Kitesurf365 – Lorenzo Casati | Episode #415

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Adrian Kerr
Guest: Lorenzo Casati
Theme: Celebrating Lorenzo Casati’s historic completion of kiteboarding’s "trilogy" (World Championship, Megaloop, Red Bull King of the Air) and diving deep into his journey, mindset, innovations, and the future of the sport.

Episode Overview

Adrian Kerr sits down with Lorenzo Casati, fresh off his 2025 Red Bull King of the Air triumph, making him the sixth "King" and the first to complete kiteboarding’s “trilogy” – winning the sport’s three major titles in different formats. The conversation explores the pressure of such success, Lorenzo's innovative tricks, the role of his team and family, gear development, and the ever-evolving landscape of Big Air kiteboarding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Completing the Trilogy: Pressure and Mindset

• Lorenzo’s Historic Year: Achieving world titles in all three top events, cementing himself among the sport’s elite.
• Relief & Excitement: "I mean, I was super excited about it, but for sure also you have kind of relief after you winning all of three... There's like less pressure on yourself..." (01:53)
• Future Goals: Lorenzo is already aiming to replicate the feat, noting “nobody has done two” trilogies – “that's something new as well, mate.” (02:20)
• Physical & Emotional Toll: Despite the grueling schedule, Lorenzo says, “I honestly feel not bad... One day after King of the Air, I went for a session straight after, back on training." (02:44)

2. Trick Innovation and Technical Progression

• Breaking Down the Final’s Signature Move:
  • “Back roll, half cab, board spin, tornado”—a never-been-done (NBD) trick.
  • Lorenzo prefers to call it a “full cab” for technical accuracy:
    “I try like really to extend them and like, be full, you know. So I say full cab...” (03:24)
• Combining and Creating Moves:
  • Methodical approach—training in Tarifa, deconstructing elements for maximum innovation.
  • “It’s all about good imagination and work on it.” (06:18)
• Physical Control:
  • On managing spin: “I really... make force on [my abs] and then my body stays stable, you know.” (05:05)
• Inspiration: Draws ideas from gymnastics for flips, but mainly adapts within kiting: “Mostly I try to take them from kiting... What can I add here? Board spin, board flip, rotation in this way. Yeah, you just need to have a good imagination and work on it.” (06:18)

3. The Master Plan: Family, Coaching, and Radio Comms

• Renato Casati’s Influence:
  • Adrian calls Renato “the master planner,” and Lorenzo gives full credit:
    “Without my dad, nothing of this would be possible for me... He really proved, especially with Leo at just 16... got second [in King of the Air]... how his hard work and coaching really work...” (06:56)
• Team Strategy:
  • Rigorous planning, on and off-water training, attention to movement variety and execution.
• Radio Communications:
  • Used live during finals, all team members connected:
    "It was connected to everyone... at the same time... maybe he's giving you an advice but then Leo can hear it, you know, so it's double sided.” (09:13)

4. Consistency, Crash Management, and Learning from Defeat

• Remarkable Consistency:
  • Only crashed one trick all event.
    “I really try to push that consistent, you know, because I’ve seen... all the guys that always won a King of the Air... it's also because they've been really, really consistent.” (10:28)
• Safe Crashing Techniques: Staying close to the board, crash management techniques are ingrained:
  • “It feels natural... also it’s super important to know how to crash. That’s why also, I actually never get injured for now and hopefully never.” (13:03)
• Learning from Losses:
  • “I think the losses teach you much more than victories. I think the biggest one was the one in France... I need to work hard on that spot, especially because I always have been struggling a little bit.” (14:11)

5. Event Formats & The Unique Challenge of Venues

• Different Event Formats:
  • Importance of adapting to run order, sequence, and trick-based formats:
    “It’s all different... the longer GKA format... now this new freshened up King of the Air format... that's something people should take notice of.” (17:28)
• Challenging Spots (e.g., Lords of Tram):
  • Gusty, choppy conditions and flat water present unique difficulties:
    “The spot is so small... if your opponent crash right in front... the heat is stop, you know, because it is only like that place you can jump.” (16:25)

6. The Harlem Family & Equipment Philosophy

• Brand Synergy:
  • Casati highlights Harlem’s integrated approach:
    “It’s all about the connection. Everything’s working together... That’s the way it’s been built. That’s where it’s been tested.” (17:38)
• Support System:
  • Feeling the “family” on the beach and off:
    “They were here on the beach, like, 50 people, all with... goggles, the shirt, the stuff supporting for me... Give you more positivity and more strength to go through and send it even bigger.” (19:07)

7. Looking Forward: Hydrofoil and the Next Generation

• Hydrofoil Potential:
  • Light-wind accessibility, room for pushing kiteboarding “outside.”
    “I think it has a lot of potential, especially... you can run events everywhere with just like, few knots...” (20:19)
• Training with Leo and the Youth Wave:
  • Rising competitors and pushing boundaries:
    "...if you know this gun next year is going to be even harder, then you have more motivation to push even more...” (26:17)
• Aaron Hadlow’s Influence:
  • “He is considered to be the goat at the moment... I always looked up to him since the first day I started kiting and... having him on the same team... he has so much knowledge and experience and really can help us... especially in kite design.” (22:37)

8. On Iconic Riders and Moments

• Jesse Richman’s Lasting Influence:
  • “Jesse’s... stuff he was doing back that 2019, that stuff would still score big today... The big dangle pass on the left, I think those would actually score really big today. And... nobody has ever done them again since him, you know.” (24:09-24:25)
• Legacy Moment:
  • On Jesse passing the torch:
    “It was amazing... to beat one of your leaders and that he actually talk to you and inspires you to push even harder.” (25:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On completing the trilogy:
  “I mean, what do you want more?” – Lorenzo (01:43)
• On creative process:
  “You just need to have a good imagination and work on it.” – Lorenzo (06:18)
• On family’s role:
  “Without my dad, nothing of this would be possible for me, but as well for Leo.” – Lorenzo (06:56)
• On new generation pressure:
  “They’re coming. They coming.” – Adrian & Lorenzo (26:06)
• On Cape Town’s enduring magic:
  “The energy you have here, all the history... I think it definitely is a place, you know.” – Lorenzo (27:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pressure and Relief after Winning Trilogy: 01:43 – 02:20
• Technical breakdown of the NBD move: 03:06 – 04:50
• Consistent riding and crash management: 10:12 – 13:12
• Learning from losses: 14:11 – 14:54
• The role of format/equipment: 17:28 – 19:40
• Hydrofoil and pushing new disciplines: 20:01 – 21:32
• Influence of veterans (Aaron, Jesse): 22:14 – 25:35
• New youth wave and future rivalries: 25:54 – 26:40

Summary

This episode is both a celebration and a technical deep-dive. Lorenzo Casati emerges not just as a dominant athlete but a thoughtful innovator, family collaborator, and role model for the next generation. He shares privileged insights into his training, mindset, trick development, and his vision for the sport’s future—highlighting the importance of evolving formats, equipment synergies, and the ever-younger wave of world-class competition. For listeners, it’s a masterclass in modern Big Air, delivered with humility, humor, and contagious passion.