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Jeremy Burlando | Episode # 408
00:25:55
On today's episode, Adrian caught up with Jeremy Burlando. Jeremy won the Red Bull qualifier Cold Hawaii, beating Lorenzo Casati and Stijn Mul in the final, in one of the closest finals ever. 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 catch up with Jeremy Blando. One week after winning the Red Bull King of the Air qualifier cold Hawaii, we talk about the final, overcoming injury and finding his best form again. Don't forget to follow me at kaitsuur365 for all the latest episodes. Ladies and gentlemen, Jeremy Baland. Jeremy, what a win, bro. That was unbelievable. I mean, did you get to celebrate this week or did you just get straight back to training?
- [00:41]
A
Yeah, I do that. I just got back on the day right after and I had some epic conditions back at home. Was like 35, prime condition, man. And I was riding like four hours a day. I didn't even have time to celebrate and.
- [00:55]
B
Yeah, you sound tired though, dude.
- [00:57]
A
I kite so long in the first days. Undestroyed.
- [01:02]
B
Let's go back to Denmark. How were the conditions out there? Because it was pretty tough on everyone else. It was tough on the. On the media crew. It was super tough on the people watching. But was it awesome on the water?
- [01:12]
A
Yeah, dude. Actually, the conditions were epic. Like, I was riding, like, so good and I think, like, I was feeling so in tune with the condition in the final because it was just perfect. 8 meter weather, 40 knots in the direction was perfect. And the kicker was just lining up every time almost. I think was like one of the best finals. I even spoke with Lorenzo yesterday and I called him and we were like, bro, actually, like, conditions were epic, you know, really epic.
- [01:42]
B
Have you had a chance to talk to Lorenzo? Because, you know, I mean, he set such high standards, right? Even for him, like, second place is like a massive loss. Have you guys had a chance to talk about that? And did he reach out and congratulate you?
- [01:54]
A
Yeah, we. We speak daily almost. I called him yesterday. I was like, man, it's windy. Here come kite here. Or how is Gran Canario? I mean, we talk, we talk. And he told me, yeah, congrats. And I was like, yeah, man, congrats to you too. You know, at the end, you know, second place is for sure not what Lorenzo wants. I know. He's. He's an epic rider, man. He writes so good. I think, like, he would have deserved even the first spot. You know, he really puts a lot of work into it. And you can see it. And I think, yeah, it's. But our friendship is still beyond that, I think. And it's nice, you know, we're friends. It's nice to be up there both.
- [02:38]
B
This is your second comp back from the accident. You know, Megaloop was the first comp back. Did you feel a little bit better this week from the Megaloop? Did you feel like you improved and stepped towards the right direction?
- [02:49]
A
Yeah, man. Like you remember I told you back after Megaloop challenge, I was like, man, my riding was not so good and I had to learn, you know, that that comp was. Mega loop was the learning comp, you know, where I had to set back again and know where I had to hit and where I had to do the tricks and how I should ride in competition. And then, of course, this second one is giving me more motivation, you know, because I actually rode like I wanted to. And I also brought out my caddy that helped me so much. You know, it's not just a caddy on the beach. It's my best friend, man, and he helps me a lot with the tricks and the way he. He thinks it should work. And we both actually think about it every day, man. So, yeah, it was way different than Megaloop for me and feels good.
- [03:39]
B
Let's talk about Jacques in a minute. But where was that moment? Like I always say that, you know, when you have injuries in sport, there's one moment where you realize, oh, I'm back, you know, and you don't know what that moment is, you know, because you're always thinking about, oh, I don't want to break my leg again, but there's some moment or you have a big crash and you realize, I'm fine. Did you have a moment out there? Because suddenly you just turned it on. When did you realize that? Man, I'm back. Like you said on the podium, I know how to write. I just know how to. I need something to do it.
- [04:06]
A
Exactly. You just need to line it up, man. I think in the semi final in. Yeah, they're in. Call Dwight against Kohan. Man, I don't know. I had. The beginning was we were tied, you know, and after a while, I was like, man, I'm. I'm gonna put him in the dirt. I'm gonna go for it, you know, I was like, I know. I. I mean, I've been riding a lot after Megaloop 2. I've been went to Tarifa and I improved a lot on skills and I was like, man, now it's time to ride like I always do. And I think there the change was made, you know, and I was not riding backed off, you know, I wanted to go for it. I Didn't care. Yeah.
- [04:52]
B
At any stage, did you worry about the time you had off the water, staying up with Andre and Lorenzo? Because there's always that question, like, man, you know, these guys are getting so far ahead. They're pushing so hard. I'm sitting back. Did that start to annoy you at any stage where you. Did you think about that a lot?
- [05:08]
A
You know? Of course. Like, seeing, you know, both of them being on the podium and me always being the guy that is not on it, you know, or like, we're not together, you know, at one point, I feel like, man, what, why. Why is this happening? You know, it's like, of course I'm super happy for them. We're bad friends. But of course, I'm, I'm pretty competitive, you know, Even though sometimes it doesn't look like. But I like competition, you know, even between each other in the water, you know, and when I'm not there and I see they're having that success, that is great for them, I feel like, man, I have to have to step it up, you know, I, I, I know I have the tools to do it, you know, I just need to do it, you know? And since Mega Loop, when I saw both on the podium and I, I was not next to them or on top of them or whatever, whatever, you know, I was not with them, I was like, man, it's not the way I want to do it. We still have a chance, you know?
- [06:06]
B
I mean, it was such a crazy. Is it such a crazy final? I mean, the lead changed so many times. Could you see it on. Were you looking at your watch, seeing that your first. Second. First. Second. I. It must have been five or six times it changed.
- [06:17]
A
Yeah, man. Like, I barely went back to the aunt the final. Maybe just one time, but I was. Odd time, like, watching the watch after, I was, like, actually watching Lorenzo doing the trick, and then I was watching the watch, like, 10 seconds later, and I see like, ah, first. Second. First. Second. Dude. And then at the end, on my last trick, it was when I landed my last trick, it was still saying second, and I was like, whoa. Second. It's great, you know, it's okay, you know, I mean, time to work more. And then when I saw it went first and Jacopo came up to me on the beach, I was like, yeah. Then I was just praying for the, for the impression score to be nice too, you know, and that's what it did, you know? But it helps.
- [07:02]
B
Tell us about your relationship with Jacopo. Not many riders were utilizing Their caddies coming in. I know Lorenzo rides with the radio now. They're in full communication. They're doing stuff differently. But I didn't see many guys come in and talk to their caddies during the heat. I saw, you know, not just the final, but out throughout the day. You would come and talk to Jacopo. How well does he know your riding? Does he know you better than anyone and does he know what you need to do?
- [07:26]
A
Yeah, he knows me best than anyone else. He knows every trick. He knows he has a big creativity, you know, in. In the heat. He's been telling me during the whole day of kolde y has been telling me, man, you have to do a laid back from the fin. That's the one that's going to score. And I haven't done any in the whole. In the whole comp. And then Stino goes or I don't know who was it. And he got a nine for one. And he was like, man, I told you. And he's like, next time I'm gonna kill you. If you don't do it, I'm gonna kill you, man. He knows. He knows really what's going on, you know, he knows me, what's going on in my brain, you know, so he really tries to help me sort it out during that moment, you know, you.
- [08:10]
B
Mentioned Steno there, like the first 10 minutes, Dino did nothing. He even said. He said, man, I was first 10 minutes I couldn't get going. But that last five minutes, he landed three massive tracks. And, bro, we're just right up there. And I kind of felt bad for like, say I said, ceno is just out getting outgunned here. But, man, he came home. Did you see or did you see Stino pick it up in the second or the last quarter?
- [08:30]
A
Man, I just remember in the heat seeing Stino taking off at the same time as I did, and I. Yeah, I just saw that. And. And then. I know I didn't really see much, but like during the day he was going big. Like, I think like Stino with the new kite is. Is riding way better than he did before. And that's like a gran canary final. Man, he was there too, man.
- [08:56]
B
I think he's. He's almost in every final these days. He's. He's right up there, which is so crazy. Yeah, I want to go back to Mykonos because in Mykonos you came to me on the beach one day and it was super strong wind and you said, you said, bro, it's too much. And I Was honestly, I was like, shit, man, maybe this crash has got to Jeremy. And I didn't say it too personally, but I thought about it, you know, I thought, man, is Jeremy just not prepared to push anymore? Because, listen, accidents, big crashes can do that to you, right? It gets in your mind, how did you get over that? And, you know, how did you get back to this place where you're at the top again and back to the top of the world where you want to be?
- [09:30]
A
Yeah, man, I had some time after the injury where I was not feeling 100 secure of myself, you know, I was like, man, what? Like, I was riding. I wasn't feeling right. And then when I came to Mykonos, it was, like, starting to get better, but it was the first time I got in that strong conditions like in Mykonos, and I was like, dude, I don't know if it's worth it, you know? And then somehow I got some of the new kites, you know, I got back in the. Back in the old days, you know, I've been talking with. With the designer. We've been doing the new kites even better, you know, and it got me motivation. So at one point, I just forgot about my foot. You know, I kept training it. Of course, I've been going to the gym a lot. I've been training a lot of explosivity, a lot of mobility and a lot of impact, you know, and at one point, you just want. If you want something so much, you know, then I just forgot about it. I just forgot about my foot. And I've been riding always in stronger winds, so I always got more used to it that at the end, it doesn't make a difference anymore.
- [10:38]
B
Have you changed the duck on your feet back? Because remember in Mykonos, your riding, you had it sort of set a little bit in to give you some more support. Have you gone back to the original setting, or are you still at the same position with your feet?
- [10:53]
A
Man, I don't know. Don't really remember From Nicholas.
- [10:57]
B
Oh, good. Hey, were you on the new nxt, a new prototype NXT for this comp? Is this the new one coming out?
- [11:04]
A
Probably. It's. I don't know still if it's final, but we've done so many prototypes, and this my. It's my favorite one. I mean, it was going big, for sure. It goes massive.
- [11:15]
B
Yeah. Yeah, dude. A doubles did. Are the days of competition doubles gone? Because for sure, if we'd gone back one year ago, people would have been doing doubles in that comp.
- [11:25]
A
I had my six on the beach, man. If Lorenzo was going for the six, I would have gone for the six, too, man. I don't know. I think it depends really on. On the day, you know, and, like, on how the judges are feeling, too. Like, I think if everyone, like, starts straight doing doubles, then they're gonna score doubles. If everyone is gonna start straight doing singles, they're gonna score singles and not score doubles. I think it's just depending on the day. And other thing is, I think doubles are way harder than singles. That's why everyone sticks to singles because it's easy. But, yeah, like, I don't think they're dead, you know, there's gonna be evolution still. I mean, we've got an epic double kite now, and I've been pushing doubles, too. You know, I want to be complete and everything. You know, my doubles game hasn't been too strong for a long time, but now it's getting even stronger, you know, and I need to be ready for whatever comes, you know? So I don't. I don't want to kill them. I want to. I want to do them. I can like them.
- [12:29]
B
What's your thoughts on this format where they weren't. So the judging wasn't so fixated on what families you were using. Did you like that?
- [12:39]
A
I mean, coming from competing in GKA more than Red Bull events, I really got used to being only, like, three tricks, right? Different families, no variation score. That is a great thing. I think it's a great format. But I think, like, for Red Bull, they really want to see you having, like, let's say, rolling out a good heat, you know, they don't want to see you only doing three tricks. In gk, you can only land three tricks and crash your other four or five, and you can still win the championship, right? Or in. In Megaloo, in Red Bull or Kota, they want to see you doing a nice heat, making a nice show and showing it, right? And I think both things are quite sustainable. I mean, impression score is always a bit subjective, right? I don't know if it should be in there, but it can help you sometimes it can not help you, dude.
- [13:41]
B
I mean, the impression score, bro, I mean, who really knows? I mean, it's a real. People ask me about all the time, and I'm like, I just don't know. I don't think anyone knows. That's.
- [13:49]
A
That.
- [13:50]
B
That's the problem. I mean, it's. I understand what you're saying about the families, but also, I love this format. Like, 15 minute final. I mean, you get the whole day gets done in like four and a half hours, right. I mean, dude, you've been in some GK finals. They're like 45 minutes long, right. It's a lot of time just waiting and I guess that's hard to get your flow on. You know, you're talking about, you know, actually maybe in the Grand Canary when you won world championship, maybe having time to think. Jeremy, get your together. We've got three tricks to go and, and getting it done can help. You know, maybe it can help. But in this, I kind of like the battle. You know, it's like that's why I was so impressed with Stino being so down and being so out, being able to get his together and, and get himself back in the competition.
- [14:35]
A
Yeah. I think also with this form format with 15 minutes heats, I think like it's a bit more fair for everyone because let's say we would have done by turns and it would have take so long, maybe not everyone from the, from the heat would have found the kicker that. That suited right. You know, instead like this, you can play it around a bit more and really search for your kick. You know, I waited maybe one. One time, like four minutes for a kicker. You know, I just wanted to go for the perfect kicker. I couldn't waste my time. And especially like, it was not easy to go up with there. So it was really crucial to find the. The right takeoff zone, you know.
- [15:20]
B
Did you and Jacobo talk about being patient out there and just saying, hey, listen, you don't need every kicker. It's better to, as you say, control that top half the box. Right. Because I see if you get downwind, you also in the way of people, you've got to be careful of other guys coming back. Did you guys talk about that and. And talk about the importance of maybe being patient? Almost like, almost like the mega loop, right? You have to be a bit patient there.
- [15:42]
A
Yeah. He was like, you know, either way you go far out and you get the big kicker. But the big kicker, they're not. The judges are not going to see you. Like they're going to see you. But it's far. You want to impress them. Right? So we were like, there is a small kicker rolling in and hopefully the direction stays the same. And it was just lighting up, right. 50 meters from the. From the judging booth, right. So he's like, when the kicker comes in, you wait because it takes some time, but sometimes it comes and that thing can push you massive. Right. So we just yeah. Talked about waiting. Waiting?
- [16:21]
B
Yeah. Are you. And are you and Jacopo going to get radios as well? Like. Like, the Casati family be all hooked up with a radio on the back of your helmet.
- [16:29]
A
Ah, man.
- [16:30]
B
Like, dude, it's coming. I. Dude, I'm telling you, King of the air, bro. Everyone's gonna have radios.
- [16:36]
A
I told you. Like, maybe Kota, you don't. I don't know if you need it. Maybe. Yeah, maybe not. Like, I have them. I have them. I was about to bring them to call the Y, and then I forgot them.
- [16:45]
B
Kota is definitely easier to talk to the caddies for. Sure, Right, because you're coming into the beach every time.
- [16:50]
A
Yeah, exactly. And also, in call Duai, I was worried about the wind being straight onshore. If it was straight onshore, then it would have been a problem talking to the cad, you know, because you lose a lot of time. Instead, we got blessed by having the side winds, you know, side. Sure, you could come easy back. And I think, Kota, you know, it's not as hectic as call the Y. You don't have. I mean, hopefully we have 50 knots, man, to go massive. But it's, I think, a little bit easier. So I'm gonna have them. You know, it never hurts having them, and I think the Lorenzo is having a very good, like, you know, innovation in that side, and they really try to make the most out of technology, and I think it's the way we should go. You know, already the watches have been a big, big upgrade, I think.
- [17:39]
B
You know, you know, you were mentioning that little inside wave, and I, you know, I. As I looked, I couldn't really see on my camera angle, but I'd look out the window and I'd see guys sort of give up a little bit of upwind, sort of go downwind a bit and hit that little. It was almost like a reform wave just north of where the original judges were. Right, that's the wave you're talking about hitting.
- [17:57]
A
Yeah, exactly. You could. You could see it, like, it was not always in the same place. It could be a bit more upwind, a bit more downwind. I think the sandbank is weird there, but if you would see it, you should have gone for it, man, because sometimes it just gets steeper and it's clean and it can. It's actually, I think the one of that I got in the last. In the last jump.
- [18:19]
B
Let's talk about king of the air. When are you going to Cape Town to start preparing? I mean, you guys have always done it a bit Different. You always never came like everyone else. Obviously, that's your goal. You've been in the final before. What are you going to do? Are you going to get to Cape Town early and do some training or are you going to stay where you are and ride the conditions other can. Can you get similar conditions to Cape Town where you live?
- [18:41]
A
Yeah. Yeah. They're so similar, actually. The left foot forward kicker and same more or less wins. You know, maybe it's a bit more lofty in Cape Town, but we got the same wins. But honestly, I don't know. It's. I'm going to be where the wind is, you know, I don't wanna. Hopefully, you know, I see good forecast in Cape Town before Kota and I would go there. I would love to because I want to ride at the spot and get used to it. Even if I have. I rode already in that spot. But it's been two years since I haven't been riding in Cape Town. Last year I haven't been. So I want to be there. But if there is no wind for, let's say two or three weeks and there is wind here or Tarifa, I'm gonna be moving, man. If I have to go to Cape Town for a week and then there is wind in Tarifa for another week and then I have to go back, I'm gonna do that, man. I want to ride and get everything perfect, you know, and then whatever God wants in Kota, you know. But I want to be. I want to make sure that I'm gonna be riding good, you know, you.
- [19:45]
B
Mentioned missing out a year. I always wonder what's it like for the riders who have to pull out? I'm. Last year, I think yourself and baby shark were both injured. What's it like to be injured sitting? And this is the big competition, right? It's not always the windiest. It's. But it's the most prestigious. It's. You know, there's something about this that makes it that important. What's it like sitting at home watching, thinking I'm missing out?
- [20:07]
A
Yeah, man. Like, I turned it on one hour and then I had to turn it off, man. I always get. I was getting frustrated. I just checked the final, you know, I was like, I knew Lorenzo and Andrea are gonna be in. You know, I actually thought Lorenzo had it last year before actually the final started. And then I saw Andrea going massive and I just saw that and I was like, those were my conditions, man. It was epic, dudes, because it was perfect kicker. It was nine, eight meter you know, I was like, man, I. I missed out, man. I was bummed, completely bummed, you know, and the same time, I'm like, man, what the am I doing? Honestly, you know, why am I here and stuff? And then. But now, actually, it's like, I don't want to be back in that feeling. You know, I don't want to be sitting watching kota anymore. So now it's. I. I know that I have to train to be there. You know, it's not. Everything is easy. You know, I'm not going to be in kota because of. Yes. Or like, because of that. I need to be hard training for it, and I don't want to sit in the couch watching it. I want to be there, you know, just compete.
- [21:13]
B
In cape town, how do you train for coda and look after yourself? Because, you know, like, I mean, we're here all the time. People get Dakota, they're coming injured, they're riding injured, they're doing stuff injured, they're getting injured in that prep. How do you balance that? How do you get that right? Is jacopo controlling that, saying, hey, dude, you need to calm down, or do you know what you need to do to be prepared and not potentially get injured pushing. Pushing too hard?
- [21:36]
A
What I was doing in the past, I wasn't really resting. You know, I really learned from the past years that rest is a big thing because let's say I would kite for a week or so straight without stop, and then I would just burn out. You know, I wouldn't be motivated anymore. Instead, if I would have rested for a week after a strong week of kiting or after competition, I would get more motivation. The body would be refilled and it would. Would be strong again, you know? And I think coming into kota, you need to be 100% with your body, 100% with your mind and 100% with your gear. You know, it needs to be all perfect. You cannot be bad on something.
- [22:20]
B
I mean, you've been competing a long time, bro. I mean, maybe people don't know you were, like, seriously into freestyle up to like, four years ago.
- [22:28]
A
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there was no bigger, right? So. Or at least it was just loops, right? And bigger. I started. I started with. With freestyle like when I was 9, 10 until I was 16. And I still do it, like, sometimes when it's light, I like it, you know? And back in the days when I used to compete in the wkl. Wkc, that's GK now. But when there was all of those, I Mean, I. I loved it. I mean, I liked it. I learned a lot, you know, and at one point, bigger was easier, you.
- [23:10]
B
Know, like less training, less crashes.
- [23:13]
A
Yeah.
- [23:13]
B
I mean, that's the truth.
- [23:14]
A
It was easier. Yeah.
- [23:15]
B
Yeah, it's easier. That's the truth. That's so fun.
- [23:17]
A
Was easier. Yeah, for sure. I think freestyle. Freestyle kiteboarding is for real, man. And bigger two. But freestyle is like OG for sure. And I always say to people, like, if you want to start doing bigger, first you do freestyle. You learn the basics in freestyle, then you do bigger and everything is going to be easier. That's for sure. And if you think lord doesn't know how to do freestyle, he does freestyle.
- [23:43]
B
I've seen him. Yeah, I've seen it.
- [23:44]
A
Exactly.
- [23:44]
B
Yeah.
- [23:45]
A
Everyone does freestyle, you know, even though.
- [23:48]
B
I've seen even Andrea do a handle pass.
- [23:51]
A
Yeah.
- [23:52]
B
Not a good one, but I've seen him do one.
- [23:54]
A
You know, it's the basics. I think you need them. Easy stuff I don't tell you need to do double or double handle pass. Three one seven. Now go. Ready to blind. You know, get it constant. Once you got that constant, everything's going to be easier, you know, you need to have variety.
- [24:11]
B
I love it. Tell you what, Jeremy, amazing effort last week, bro. We. We couldn't be happier. I think. I think Ben's calling it like he called it from realm. He said, mate, he's going to win after round one. But mate, unbelievable. An unbeliev believable winner. Just. I love that photo that Jason got of you throwing the. Throwing the bar on the beach. Even though that you didn't know if you win. It's just such a sick photo. But, mate, congratulations again, buddy. Good luck for king of the year. Obviously we're going to see you there. And yeah, man, I'd love to see that full trap podium again and just go for it like we have in here in those big comps from the days gone by, you know?
- [24:42]
A
Thank you, brother. For sure. I mean, now it's all motivation and I hope we got some good win for kota and that we can push it at the max. And fingers crossed, man.
- [24:54]
B
Hey, guys, I hope you enjoyed that episode. Don't forget, if you want to support the show, the easiest way is to do it for free. Rate us on Spotify. I'm loving those five star reviews. Share them in your local WhatsApp or kite surfing groups or simply tell your mates if you want to support us more regularly, we have. If you want to support us more regularly, head over to portraitkite.com I know I'm talking about Portrait a lot, and if this is your first time, you listen to this. Portrait is an independent media company trying to tell the stories of Kite Boys the way we believe you should. These projects are funded by people just like you. If you believe in what we do and you want to support us more, head over to portraitkite.com and check out all the mad and check out all the madness there. Of course, the podcast will always remain free. If you want to find more episodes just like this one, use the search button@kitesir365.com to search your favorite writer or topic. And we'll see you this Thursday for the Megapod Sam.