, which is totally cool. And that's who he is. Hey, by the way, how hard was it to fly two kites at the same time? Because to be honest, I think that should have been a stunt. I would like to seen the boys trying to attempt to fly. I mean, it would have end in horrible torture and crashes. But was that difficult?
- [07:39]
C
It was difficult because the one was a 13 that was extremely deflated and the other one was a seven. And I think the line lengths were different as well. If they were both like tens of modern kites would have been fine. But these two things were so different. You steer the 7 slightly and it's going 100ks an hour, and then the 13 is busy jellyfishing on the one side. So it was quite difficult, to be honest. And then going downwind in that day was not ideal, to be honest. It was pretty gusty that day.
- [08:04]
B
What's the trick? Just keep one at 12 and use the other one to steer. Is that. Is that the general?
- [08:08]
C
You can fly them. You can actually fly them both at the same time if they're the same size. But that, that day, like you. You're kind of steering with the one like. I think I was staring with the 13. I had the seven at 12. And then because these kites are built 100 years ago, it would just fall out the sky because it doesn't like going downwind. So it was quite a. It was quite a challenge, but it was okay.
- [08:29]
B
Pete, do you reckon you could have done that? What's the chance that you would have got into a horrible tangled nightmare?
- [08:35]
A
See, because I haven't learned my lesson yet through all of these adventures, my initial reaction is still like, yeah, yeah, be fine. I could definitely do that.
- [08:46]
B
And that's why we keep having you back Pete.
- [08:49]
A
Yeah, Always game to be proven to prove my ego wrong and when trying to do something that I really shouldn't be trying to.
- [08:58]
B
Pete, what sort of trick were you most proud of that you managed to pull off on this or during this experience?
- [09:04]
A
Oh, I think even though they weren't, even though they weren't very big, honestly just looping again in Cape Town is always a journey when you haven't been here in a while. So it's a boring answer, but probably that one, honestly. Yeah. Though the long handle board off was also quite something.
- [09:27]
B
So where did you get that idea from? Had you seen that somewhere else?
- [09:31]
A
I think I've seen, I've seen. So I'd seen PVC tube being used to make stuff like dock start, like board holders for like dock start foiling, pump foiling and board racks and stuff. And I think I might have even seen it in a handle as well, like a normal size handle. So um, yeah, I thought let's just take this to the its logical conclusion and make a crotch, crotch sized kite bore handle PVC pipe. I'm honestly amazed that even though it didn't work very well at all, I'm amazed it worked as well as it did.
- [10:10]
B
Well, it lasted as long as you thought it was a good idea. Let's put it that way. It was a good idea as long as it lasted. Yeah. Yeah, Jason. And what about flying sea kites, man? You know, and looping sea kites? I mean it's been a long time since you probably flown a full sea kite. Did that take you back to those days or did you enjoy flying that sea kite again?
- [10:28]
C
I did enjoy it, but to be honest, it was, it was humbling because the sea kites were a thing, I don't know, like even eight years ago or something, we were still looping sea kites 2015, 2016. And then the progression since then just skyrocketed and you kind of forget, like you always just think, yo, cool, like I'm just getting better and better and better. But you also, you forget to realize that it's actually the gear that's assisting you along the way. And then when you take a step back to eight years ago, it's, it's honestly just mind blowing how gnarly it is. And then you kind of have to respect the boys that were locked into boots, going out in 60 knots, trying. And they were, they were the ones trying all these tricks for the first time, like these laid backs, these boogies, kung fu or whatever it is. They weren't just following, so I don't recommend it, to be fair. It's gnarly.
- [11:20]
B
That's funny you say that because we had some sea kites and Mykonos and we, you know, we put a bunch of riders and I won't say all their names, and all of them were exactly the same. They're like full respect to the guys of the past. I mean, seriously, like, it's just crazy that what they did back then and what, you know, Reuben was doing in storm GS on those kites is actually kind of. It's actually dangerous. It's actually dangerous compared to what you got now.
- [11:44]
C
No, it's ridiculous. The kites, they sit so deep and you have no control over what happens in the loop. You're riding the smallest bar you can find anywhere and you're pulling for your life to get this thing to turn. And it's just going to go low regardless and it's not going to climb above your head. So whatever speed you generate while you're looping, that's the speed you're landing at.
- [12:02]
B
How was the gong, Pete? Your choice was a gong kite. Is it the best kite in the world for the money?
- [12:08]
A
I think based on the fact that as far as I'm aware, it might be the only kite in the world for the money, at least brand new, I would have to say yes. But honestly, it worked. I mean, you can see, you can see in the series like it works as a kite. It jumps, it does kite kind of heli loops, like, it does all these things that you'd expect from modern kite, too. It's far less scary than a Hadlow Sea kite. I mean, it might not be the. You could see where they'd cut corners like it was. It was really heavy. It didn't. It wasn't as confident, confidence inspiring to leap as something like even an orbit from three years ago. But at the same time, I mean, it's less than a third of the price. I mean, you cannot argue with it as a value proposition. So as much as we do kind of take the mickey out of it throughout the series, I think, you know, props to Gong for bringing a product to market for that money that works in any sense. So, yeah, I think it's really cool. I think maybe had a lot of fun flying it was maybe pushing it as we were maybe pushing it to the edge of its window a little bit. But yeah, I've flown far, far worse kites and had far, far worse kites. So I think that in and of itself says that it did a good.
- [13:24]
B
Job when you had to do the jump and release. I've never seen a kite fly like that. It was almost like someone had thrown a dart across the bay. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen a kite just happily sit upside down and just drift its way across the bay, just pissing riders off.
- [13:41]
A
Yeah, it was quite something, wasn't it? It just kept going, I think. Yeah, I don't think anyone, anyone was expecting it to go that far, but just added to the beauty of the kite diving discipline, I would say.
- [13:55]
B
Was that scary to jump and then release the kite?
- [13:59]
A
Yeah, that was. That was pretty scary.
- [14:02]
B
What were you scared of?
- [14:05]
A
Well, you know what they say, it's never the flying that hurts, it's the landing. Right.
- [14:10]
B
I think the answer is a hen rub the ass.
- [14:13]
A
Yeah. Yeah, it was pretty close to landing smack bang on that, on the board as it came down. So that was. Yeah, glad we missed that. So, yeah.
- [14:26]
B
Did this get in the way of your training, Jason, at all during that time in Cape Town? You're like, man, I've got to record with these guys. I really need to train. Or were you always doing this on sort of marginal days?
- [14:38]
C
It depends on the time of the year because this was post coder, so then it's chilled then. Then that's always the time when I'm just doing what I want to do and flopping around. I wouldn't really say it affected my training at all, to be honest, because the conditions that we were riding, I mean, there wasn't any perfect. Perfect 45. Not there. And when there was, I was kiting anyway, so it was fine. I was chilled.
- [15:00]
B
You weren't going to send these guys out in 45 knots, were you?
- [15:03]
C
I mean, I did.
- [15:04]
B
I think that. I think the windiest one has seen a small base so far. When J decides to do doubles and Andre comes up and says, bro, just chill out.
- [15:12]
C
Yeah, too much trap. That was one of try to go over ways. Right. Where Pete rode over wave and just fell over. I think that was that one.
- [15:22]
A
Yeah. Yeah, that, that, that rings a bell.
- [15:25]
B
Pete falls over so much, I can't remember that single reference. That's a very hard reference to do. Pete, how did you find meeting Jetto and spending more time with him was that, was that, was that interesting for you? Because you guys are very similar, but also quite different.
- [15:41]
A
It was great. Jetto is amazing. I think. I think we got on pretty much immediately, actually, because we spent a huge amount of time Together over the years.
- [15:49]
B
You didn't have a choice. We told you you had to be friends. You have to be friends.
- [15:54]
A
And we were friends. We listened, we were very obedient riders and we listened to our betters. So no, no, we immediately, we immediately hit it off and yeah, just kind of, just a lot of mooching around. Jester taught me how to play shogi and other such beautiful cultural moments. But yeah, it was really fun. I mean he is just, just as chaotic in real life as he seems on camera. Like just every single time we would go to go to do something, there would be something would go wrong. Jetta related. It was hilarious. Yeah, I mean there are just so many moments, a lot of them captured on camera. But yeah, the tooth one obviously takes the biscuit for the most ridiculous Jetta moment I think of this shoot.
- [16:42]
B
But yeah, what about KFC for Christmas? I mean, also a Jetto moment.
- [16:47]
A
That was strong. Yeah, they're taking us all to kfc. Christ.
- [16:53]
B
I mean, I mean that's going to be a first. I'm pretty sure for everyone on this call that's a first. No one has been to for KFC for Christmas ever. So not, not so many intellectual conversations with Jedo then Pete.
- [17:07]
A
No, I mean there was some, I mean the finer points of shogi strategy. Jetta helped me with my Japanese a little bit so we weren't discussing Tolstoy but you know, I think yes, he's got a lot, he's got a lot to say and you know, some interesting, some really cool. You know, he loves nature and he's got a lot of strong feelings about nature. So we talked about that a fair amount as well. So yeah, I'd say, I'd say Jetta's a pretty good conversationalist actually, considering English is the second language.
- [17:35]
B
Jason, you obviously are, you know, big believer in looking after the body, health and fitness. I mean back in the day you were, you got massive. I don't. If you want to go back three or five years when you're like just going crazy in the gym doing massive deadlifts and then you're like, man, I'm too big. I mean, give me a, give me a sort of wrap up of these two as physical specimens, as fitness specimens. We all saw the screaming. You've, you've been involved in health and fitness a long time. Where do you put these guys? Are they athletes or they. Not on that scale at all.
- [18:10]
C
Kind of put me on. I mean, if you look at Pete, we start to. Pete, he's not the most. Like, he doesn't have the goddess of physiques, if you know what I mean. But the one thing that shocked me with him was his cardio. To be fair, his cardio is fantastic. We're at Rowan and I think I was breathing heavier than Pete was. So that was one thing that was impressive about Pete.
- [18:32]
B
And I mean, he can kite.
- [18:34]
C
He can hold a kite, he can jump. I think. I think Pete's all right. I think you're better off than quite a few people that kite that are higher levels, that's doing good and Jetta is. I mean, you would think that he would break himself every time he crashes, but I think he's taken the hardest crashes out of like all of us. So I can't really knock Jetta too much but I don't want to see him crash like too hard because then I don't know if he'd survive too. Well, he's not. He's not the thickest man, so I don't know if he can take too much impact. But I mean, they're right. They pass.
- [19:04]
B
How does he ride with his. With his harness so loose? I mean, it's quite unbelievable.
- [19:10]
C
He likes it. He likes the freedom. He says you get levels, you get a seat harness which is restricting and then you get a waist harness which is less restricting and then you get Jetta's harness which is pretty much you free. So I mean, he just gone to the other extreme.
- [19:25]
B
I mean, it's actually quite unbelievable, right? I mean, if you and I or all of us here on this call, we had to get on the water and our harness was that loose, we'd come straight to shore straight away and fix it. I don't know how many.
- [19:35]
C
Yeah, but he likes it. He spins. He spins in his harness. He says he enjoys it. So every man for themselves, it's okay.
- [19:41]
B
But you're right about the crashes and I do worry about that because he will take a big crash one day that he probably won't bounce from because he seems to bounce quite happily across the water. He is pretty much. It worries me when he's on the beach and he's rolling and twisting his all over the place. He just. I would be shitting myself in a big day if my. I was rolling and twisting. But he just picks up and his kites seems to be at 12 the whole time. I think he's that light.
- [20:07]
C
I know he's unfazed. He's unfazed.
- [20:11]
B
The really cool thing about these series and Luke McGillow, he said it to me one time he said, when he has people staying at the point, they all watch the series and it's real. And it just. This, this series makes kite boarding more relatable, you know, because we're so used to watching this high end kiteboarding content and, you know, good kite borders make it look easy, but when you see normal riders riding, you realize, I think it makes it more impressive. And I think that's a really cool side of kiteboarding that doesn't get shown that much, you know?
- [20:40]
C
Yeah, for sure. And also the part where like, you can actually, you can see maybe the other side of the quote unquote pros, because you just think that they're doing all these things fearless and it's no issue. And they got like, they're living the best lives ever and they're just these superheroes. But when in actuality, like, you can see the truth behind all of it. And it just gives you a deeper understanding into the whole scene as well.
- [21:01]
B
Hey, Pete, you know when Jason starts, he goes off and does like a triple back roll off. A little kicker. I mean, it's tough, right?
- [21:07]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, it's really just showing us how he's just the everyman, you know, just doing handle passes off the beach like, like every. Just like, just like you. He's just like you guys, just an ordinary man.
- [21:23]
B
What was it like to handle past that jellyfish? I. I think, I think it's one of the most impressive things I've seen.
- [21:28]
C
And when it was inflated, it was. It was. When it was inflated, it was sick. It was super fun. But then as soon as it got deflated, oh, my God. It was impossible. It was literally a jellyfish like you take. I don't even know how to explain it. You take two men holding a bungee and they're just pulling you around on either side and you're trying to pass there. That's what it felt like. It was horrendous.
- [21:48]
B
Of all those kites you bought for your 600 budget, how many have you managed to get working and are in good condition?
- [21:56]
C
Of all those kites we got, we got eight and one.
- [22:01]
B
Wow. So all those bits made one good.
- [22:04]
C
One, One good one. And it was the seven. It was fantastic. And then the 13 was second best, but we had to pump it up every eight minutes or so. It was. Okay, that's fine. And then. Pete, did you stitch my foot line on a dental floss?
- [22:23]
A
I think some things, Jason, are just best left on set. I. I don't Think you need to know what, what went into making that kite live.
- [22:32]
C
Well, I put my life in hands because it was 35 knots at Mr. Cliff's jumping 18 meters.
- [22:39]
B
It's not a loaded fifth line though.
- [22:40]
C
Is was loaded. It was very loaded. It's because the. All the links were wrong. So I mean, the kite was kind of flattening out. There was so much tension on was.
- [22:50]
B
It was like a. It was like a love heart on the top weather.
- [22:52]
C
Yeah, exactly.
- [22:53]
B
It is that dental f. What is the saying? You know, when you use like one piece of string you can break it, but when you like wrap it around a thousand times, you can't break it. That's pretty much the same principle, right.
- [23:02]
C
I would say if Pete did do it, he put about three minutes of effort into it. A very stern three minutes. But there was only about five loops of the interfloss over there. But I trusted Pete and his engineering degree. You got a science degree, remember?
- [23:13]
A
So I'd faith two science degrees. What can I say?
- [23:19]
B
I mean, is it. What's. What are they in, Pete? Two science degrees. One's in what.
- [23:23]
A
One's in biology, the other is in cybersecurity. So none of them are at all relevant to a kite.
- [23:31]
B
But I mean, it's a, it's a impressive, impressive hold from that dental floss. Man. That dental floss always breaks in my teeth. So you must have done more than five laps.
- [23:39]
C
No, it was a stern five. But Pete, nonetheless, you have two degrees, which does make you somewhat competent in some things. And we can just assume that dental flossery is one of them. So it's fine.
- [23:53]
A
Kind of you to say, Jason. Very kind of you to say. There we go.
- [23:58]
B
Pete, are you going to do the Portland United Kite Surfing League? Because I know you rep, you are competitor last year. You're going to go back and make a. A repeat of this event.
- [24:08]
A
I think. I think it'd be good fun to definitely go down for the day. I mean, I don't know if they'll have me back after my round after my fairly ignominious knockout at the start of last time. But yeah, always happy to go back and make a fool of myself in front of spectators. It's kind of my main. My main thing really.
- [24:26]
B
So I didn't think you're making a full man. It's not. I don't think you should look at it that way. I think generally people enjoy seeing you out there because you have the Stoke man. That's it. That's what it's about being happy to be on the water.
- [24:36]
A
That is just fun being out there, isn't it? It's why we. Why we all do it at the end of the day.
- [24:40]
C
And.
- [24:41]
A
Yeah, no, I think, yeah, I'd love to go back and do it again. I think I know the organizers fairly well, so.
- [24:49]
B
Face your fears, bro. Face those fears.
- [24:52]
A
Yeah, we did three meter loops last time. Maybe we can manage four meter loops this time. Certainly.
- [24:58]
B
Pete, speaking of fears, what was it like to be face to face with Kevin Langary in that very, very dark, very hot room?
- [25:04]
A
Now, that was actually really scary. That was really scary. So to give a. Maybe to give podcast listeners a little bit of a sneak peek behind the scenes, we knew Kevin Jasmine. I knew Kevin was coming up and we were told that we weren't allowed to see him before the interview. And we were locked in another room in the flat that we had. We'd all rented. And then we were kind of called out, like it was, to our execution block to go into this completely dark room with just a spotlight on Kevin to sit down and immediately be grilled by possibly the scariest man in kite surfing. So, yeah, yeah, no, it was. It was really scary. Thankfully, I've met Kevin, like, once before, but I don't think he remembered who I was. But that's. But from my perspective, I wasn't seeing the real, in real life face of Kevin Langley for the first time because I think that would have broken me if that would have been too much.
- [26:02]
B
So, yeah, we did see a little bit of the outtakes. We sort of a bit of a broken. That last one. Both of you guys all cracked up laughing. Was there a lot more laughter during the filming of that scene? Because I could imagine at stages, you guys all broke into laughter just because of what was being said.
- [26:19]
A
I think there were a couple of breaks. There weren't loads, though, to be fair, he did a good job at keeping it in character. I think he corpsed a few times, but overall, he played it pretty straight.
- [26:28]
B
So, Jason, did you know about that scene or was that a surprise to.
- [26:31]
C
You, the Kevin scene? No, I had no idea.
- [26:34]
B
Oh, so there's still parts in this series that you have no idea what's happening?
- [26:38]
C
No, not really. Ben just popped me a message that, hey, this time, this place, let's do it. I was like, cool. The rest of the stuff going on behind the scenes, I was unaware. So I'm watching this and there's a lot of new stuff that I'm finding very entertaining. I mean, Kevin is An intimidating man, by the way.
- [26:52]
B
Great questions. Are you the best kiteboarder? I am in my house. That's a great answer. Great answer. I would love if he called Jedo out and said, jitter, you get a read and tattoo on my face, I'll give you some gear.
- [27:06]
A
Oh, Jassy would have done it, though, and then we'd all have to live with that.
- [27:10]
B
Moving on. Jason, we're on the start of the WOO Worlds. Are you going to be representing Cape Town Air again in this year's W Worlds?
- [27:16]
C
I am. I've had some interest from another party which I dare not say I haven't joined for the team yet, but I, I most likely will join Captain Worlds. I'm just in a bit of discussion with this other party to see what.
- [27:30]
B
Are they putting money on? Are they putting money on the table?
- [27:33]
C
No, it's not quite money. It's, it's. I can't disclose too many details, but I'll most likely join Cape Town here.
- [27:40]
B
Yeah. Yeah. Because Ben's walking around offering like to pay people money, which. Don't trust Ben. Don't trust him when it comes to money. He's not going to pay you. No, it's going to be. And what about you, Peter? You going to be doing the WOO Worlds this year?
- [27:56]
A
I think I'd like to. I've got to be honest, I haven't been on the water in a. In about, in about a month because. So, But I'm. I'd like to make an appearance. I'm going to say with an optimistic. I would like to. Rather than committing to anything too much.
- [28:13]
B
Because, Pete, there's an event that's right up your alley. It's the 48 hour. Most distance ridden in 48 hours. I think that'd be something. And by the way, foils are allowed this year, so I think that's going to really be interesting. A lot of those team challenges are down to 48 hours, which is a lot of pressure on, on riders and gear and stuff like that. So I think, I think we're going to. Maybe, maybe you and I will speak after, mate, and maybe I'm going to recruit you for my undisclosed team that I'm starting.
- [28:39]
A
Yeah, I could do. I could do a little bit of a foiling, a big old foiling challenge, mate.
- [28:45]
B
Ben will be. Ben's gonna be heartbroken when he finds out his. That you're not going to be available for the shipmunks.
- [28:52]
A
That's a good. I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can trade. I mean, I still have a shipmunks T shirt. I literally have the T shirt.
- [28:59]
B
Hey. Hey, dude, you're coming. You're coming with me. You're coming with me. Jason, let's talk about you quickly. We've got cold Hawaii, Megaloop kota to come mate. Three big events. How's the training been going? Are you ready for this?
- [29:12]
C
Yes. The training actually this side hasn't been too great, but for those events you kind of don't really need training, to be honest. You just need to go into them with a bit of a crazy mindset. I'll take hold. Hawaii, you need a bit of training, but not as much. Mega loop challenge. You just need. You just need to not think and then obviously codes. The preparation starts in October time and the build up for codes and everything. But it's good. I'm feeling ready. I had a nice long break at home. A month off from traveling around Europe like a maniac. So I'm feeling, feeling good. Time to get going again.
- [29:44]
B
What do you think about the 18 meter line length for mega loop? It's getting into your warehouse, but not quite there. Obviously it's 18 is the maximum, so you can go lower. Have you thought about that? Are you going to ride 18s? Are you going to dip down and go a little bit lower?
- [29:57]
C
Yeah, I'm excited. I'm also. It is a. It's a confusing situation because on 18s you can still kind of do everything that you can normally do on 22s so like, you know your kite's not gonna go super low. It'll just kind of go level with you and you can be technical and go like a lot higher. But then like as soon as you drop down a meter and another meter, like it gets exponentially more gnarly and it changes so much. So like if you had to go from 18 meter lines to 14 meter lines, it's completely different. Like the things you can do are so different. So it's just a bit of confusing working this one out to figuring out what the best plan is. But I think every smart man would have their 18 meter lines on because you get the most height and then some secret sauce on the side.
- [30:42]
B
What's your secret sauce, bro?
- [30:44]
C
9.4S.
- [30:50]
B
Yeah, I don't, I don't know if you pete know this, but cold Hawaii put the minimum age to 18, which takes out Leo and Leo Casadi, Shahar Sabri and Zach Adams, which Jason and I were speaking before you came on. Bit of a massive Shock to, to those guys. What's your feeling on, on, on that age there, Pete? Because we were saying before we're of that sort of elk where if you're old enough, you're good enough. What, what do you think about 18 being the minimum age for a Red Bull event?
- [31:18]
A
I think it's a tricky one, but I guess my feeling on that is that if you can put 16 and 17 year olds in Formula 2 cars, then why can't you take them to a kite surfing event? I think it's not like you can old enough to join the army, for example. Why can't you go kite surfing? I think it should be 16. I think that's where my stance is. I think lots of other very big, very scary, quite dangerous things that you're allowed to do as a 16 year old. So I think deciding that making the decision for them that they're not old enough to go and do, do a big air event when they're clearly just going to be doing big air anyway is. Yeah, I don't know. I don't, I don't think I'm fully on board with that one as a, as a decision, as a, just as a random punter.
- [32:04]
B
But, but it's interesting though because over the years we have had changes, right? I mean, you know, we were speaking before that, you know, Lorenzo and Jamie rode as 15 year olds in these, in this event. Yeah, it's a, I think it's a super tough one and I hope cooler heads will prevail, you know, and let these guys ride because I think it'd be. If that is something that sticks, I think it's super damaging for the sport.
- [32:25]
A
Agreed.
- [32:27]
B
Jason? What, what did you see your role for Pete and forgetto? Did you see yourself in a certain role for those guys? Was it a mentor, was it a coach? How did you see your role during the filming of this?
- [32:39]
C
It was a strange one because the whole idea is road to pro and I mean, if we're being quite, quite honest, the boys are never going to be pro to that degree, if you know what I mean.
- [32:51]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.
- [32:52]
C
It was just more like a piss take. So it is actually very entertaining. Like I'm putting them through things and making them do things that aren't entirely necessary to become a pro. But it's just a very entertaining, very entertaining thing to do and watch. So I didn't feel too much pressure in my role to get them to like these God tier kiteboarders. It was just more making them have a bad time Trying to get there, if you know what I mean.
- [33:16]
B
Pete, what's next for you, mate? What's the. What's the rest of the year looking like for you? Are you going to be around any of these events? Are we going to see you again? What's happening on your side?
- [33:25]
A
Oh, that's a great question, Adrian. Honest answer is. I. I don't know. I. I'll try and make it to Pakle. I don't know if I'll be making it to any international events anytime, anytime soon. But, yeah, no, I think, you know, I'll be about in the uk, so if, yeah, if anyone's. If you, if you. If you're over this, if you're over in Europe, Jason, then give me a bell and I'll try and come and say hi.
- [33:49]
C
Gotta get some visas sorted first, then. I'm keen.
- [33:53]
B
Jason. That bloody visa situation. What's going on there? I thought you. I thought you were marrying her. No, it's a joke.
- [33:57]
C
No, it doesn't work out because then I have to live in Germany for six months every year for five years.
- [34:03]
B
Damn.
- [34:07]
C
Maybe I could take on Pete, okay? We can have a little chat, spend some time together.
- [34:13]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get to know each other.
- [34:15]
B
When was the last time you're in the uk, Jason?
- [34:17]
C
Well, I need a different visa for that, so I need to get two visas then. So.
- [34:22]
B
Nightmare of being so that. What is it? The green number? The green Mamba?
- [34:25]
C
Yeah, I got the green Mamba. It's okay. But at least I can stay in South Africa for as long as I want, which is nice.
- [34:30]
B
Hey, by the way, Jason, when are we going to get some? I. I keep feeling that, you know. Is Luca giving you some now? He's been on the podium, you know, Josh has been on the podium. Are they starting to. I. I see you as the sort of captain of the South African crew. Are those guys starting to. Are they starting to push the sort of leadership there and sort of demanding a bit more respect?
- [34:47]
C
Well, you know how it goes. There's always going to be someone better eventually and rather it be a friend than a. Than a foe. So I'm happy for them. And I mean, they are younger and eager and Josh especially. I can never get to the point where Josh gets to where he just does not think when it gets to 70 knots. And I respect that and I don't want to be that. So I let Josh take on that role now. But I'm happy for the boys. It's awesome. It's like a trio rising out from South Africa, which is always more powerful than a single person. So it's really cool.
- [35:19]
B
And I think you're inspiring more people. More people like Adrian Lowe there as well. I know he's just signed with R and D. He's. He's a new guy coming on. Is there any young South African writers under Adrian that you. That you could recommend or shout out or, or call out and say, hey, these are names for the future. And I know it's super. I know it's super tough from South Africa. Right. Because it's just everything's against you guys, you know?
- [35:39]
C
Yeah. But there's, there's a bit of a gap. It's kind of weird. So there's. There's me, Luca and Josh. Obviously you had Ross and you had Josh Emmanuel above us and stuff, but there was also a gap between them and then us and now us. There's nothing really like soon to be up and coming. There's like a bunch of 10 to 14 year olds that are really starting to push it now, but there's still a good few years away. But there's lots. Like, you'll be surprised how many youngsters there are in South Africa that are starting to push it. It's. It's. Yeah, it's getting there.
- [36:08]
B
Yeah. Super cool. And I hope you guys can be motivating for those next generation of young writers because that's what you need, right? You need to inspire people. Look, boys, thank you so much for your time as. Unbelievable. I've been enjoying the series so much. I look forward to the last ones coming out. Thanks again for your time, guys, and I'll see you all very soon.
- [36:26]
C
Sweet. Cheers, Adrian.
- [36:27]
A
Yeah, thanks, Adrian.
- [36:28]
B
Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed that episode. Don't forget, if you want to support the show, the easiest way is to support us for free. Rate us on Spotify, share them in your local WhatsApp or kite surfing groups, or simply just tell your friends. If you want to support us more regularly, head over to portraitkite.com and check out all the madness there. The full review Road to Pro series is available right there. If you want to find more episodes just like this one, use the search button@kiteserv365.com to search your favorite writer or topic and we'll see you this Thursday for the Megapod.