Kitesurf365: KOTA Post Show Days One and Two | The Megapod
Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Adrian Kerr & Colin Colin Carroll
Episode Overview
This extended Megapod episode delivers an energetic, in-depth breakdown of Days 1 and 2 of the 2025 Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) kiteboarding event—a competition marked by historic upsets, controversial judging, and stunning performances. Adrian and Colin interview athletes at the heart of these storylines, dissect technical decisions, and debate the evolving criteria shaping big air kiteboarding. Listeners are immersed in the raw drama, community camaraderie, and the shifting sands of kiteboarding’s top event.
Main Themes
- Major Tournament Upsets: Established stars like Andrea Principi, Charles Brodel, Jeremy Burlando, and Heale Venter are knocked out. New faces seize the moment.
- Judging Controversy & Criteria: Riders, especially Charles Brodel, openly question scoring, particularly the balance of height, variety, and landings.
- Next-Gen Talent & Changing of the Guard: Rising stars (Zach Adams, Parker Sage, Luca Cerutti) grab the spotlight.
- Innovation & Equipment Evolution: Introduction of foil kites at a major event shifts possibilities.
- Community & Rivalries: Deep roots from Hood River to Tarifa, riders lifting each other up through mentorship and friendly competition.
Key Segments & Insights
1. Setting the Stage: An Event Like No Other
[00:00–01:40]
- Adrian and Colin recount the electric drama on and off the water.
- "We walked down to the beach thinking, oh, maybe we're not gonna do anything today… But it turned out to be everything we ever wanted in the sport and why this is an incredible event." — Adrian ([00:47])
- Controversial heats, especially Charles Brodel vs. Zach Adams, ignite debate about the direction of the sport and judging priorities.
2. Judging Controversy: The Charles Brodel Debate
[01:10–02:00]
- Judges’ decisions in Charles Brodel’s loss to Zach Adams spark heated criticism; Charles had superior height and kite angle but slower landings.
- "If trick score is supposed to be 70% height, I don't know how that result was, how it was. And Charles was maddened by this." — Colin ([01:10])
3. Athlete Interviews: Rallying on the Sand
a) Francesca Maini: Breaking Records & Surviving Crashes
[12:48–15:12]
- Francesca recounts her historic 9.37-point trick—the highest for a woman at KOTA.
- “I wanted to just go for a straight Kilo board off but I could feel myself going into the rotation. I was like, oh, I'm just gonna go with it… And I honestly, like, don't really know how I landed that, but I was very stoked with it, honestly.” — Francesca ([13:07])
b) Jeremy Burlando: Fighting Illness and the Clock
[15:46–18:21]
- Jeremy battles food poisoning before his heat, then claws his way from third to second place in the final seconds.
- “I just went into a back roll and in the air... I was like, all right, I go for a loop and spin and whatever happens, happens. And I was lucky because it was actually a nice kicker and I got the good gusts, you know.” — Jeremy ([17:20])
c) Lorenzo Casati: Cool Execution, Rising Pressure
[18:43–20:53]; [44:58–47:13]
- Describes strategic planning with his father to ace the variety scoring and his love for bigger, riskier moves.
- On winning impression scores: “I had the plan. I needed to do something to get, you know, all seven [unique tricks].” — Lorenzo ([19:27])
- Displays humility and focus: “The job is still to do, and let's get it.” ([47:11])
d) Zach Adams: The New American Phenomenon
[47:51–54:51]
- Details pulling off a 4x board flip trick never attempted in competition—and doing it under pressure to defeat Andrea Principi.
- “That’s a trick I’ve done once in my entire life... to do it in a spot like this, in the best comp against the best, it was insane... and in two seconds, it went from being silent to the whole beach screaming.” ([48:01], [49:53])
- Acknowledges mentorship and camaraderie among the Hood River crew.
e) Parker Sage: Comeback of the Day
[22:30–24:29]; [41:55–43:36]
- Pulls off the upset of the tournament, eliminating Steenmoor.
- “The sunset was beautiful. I came from one of the worst heats of my life, probably... and then I was back on the water and just put everything I had and, yeah, we came out on top.” ([22:46])
- Describes training to diversify his trick list, adjusting to the new scoring model.
f) Charles Brodel: Frustration and Resolve
[34:30–37:42]
- Despite pushing technical boundaries, feels underscored, especially for his pioneering tricks on a foil board.
- “Like, when I watched my scores, I was quite surprised, especially on the last trick... I did the half cab, like the move everyone is loving. And with a kite angle like this, we never saw it before... I got just a 7.5 so it feels crazy.” ([35:31])
- Vows to return even stronger: "Next year, it's going to be like I'm going to solve this problem." ([35:41])
g) Luca Cerutti: Debuting the Foil Kite
[38:10–40:52]
- Makes history as the first to bring a foil kite to a major KOTA heat, electrifying both the beach and judges.
- “The fact of the matter is we showed a kite that's never been showed in the competition. And we absolutely rocked it.” ([40:00])
4. Event Structure & Format Changes
[06:42–10:25]; [24:09–24:29]
- Introduction of new variety-impression scoring model pushes athletes to plan around seven unique tricks per heat, requiring broader skillsets and strategy.
- Ongoing discussion about what judging is actually rewarding—a point of confusion and adaptation for both veterans and rookies.
5. Performance Highlights & Notable Quotes
- Andrea Principi’s Shock Exit
- “Andrea Principe’s dream of three in a row is over. And to be honest, he had it right up to the very end. Zach Adams has been on a fire run. He knocked out Charles Brodell. He knocked out Andrea Principe. Can he go all the way?” — Adrian ([28:34])
- Kiteboarding’s Next Generation
- “It’s always good to give young talent new a big chance, and we saw that today… King of the Air is like the pinnacle of the year. Everybody works for it.” — Guest Rider ([09:45])
Notable Moments & Timestamps
- Biggest Female Trick Ever: Francesca Maini’s 9.37-point ride ([13:10])
- Zach Adams’ 4x Board Flip: The move that brought down Andrea Principi ([49:49])
- Charles Brodel’s Half Cab with Historic Kite Angle: Technical mastery meets scoring frustration ([35:31])
- Luca Cerutti’s Foil Kite Launch: The crowd and judges erupt for innovation ([39:25])
- Jeremy's Clutch Buzzer Beater: Pulls victory from defeat in final seconds ([17:20])
- Parker Sage’s Comeback: From worst heat “down in the dirt” to epic win ([22:46])
- Judging Debate On Air: “The gut feeling up there was [Charles] had been ripped off.” — Adrian ([60:17])
Discussion: Community & Rivalries
- Hood River Influence: The “Hood River pipeline” via Mike McDonald produces Zach and Parker, now top contenders.
- “Look at this, scrawny-ass little kids in Hood River doing laid back rolls. They might have a chance. And bam, they put us on a camera, and look where we are now.” — Zach Adams ([54:31])
- Close Ties, Mutual Respect: Defeats sting, but riders are motivated to raise their game and support each other publicly.
Event Evolution & What’s Next
- Format changes (variety scoring, seven tricks) are driving new strategies, technical innovation, and, at times, confusion.
- The semi-final and final rounds promise further drama, especially as upstarts like Zach, Parker, and Luca charge toward the title.
- Debates about judging, event direction, and technical criteria will continue—likely spilling over into future episodes and the wider kiteboarding community.
Closing Summary
This episode captures both the chaos and the vibrancy of modern KOTA—where upsets, innovation, and emotion collide. From the heartbreak of veterans to the rise of young talents, every rider and every trick adds to the volatile mix that makes the King of the Air unmissable for fans.
“Sport is the highs and lows… sport was always interesting—people just wouldn't like it, you know, so you need to have these crazy moments in sport for us to be disappointed and want to come back stronger.” — Adrian ([61:06])
Listen for:
- Rider insights on adapting to controversy and changing formats
- Behind-the-scenes camaraderie and tension in the athlete community
- Authentic, unfiltered reactions straight from the sand
Next up: The finals, where legends are made—and more stories await.