Kitesurf365 – KOTA Preview Show feat. Giel Vlugt | The Megapod
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Adrian Kerr (with Colin Colin Carroll, “Ben,” plus guest Giel Vlugt and meteorologist Thomas Salzberg)
Episode Overview
This Megapod episode dives deep into the upcoming Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA), considered kiteboarding’s most prestigious event. Hosts Adrian, Colin (Ben), and guest co-host Giel Vlugt discuss the rider mindset going into the competition, the unique challenges of Cape Town conditions, selection controversies, favorites for the men’s and women’s titles, gear choices, judging changes, and the evolving landscape of Big Air kiteboarding. Meteorologist Thomas Salzberg also provides a detailed weather forecast for the event. The conversation features candid, insider insights, playful banter, and unfiltered opinions on what to expect at KOTA.
Main Discussion Points and Insights
1. Giel Vlugt's Mindset and Readiness for KOTA
- Giel ("Heel") on his form:
- Feels in the best shape of his career, strong, confident, and in touch with his gear.
- Adaptable to wind conditions; prefers strong wind but doesn’t need it to deliver (03:11).
“I feel good. I feel strong. I feel very in tune with the gear. I feel good riding in Cape Town. I love the kickers here. I feel like I’ve got it figured out a lot more than I did the previous years. So, yeah, I feel really good. I feel comfortable, I feel confident and I’m excited.” — Heel, 02:48
2. Experience, Competition Nerves, and Maturity
- Giel is now among the most experienced riders at KOTA, a shift he finds advantageous (04:01).
- Candid about pre-competition nerves but sees healthy stress as a motivator, not a hurdle.
“I don’t feel old, by the way, but it feels kind of nice... it’s an advantage to have the experience and to have the previous King of the Airs under your belt. ...Every time before I compete, I’m like, why am I competing? And then the moment the buzzer goes off, I’m so excited and I love it.”
— Heel, 04:35
3. Weather Forecast and Wind Conditions
- Meteorologist Thomas Salzberg provides technical insight:
- Saturday forecast: 30–35 knots, gusts up to 40 knots, 1.5–2m kickers.
- Explains Cape Town’s “coastal jet” phenomenon driving the wind (06:04–08:40).
“It’s a narrow, fast moving band of wind that is running up along the coast in parallel with the topography... That means the wind increasing much more with height than you usually would see in other places.” — Thomas Salzberg, 07:05
4. Scoring, Judging & the Double Loop Debate
- Giel unlikely to push the double loop, stating it’s not scoring well currently.
- Judges and event favor moves that are both high and easy for the crowd to understand (08:40–09:42).
“When they’re not scoring, it doesn’t make sense to keep doing them. ...Everybody would love to see that. I think it’s easier to understand from the perspective of the crowd.”
— Heel, 08:48
5. Jamie Overbeeke KOTA Non-Selection Controversy
- Panel voices shock and criticism at Jamie’s exclusion from the KOTA roster, given his abilities.
- Giel: Ridership for KOTA should consider competition performance and the ability to thrive under pressure—not just video entries (10:48–13:16).
“Honestly, it’s a great idea, but ...some riders get better when they compete. ...If [Jamie] has a really good day, he can still end up on the podium and amaze everyone, you know, so it's really tough for him that he's not in.”
— Heel, 11:01
6. Newcomers and “Rookies”—Are They Ready?
- Debate about whether Baptiste and Elliot (new additions) can handle the unique KOTA challenge.
- Giel insists everyone deserves their shot and that tough early experiences can lead to stronger competitors in future years (13:35–16:59).
“A lot of people become a competition rider. So you need to start at some point and everyone deserves a chance.” — Heel, 13:35
7. Judging Changes: The “Overall Impression”
- The 2025 KOTA will introduce a more mathematical, less subjective form of “overall impression” scoring, with live updates visible to competitors during heats.
- Giel is cautiously optimistic, sees potential but wants to ride for show, not just tick-box criteria (16:59–21:12).
“Every time I’ve tried to ride according to the criteria, it’s gone 180 degrees the other way. So I’m just going to ride and do what I like to do... putting on a show is the most important thing.” — Heel, 19:58
8. What Will Win KOTA 2025? Key Moves, Trends, and Riders to Watch
- Moves
- Not about most difficult, but what is “highest and furthest.”
- Stino consistently scores by going high, with great execution and kite positioning (21:48–22:44).
- Key Contenders and Sleepers
- “Core Four”: Andrea, Lorenzo, Jeremy, and “Stino” singled out as favorites.
- Jeremy’s blend of technicality and extremity makes him the “least desirable” opponent in a semi for Giel (24:24–26:36).
- Others mentioned who could make semifinals/finals: Cohen, Shahar, Charles Brodel (“don’t count him out”), implying up to 8 riders could win (27:10–29:54).
“If I have to write a semifinal against any of the three, I honestly least want to ride it against Jeremy, which, because I think he combines what they do.” — Heel, 25:11
9. Young Blood: Leonardo (Lorenzo’s Brother)
- Leonardo can potentially beat anyone “on his day,” but pressure might restrict his performance. Advice: have fun, enjoy the experience, don’t let expectations crush the vibe (30:59–32:19).
10. The “Show” Factor – Crowd, Pressure, and Momentum
- KOTA is about showmanship and feeling the audience. Giel says Andrea possesses an uncanny sense for the right trick at the right moment.
- Momentum, not a set trick list, often decides winners—like live performance art more than a clinical contest (34:06–37:19).
“If you bust out a big trick at the buzzer, it will score higher here than anywhere else... That’s just the show part.”
— Heel, 19:58
11. Women's KOTA Race and Key Names
- Zara (Giel’s partner) is viewed as a favorite, with the best height and kicker reading skills, but Francesca Manny and others—Natalie, Pippa, maybe Mika—are all fierce competition (39:32–45:49).
- Unsure if Mikaili Sol will compete due to injury. If she does, she’s a game-changer.
“She [Zara] goes as high as we go. And I think that’s pretty crazy. She’s getting the height super dialed now. It’s just putting everything together and making sure she can do all of her moves at that height.” — Heel, 42:29
12. Gear Talk: Boards, Kites, and Strategy
- Giel details potential last-minute board swaps for optimal speed and comfort (49:14–50:24).
- Comfort with both 9m and 10m kites, depending on conditions. Commentators highlight how extreme it is for Giel to consider a 10m in 35 knots—“Weekend warriors, don’t try this at home!” (50:24–51:18).
13. Cape Town Vibes, Crowds, and Conditions
- Fewer people in the water this year; high season and wind/wave variables discussed.
- The unique sensory experience of performing at KOTA: being “alone” in the wind, hearing the crowd, feeling adrenaline (54:25–57:17).
“When you go up in the air to do a trick, like, you hear wind in your ears all the time... and then you just hear people shouting at the beach. ...That’s such an unreal feeling.”
— Heel, 56:24
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- (03:11) Giel: “I feel comfortable, I feel confident and I’m excited.”
- (11:01) Giel on Jamie: “But come on, you know who he is, you know what he can do. If he has a really good day, he can still end up on the podium and amaze everyone, you know.”
- (19:58) Giel: “For this event, I’m not going to ride to any criteria… I’m just going to ride and do what I like to do… putting on a show is the most important thing.”
- (25:11) Giel about Jeremy: “If I have to write a semifinal against any of the three, I honestly least want to ride it against Jeremy…”
- (42:29) Giel (on Zara’s chances): “She’ll go as high as we go. And I think that’s pretty crazy. So she’s getting the height super dialed now.”
- (56:24) Giel on riding KOTA: “When you go up in the air to do a trick... you just hear people shouting at the beach. ...That’s such an unreal feeling.”
- (58:08) Kevin Langeree (clip):
“You hear the whole crowd just go… and that feeling is something I’ve never experienced in anything else in my life. …It’s hard. I haven’t found anything else where I can get that similar kind of feeling. It’s like a hard drug. Yeah, it’s crazy.”
Key Timestamps
- 03:11 – Giel on current form and confidence
- 06:04–08:40 – Meteorologist Thomas Salzberg explains Cape Town wind
- 10:48–13:16 – Jamie Overbeeke KOTA selection controversy
- 16:59–21:12 – Judging innovations and the “show” factor
- 21:48–24:08 – What moves and traits win KOTA?
- 24:50–26:36 – Who are the real podium threats?
- 29:54–32:19 – Leonardo’s big debut and pressure of expectations
- 39:32–45:49 – Women’s competition favorites, game-changers, and Zara’s mindset
- 50:24–51:18 – Equipment geek-out: kites and boards in powerful Cape Town wind
- 56:24–57:17 – The visceral experience of competing in KOTA
- 58:08–58:53 – Kevin Langeree on adrenaline and KOTA crowd (clip)
Conclusion
This lively, in-depth Megapod episode primes listeners for the 2025 King of the Air, balancing technical analysis, honest opinion, and rider perspective. Giel Vlugt shares rare insight into the psyche and preparation of an elite kiter. The show surfaces critical debates—from judging changes, selection drama, and dark horse picks, to the evolving style and psychology of Big Air competition. Whether a seasoned fan or new to Big Air, this episode delivers a compelling inside look at the sport’s crown jewel event.