Mikaili Sol | Episode # 443

Summary

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Kitesurf365 Podcast – Episode #443: Mikaili Sol (July 6, 2026)

Episode Overview

Adrian Kerr sits down with nine-time world champion Mikaili Sol, fresh off her latest victory in Mykonos. They dive into her personal journey—her recent wins, the evolution of her kiting career, overcoming injuries, and tackling mental challenges. They also touch on industry trends, the next wave of young riders, the departure of Andrea Principi from Duotone, and Sol’s new personal projects.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mykonos Victory & Rediscovering Joy in Competition

• Performance in Mykonos
  • Mikaili credits her happiness and relaxed mindset as key to her latest world title, emphasizing, “I was just really enjoying myself out there on the water... it made all the difference. I was actually... well, I could have done better.” (01:00)
• Contrast with Previous Competitions
  • Describes being physically and mentally unprepared at Lord of Tram in France:

    "I wasn't really trained...I wasn't doing loops basically all of Cape Town season...I looked at Sof and I was like, I don't know what I'm supposed to do." (01:24)

• Weather & Conditions
  • Appreciates the luck with good wind and warmer weather, vital compared to previous years:

    “We got lucky with the wind for the comp because...the days afterward...were terrible.” (02:14)

2. Technical Progression & Signature Tricks

• “Shark Attack” Maneuver
  • Details learning and adapting “shark attack” (kite loop variation) days before the comp:

    “I learned how to do it, like, three days before...I found out that it’s much easier...I could just stop myself midair.” (02:36)

  • Admits the version landed in competition wasn’t her best:

    “I think that was probably the worst one I ever did...I could have done much better. But...it was good enough.” (03:07)

• Approach to Finals
  • Focuses on landing consistent tricks:

    “If I land the tricks that I know I can do, I'm golden...You can be the best, you can be the worst, but it depends if you actually land.” (03:54)

3. Evolving Identity: From Freestyle to Big Air

• Growing as an Athlete
  • Observes her transition from “Freestyle Mika” to embracing Big Air as part of growing up:

    “Freestyle Mika was my beginning...big air kind of just reformed me, you know...I’m growing into myself every year.” (04:52)

• Freestyle Roots, Big Air Focus
  • Reflects on how shifts in discipline influenced both her personality and public perception.

4. Inspiration & Next Generation

• On Up-and-Coming Riders Like Aya Kasabova
  • Praises Aya's work ethic and how new talents are energizing the sport:

    “She really, really wants it...The amount of hours she spends on the water is just phenomenal.” (06:30)

  • Notes growth of Big Air discipline and how rapid progression energizes the women’s field.
• On Chasing Records (Giselle Polito, 10 Titles)
  • Considers her own title tally and competitive perspective:

    “If there’s comps and in good spots, why not do it? ...When the number gets that big, it sort of starts to diminish the value.” (08:12)

  • Questions the meaning behind high championship counts.

5. Spot Conditions & Industry Evolution

• On Riding in Mykonos
  • Reflects on improved conditions this year and the versatility of the spot:

    “This year was the best year...the wind was nice...in past years...it wasn’t a place that you go and...show what you can do.” (09:22)

  • Advocates for more strapless events in Mykonos.
• Industry Trends & Discipline Popularity
  • Addresses why Big Air currently overshadows other formats:

    “The industry...goes by trends. Big Air is trending right now, so all focus is on Big Air and the other disciplines get put in the background.” (10:31)

6. Technical Talk: Loop Preferences & Riding Styles

• Cape Town Training
  • Explains her process of relearning and expanding skill set during extended stays:

    “Cape Town really unlocked a different side of my connection with the kite...my down loops and extra rotations...are just so much easier.” (11:50)

  • Honest about relative comfort looping left vs. right.
• Kicker Direction, Comp Adjustments
  • Real talk about spot logistics—when to go left or right depending on chop, safety, and scoring.

7. Major Event Ambitions & Reflections

• Red Bull King/Queen of the Air
  • Shares measured enthusiasm about such titles:

    “It’d be cool...but it’s not like it’s on my bucket list to win for sure...I don’t feel like, wow, I need to prove something by winning that event.” (14:51)

  • Discusses women’s format and desire for a larger, fairer draw.
• Mega Loop & Weather Preferences
  • Jokes about aversion to cold events:

    “I’ve gone to Silt...to know that I definitely don’t want to do that.” (16:08)

8. Mental Health, Growth, and Longevity

• On Overcoming Injury & Pressures
  • Credits partner Sofi for support, discusses importance of perspective:

    “Your mind is your biggest enemy. It’s not everyone else, it’s you. If you don’t feel good...you’re gonna dig your own grave.” (17:08)

• Maintaining Motivation and Resetting
  • Values strategic breaks to refresh and avoid burnout, even if forced by circumstance.

9. Reflections on Career Choices

• On Trying to Compete in Multiple Disciplines
  • Realistic about the challenge:

    “To be good at one thing, you have to give it 100%...it’s not feasible in the long term.” (19:47)

• Perspective on Current Freestyle Scene
  • Recognizes decline in women's freestyle:

    "It was so high at one point...and then everyone just left...now the freestyle, it’s kind of, like, so small that there’s no progression.” (22:36)

• On Finn Healy & Next-Gen Prodigies

  "I do see a bit of myself in him, but I think he just has double the motivation and dedication I had." (21:54)

10. Personal Projects & Industry Trends

• Launching Mika & Soph Website
  • Rationale for a joint project:

    “The brands need to start to value partnerships within kiting...it’s like a two-for-one deal...You’re creating such an exposure because people want to see a story.” (24:01)

  • Discusses importance of authenticity and quality production in lifestyle content.
• Evolution of Social Media Presence
  • Contrasts athlete content with “TikTok influencers,” emphasizing pro-quality and storytelling.

11. Industry Bombshell: Andrea Principi Leaves Duotone

• Reactions and Insights
  • Analyzes the incompatibility between Principi’s creative energy and Duotone’s corporate culture:

    “Andrea...needs to be on a super long, long leash...I think Duotone is just not the type of brand to take advantage of all his qualities.” (28:11) “His whole sense of being is just to a different level of extreme...he does it at its max.” (29:51)

  • Both Adrian and Mikaili express excitement and curiosity about his future moves.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Competition Mentality:
  “You can be the best, you can be the worst, but it depends if you actually land. You can’t really do the best trick and just crash, crash, crash.” – Mikaili (03:54)
• On Transition and Growth:
  “Big Air, it kind of just reformed me...now being 21, almost 22, it’s like I’m starting to become myself every year.” – Mikaili (04:52)
• On Aya Kasabova:
  “She has this real Bulgarian personality...the amount of hours she spends on the water is just phenomenal.” – Mikaili (06:30)
• On Enduring Titles:
  “When the number gets that big, it sort of starts to diminish the value.” – Mikaili (08:51)
• On Partnership Content:
  “I think we just carry a higher value as together as one. Well, with two perspectives...” – Mikaili (24:01)
• On Andrea Principi:
  “He has so much energy...he’s so unique, especially in this industry. There’s no one else like him.” – Mikaili (28:11)
  “What's Andrea like? You're like, oh, he's. He's Andrea. You don't know until you really meet him.” – Mikaili (32:51)
• On Mental Health:
  “Your mind is your biggest enemy...if you don’t feel good...you’re gonna dig your own grave.” – Mikaili (17:08)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:39 – Start of conversation on Mykonos win
• 02:36 – Shark Attack trick discussion
• 04:52 – Freestyle vs. Big Air, personal evolution
• 06:30 – Reflections on Aya Kasabova and youth in the sport
• 09:22 – Mykonos as a kiting spot / trends in competition
• 11:50 – Cape Town, technical development, going left/right
• 14:39 – King/Queen of the Air ambitions
• 16:08 – Mega Loop and cold-water events
• 17:08 – Overcoming injury, mental health
• 19:47 – Competing in multiple disciplines
• 24:01 – Launching Mika & Soph website, value of partnerships
• 28:11 – Andrea Principi leaves Duotone, industry impact
• 32:51 – On Principi’s unique appeal

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Tone & Atmosphere

• The conversation is candid, supportive, and upbeat, with both Adrian and Mikaili sharing personal anecdotes, light teasing, and a sense of camaraderie.
• There is an undercurrent of optimism as well as maturity in how both discuss setbacks and industry changes.
• The episode balances technical details for kiteboarding enthusiasts with broader themes of personal growth, sport evolution, and the impact of authentic storytelling.

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For listeners or fans who missed this episode, it’s a compelling snapshot of where the sport—and some of its key personalities—stand in 2026.

Transcript

[Adrian]

Hi and welcome to the kitesurf 365 podcast. On today's show, Adrian sits down with nine time world champion Mikaeli Saul. They discuss her victory in Mykonos landing the shark attack, how she rediscovered the fun in kitesurfing, and her plans to compete at this year's Red Bull King of the Air. Don't forget to follow Adrienne Surf365. Now sit back and enjoy. Ladies and gentlemen, Mikhail is. Mika. So much to talk about. I don't even know where to begin.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I know there's so many things have happened so far, right?

[Adrian]

Hey, let's get straight into it. Let's talk about your ninth world title this last weekend in Mykonos. Man, what a performance. I mean, I think leading into I said that, you know, you were going to be like a anaconda and just sort of crush the competition and I felt like you did that. I mean, it was just so awesome to see you happy in writing.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, I mean, I think that was the biggest thing. I was just really enjoying myself out there on the water and I think, I mean, it made all the difference. I mean, you saw in my writing, I was actually. Well, I could have done better.

[Adrian]

You were smiling, Mika.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Smiling. Yeah, of course. I mean, I wanted to do more things, but I mean, next comp, always right.

[Adrian]

Was there a little bit of you that was like, man, I want to get that loss back from Lords of Tram?

[Mikaeli Saul]

No, I mean, I was just happy that I wasn't freezing to death, honestly. I mean, Lord of Tram, I was. It wasn't that I was like unmotivated one. I wasn't really trained. I haven't. I wasn't doing loops basically, you know, all of Cape Town season, I was just jumping left and not looping. So I kind of went into France like super, super unprepared, but in the sense of like not really knowing what, what my strategy was. Like, I didn't know what to do. Like, I remember the first day I went on the water, I looked at Sof and I was like, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Like, I don't know what tricks I'm supposed to do. Like, I haven't done any of these things in so long that I'm not comfortable. And France is like the worst place to feel uncomfortable in.

[Adrian]

So much more better in Mykonos, right? So much warmer. The water's beautiful. You can wear a 2 mil.

[Mikaeli Saul]

We got lucky with the wind for the comp because you saw the days afterward, they Were terrible. Like, we really, really pushed our luck. And, I mean, I don't know what happens with the gka, but the wind just comes.

[Adrian]

So going into this Mykonos, you felt a lot more prepared. I mean, I see you've been working hard. In Tarifa, you busted out the shark attack, which was super cool to see.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I learned how to do it, like, three days before the comp. I was like, why not? I might as well. I can do it without the loop. Why not just do it with the loop? It's basically the same thing. And I found out that it's much easier, you know, because, like, you would think that the loop, like the contra, will pull you into another rotation, but it kind of stops you. It's kind of strange. Like, you. You can stop. I don't know if it's just me, but, like, I felt like I could just stop myself midair. Like, it was super easy.

[Adrian]

But you had done better ones in training, right? Because you. After the comp, you're like, man, I had. That wasn't my best one.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think it was probably. Not to be frank, but, like, I think that was probably the worst one I ever did throughout the days, you know, Like, I really, really could have done much, much better, but, I mean, I'm just happy with the way it went. But for next comps coming forward, I'd like to, like, actually show, like, I can. I was. I was having a bit of difficulty of gaining the height just because, I don't know, I have a hard time reading the gusts. So I was just, like, I was. I was not doing very well, but it was good enough.

[Adrian]

We spoke before about you being happy and, you know, having a smile on your face. Is it nice to go into a final like that and feel like, you know, if I just do my job, I've got this. I mean, that. Let's be honest, right? That's. That's the feeling you must have. Yeah.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I mean, going into it, I think emotions were high in a sense. Like, obviously I wanted to win, but I was mainly just focused on, okay, if I land the tricks that I know I can do, I'm. I'm golden. Like, I know I'll be fine. So it was mainly just being able to put the scores on the board like usual. You know, that's what competition is. You can be the best, you can be the worst, but it depends if you actually land. You know, you can't really do the best trick and just crash, crash, crash. They're not going to give you Any points if you do something amazing but end up crashing, so it doesn't really matter.

[Adrian]

I mean, that's your fourth big air title. You got four freestyle titles, you've got one air games. There's a crossover between all of them. I don't know what happened that year, but they tried something new. Do you feel like this is just showing the sort of complete side of you because you have won strapless events in the past as well and just showing that you are a complete rider? Because I feel like now we've broken away from the freestyle mica and this is the new mica.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think Freestyle Mika was like my beginning, you know, it kind of edged me into the kiting world, but big air, it kind of just reformed me, you know, because I was so young doing freestyle, like, I was still learning so many things. My personality and, like, character were still developing. And now being 21, almost 22, you know, it's like I'm starting to become myself every year, you know, Like, I just, I'm growing into myself and like, I think it's. It's really cool to look back on past interviews and stuff like that and just see how I was before and what I am now and I'm really happy with the person that I become.

[Adrian]

People are talking about Andrea's leopard print haircut. I remember when you did the half hair, you know, you did the half white, half brown and cut the hair short. And it was a real fu to the industry. And I was like, I love this. This is the mica that we need.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I don't know if I was trying to be like fu to industry, to be honest. I think I was just. I was what, 15? And I was like, yeah, why not? I'm a bit bored. Why not? But, yeah, I mean, I was 15. Andrea's 21, you know, I like his hair. I love his hair. I think it's super out there. It's different. It's. It's him. I mean, you look at him now and you're like, wow, you really fit your personality. You know what I mean?

[Adrian]

Let's speak a little bit about Aya Kasabova, young girl that you know as well.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

Getting second. I mean, is it awesome for you to see young girls coming in? Because for a long time the fleet was. You were like the youngest rider. Right. There was all the sort of older, the older girls. But isn't that cool seeing these younger girls come in and, and do so well and just get more and more confident every competition? Yeah.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I mean, aya is great, honestly, like, it's great to kite with her, to be with her. She has this real Bulgarian personality, you know what I mean? It's amazing. You know, I love her family and just the way that she's so motivated and dedicated and the amount of hours she spends on the water is just phenomenal, you know, like she really, really wants it and it's nice to see that younger girls and guys and everything are really just coming into the industry and really trying to make it theirs. And, and I think that that's what was missing in the beginning because Big Air is still fairly new. You know, King of the Air is super old, but like the actual Big Air discipline hasn't really been around for a long time. Like, if you see the progression from, I don't know, three years ago to now, it's, it's immense, you know, like there's no comparison at all. But yeah, I mean, Aya is just out there, she's pushing, she's doing really well and I think in, yeah, year or so she's going to be a force to be reckoned with. I mean, she already is now, but I think her ment when she's working with Nico on her mental side and everything, because competition is all mental, but I think when everything clicks, she's going to be absolutely insane. But yeah, she's on the right track and it's really great to see at

[Adrian]

the other side of that spectrum we had Giselle Polito at this competition, 10 time world champion. Is that a goal of yours, to beat her or. You don't really care if it happens, it happens.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I, I technically did beat her.

[Adrian]

Is she 10 or 9?

[Mikaeli Saul]

Oh, you mean in that sense. I thought you meant beat her in a competition. I was like, what do you mean? No, not trying to be rude or anything.

[Adrian]

No, that's cool.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, I mean, I think I win one more, we're tied. And why not? I mean, if there's comps and in good spots, like, why not do it? You know, I wouldn't want to get to the level where it's like 918 time world champ, because that sounds a bit like ridiculous in my mind, you know, like, you know, there's this one win surfer, she's super cool, but she's like, she has 25 world titles because she does all the disciplines and when the number gets that big, it sort of starts to like diminish the value. Not of the sport or of the world championships, but you're just like, no,

[Adrian]

I get it, I get it.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Ridiculous. In a sense, to think of like, you're like 18, 19, 20 time world champion, that's just like, wow. Like, that's crazy.

[Adrian]

It's sort of almost cheapens the sport when it gets to that, right? Because it's like, hey, yeah, I love Charles, but, you know, when Charles is just competing against himself, it's. There's not much value in that to me, you know?

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

Let's talk a little bit about Mykonos. The spot. You've been going there for a few years. I see you every year there. Is that a spot you actually like? Because it can be quite tricky at times.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I would say this year was the best year. I don't know what happened to the wind, because you remember last year when we were there, it was like, it was nuking, but it wasn't like the nice type of wind. It was just dropping. Andre and Lorenzo went out and it was just like, it was. It wasn't unrideable, of course, but it wasn't a place that you go and you're like, okay, I can really show what I can do here. But for some reason this year, the wind was nice. Like, it was. It was fun to go out. Like, you felt like it had some density in it. I don't know how to explain it, but, yeah, the past few years that I went there, I mean, as you know, I was riding mainly strapless there. Like, I love that spot for strapless. I think it's amazing. I don't know why they don't do a strapless competition there. Because, to be honest, I think it would be such a sick spot. Usually I go and I'm like, yes, I can finally ride strapless again. Like, I'm so stoked. But, yeah, I really had to come to terms with it this year that I would have to ride the twin tip. And in the end, it was a good decision, you know, it was. It was fun, actually. Had I really enjoyed myself.

[Adrian]

Yeah. It's a shame that there's no strapless Big Air, cuz, you know, I know so wants to do that and you know, you've had some success in the past before, but it's crazy that that's sort of gone. Right. Because there are people out there who still want to do that.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah. I mean, I think the industry in general, it's. It. It kind of leans to one side, you know, like there's so many disciplines, but it just goes by trends. Like, Big Air is trending right now, so all focus is on Big Air and kind of the other disciplines. Just get put in the like background, you know, you don't really see them and it's not, it like diminishes their value. But if you really think about it, freestyle and strapless, they're much harder to learn and to progress than Big Air. You know, Big Air is sort of like the easiest, the most, the easiest, but like the scariest to do, you know? So I, I don't know, I think it varies. It's. It's just a bit unfortunate. But this, the industry and the comps go in trends, you know, big air, strapless, freestyle and I mean, I don't know, it's just, it's how it is.

[Adrian]

Yeah. It'd have to be a big shift for freestyle to come back. I really do feel sorry for freestyle.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

You know, I just look freestyle. When you watch freestyle live, it's awesome, you know, to watch it, to watch it live. It's one of those things bigger you can watch on tv. It's impressive. But when you see freestyle actually live, it's, it is super stick here. Hey, you mentioned going when you're in Cape Town, you're just jumping to the left. Is that you just getting used to the left? But I've seen you in Tarifa doing left a lot more these days. You feeling more comfortable going to the left and will you go to the left and kick us?

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, I mean, Cape Town was, I think it really unlocked like a different side of my connection with the kite in the sense, I think, because before I was only doing rights and I was only focused looping, looping, looping, looping. And I remember Andrea and Lorenzo and everyone saying, like, you have to do a bit of airstyle. Well, actually, no, Lorenzo's like, why don't you just loop? But Andrea was always coming to me and being like, focus on your hairstyle, do something else, you know, like just to gain that the max K control that you can have. And I think being in Cape Town for those like three months this year, I was just like doing that non stop. And now I just have this like, like the down loops and like the extra rotations and everything with the downloop is just so much easier. But yeah, I mean, left is still a bit of a tricky subject with the loop part because I don't feel as comfortable as I do to the right. But I think if I train a bit more, for sure I have some tricks that I can do to the left, but they're not like secure tricks, you know, it's not something that I'm for sure. Gonna land it in the comp.

[Adrian]

Are you going left side contra?

[Mikaeli Saul]

No, no. Kai loop. Yeah, I don't know. I do. Back. Lay back. Board off the flips and stuff with the kite loop to the left. I can't really do the flips to the right for some reason.

[Adrian]

Isn't it funny, Mika? I remember seeing you in Cape Town a few years ago. It was your first time there. You were like, I hate this place. I hate. I hate Cape Town. Get me out of here.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, it's not a good place. To the right. I mean, it's. It's good. Like in between the chop, it's fine. But when you jump right, you typically. Usually land on the next wave, you know, because if you take off from the kicker, you land in the flat. But if you take off from the. From the. On the right, you just land like in the short, in the whitewash. And it's not very nice. It's not fun. So of course this year, since we were there for so long and it was so windy every single day, I was like, you know what I might as well do, right? And I still have. I. I just have to unlock myself, unlock this issue that I had with doing loves because I was just so against it and so. And everyone would come to me and be like, stop being so, like hard headed. You have to do it. Like, you'll like it for sure. Just like, give it a try. And I was like, no, I'm not going to give this a try. It's stupid. Why am I right? People are discriminating against people who are jumping, right? And I mean, and they did for

[Adrian]

years, by the way, in Kota. They. They screwed people over. Look at Mark. They screwed him over many times. You know, I guess the big question is, you know, last year you were in the Red Bull fleet. Unfortunately you were injured. You pulled out sort of late in the piece. Is that the sort of final piece in the puzzle for you? And if you do get a Red Bull man, I'm going to call it queen of the. I don't care what they say. They can tell me off. I don't care if you do win a queen of the year. For me, that's bigger than a world title,

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think. I don't know. I mean, queen of the air and king there is awesome. I mean, it's really nice. Like, the men's fleet at least is sick. There's. What is it? 24 riders in the men's 18.

[Adrian]

18 for the men.

[Mikaeli Saul]

18. I think the women's fleet the only thing is, it kind of doesn't have as much value because you do two heats, you know, like, it's not really. You know, you win, you go to the final, isn't it? Yeah, you win the final, and it's. It's not such a big fleet. So I think the competition aspect in this state, they need to either ex. Like, they need to make it at least a 12 women. Like, at least, you know, so it, like, a bit more competition is nice, but I wouldn't say that I'm, like, dying to win it. Like, yeah, it's cool and all, but I don't feel like, wow, I need to prove something by winning that event, you know, like, it'd be cool. Like, it's nice, but it's not like it's on my bucket list to win for sure. But it's not like, wow, I really need this for myself, you know, I

[Adrian]

think we've seen now that there are 12 girls that can run it. 12 good enough girls to run a free. Like, let's be honest now. I think the first year was fine to do six, and the second year was fine to do six. But I do feel like they can step it up because, as you said, you can have a stinker in round one. And, you know, in Cape Town, things can go wrong really quickly. And you're out.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah. And it's a bummer, you know, you travel so far and then, like, one round you're out. You know, you should have at least one round that's not knockout.

[Adrian]

What about Mega Loop? Nice cold weather, freezing water, lots of

[Mikaeli Saul]

current favorite M. I've gone to Silt, Not. Not exactly to Megaloop, but I've been to Silt enough times and it's the same coast. To know that I definitely don't want to do that.

[Adrian]

No, that's understandable.

[Mikaeli Saul]

It's. It's not a place that I look at and I'm like, wow, I really, really need to do that. You know, it's. It's not really calling me if you. If you want to call it a nice. It's not something that I'm like, wow, I really need to do that. Like, code. I like, yeah, why not? I would. I would totally do that. The Mega Loop. It's kind of like. Yeah.

[Adrian]

Have you kited in Holland before?

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah. Yes. Freestyle in Tesol.

[Adrian]

Oh, really? Wow. That's a long time ago.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, well, long time ago. Yeah.

[Adrian]

Isn't that so crazy? We spoke before about you being in a great headspace. How did you overcome the injuries and expectations and you know, in those tough times and I wouldn't say dark times, but they were tough times and especially on a, on a young lady, you know. How did you get through those times?

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think so. Helped me a lot, to be honest. Like, she's just always there for me and just, I mean, she's right next door, you know, she's like, she's looking,

[Adrian]

she's looking through the window right now.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Better be something nice. No, I mean, I wouldn't say they're dark times. I mean, I, I'm super proud of the fact. Knock on, knock on. This is not wood. This is wood that I've never had like a really, really serious surgery injury, you know, that required surgery and for such a long career, it's, it's quite impressive in my opinion, because I know so many people that have blown out their knees, their shoulders, their ankles. I mean, it's, it's given, you know, you do freestyle especially, you're gonna hurt something eventually. But yeah, I mean, I think it was good to take a bit of time off as well. I wouldn't say that I was like, we were in Brazil, I couldn't really kite that much. I was doing a bit of strapless because it's a bit less impact. But I wasn't like sad that I couldn't KITE at my 100%, you know, it was, it was a good like reset button. Like, okay, take this time for yourself. Go to the gym, doing your physical therapy, everything. And it just puts you in a state of like, relax, you know, because I've just been go, go, go, go, go for so long that having this time, it almost felt like the year off that I took, you know, it was just like a good break. I think that it's nice to be like, okay, you don't have to do this if you don't feel like doing it, you know, and just being able to tell yourself that you don't always need to be on the water or you don't always need to be proving yourself every post or every event or every time someone talks to you. You don't have to try to be that person of, yeah, I'm the best, you know, like that sort of ego wise for yourself, not towards other people. But mentally, you know, your mind is your biggest enemy. It's not everyone else, it's you. If you don't feel good, if you're not in a good mental headspace, you're just gonna, you're gonna dig your own grave.

[Adrian]

I mean, it's pretty mature for you. I mean, Mika, I've known you a long time and you know, you've always been more mature than your age. And that's a compliment, by the way, if it didn't come across that way.

[Mikaeli Saul]

You're not calling me old, are you?

[Adrian]

Yeah, no, no. Well, I mean, you're still one of the youngest ones. It's kind of crazy. It's really cool to see how happy you are. I really enjoy that. I mean, I remember back you won the strapless and prayer that that year on about two weeks training, and then you decided that you were going to do the strapless tour and the freestyle tour. Only saved by Covid. Covid kicked in and you didn't end up doing it. But I mean, when you look back at that now, do you think, wow, that was. I was just pushing too hard?

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think I just. I love competing. Like, competitions are great. It just brings out the best in me and I don't know, I think I tried that and then I also tried that with the freestyle and the big air at the same time. And I think it's just the disciplines are just so different from each other that you can't really keep up. I think to be good at one thing, you have to give it 100% and you can't split it, you know, because you can't be like, okay, I'm gonna train a month here freestyle and then a month here bigger, and then go back and forth. Because it's just. It's not feasible in the long term. Short term, yeah, for sure, why not? But if you really want to stay up to level, especially in the men, you know, like Finn Fin's insane freestyle and in big air. But, you know, I think having those three events back to back to back took a toll on him because he was flying everywhere and doing a bunch of stuff. And it was just like the switch from freestyle to big air. I mean, you have it. It's like muscle memory. But you could have taken that time to really focus on one thing and just progress.

[Adrian]

Do you see yourself a little bit in Finn, in what he's doing?

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think Finn's a great guy. You know, he's young, I mean, but he's mature. You know, he really knows what he wants. But. And he loves kiting. And I think that's the best thing. It's just being able to keep the love for the sport and keep the motivation and dedication is what makes or breaks. And for now, I think he's doing great. I don't know how it's going to be for him if he continues to do it for a long period of time. But for now, he's. He's rocking it, you know, like, he. I think he's a big contender for the title of freestyle, especially now, because there's no more events in the big air, say, for the gka, Right. There's still Megaloop and King of the Air, but I think he can do really, really well. I'm really rooting for him to win the freestyle title again, because the things that he does are just insane. But, yeah, I think I do see a bit of myself in him, but I think he just has double the motivation and dedication that I had when I was a kid.

[Adrian]

Wow.

[Mikaeli Saul]

You know, like, I was growing. I spent a lot of time with him, with Fabio and everything. So I think I do see. I've seen how his progression has been, and it's just always been, like, completely uphill. Like, it's never really slanted down. It's just fully like, I want this. I'm going for it. And that's just how he is.

[Adrian]

And to go back to back in men's freestyle world titles would be pretty incredible, I don't think. I think Bebe. Yuri.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I mean, yeah, there's Yuri Aaron.

[Adrian]

Not many people have gone back to back. It's pretty. Pretty rare. So that'd be super cool. When you look at the freestyle and you see Bruner still doing it, do you ever think, oh, man, I miss it. I wish I could go back and do that?

[Mikaeli Saul]

No, not really. I mean, I think I kind of put freestyle behind me, not in a bad way, but just, like, I've been there, done that, did what I had to do. And, like, it's Bruna. She can have it, in a sense, you know, Like, I'm not like, wow, I should be there. I'm like. And also, like, I think the level of the freestyle girls now, compared to when me and Natalie, Pippa and everyone were doing it, you know, it was so high at one point. Like, it was actually pushing and pushing, and then everyone just, like, left, you know, everyone was just like, I'm just gonna go to bigger the trend. Like, not following the trend, but it's just like, freestyle's not giving what we need, so just moving on to different things. And now the freestyle, it's kind of, like, so small that it's. There's no progression. It's just stagnant. There's nothing. There's nowhere to go.

[Adrian]

I just think you guys went where the exposure was right. I mean the exposure was in big ear, you know, the big air kitely was kicking off and you know, people wanted to be involved in it. There was excitement that, that you know, the, the young Italians were there bringing the hype and it was natural for the girls to go across there. Hey, you mentioned. So before, let's go into it. I just see that you guys have launched your own website, mika and soph.com. well, tell us, tell me a little bit more about that.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I think I was just talking to a friend of ours the other day about this and I think that, that like as a couple, as like even, even if you're friends or anything, I think that the brands need to start to value partnerships within kiting, you know, because it's, it's. You're doing, it's like a two for one deal almost. You know, you're always together, you're staying in the same house, you're going in the same flights, you're sharing the same cars and you're just creating such a, an exposure because people want to see a story they don't really care about, wow, this trick or this or that, you know, because at one point it just gets repetitive. But what people really like is to live through you and really feel connected with you. And I think that couples, especially if you, if it's real and you're, you love each other and you really just have this connection and bond that people just get kind of addicted to it because they're like, wow, like I wish that was me. Or like they're, they're amazing together. And I think that that's why we launched the website together. Not just me individually or Soph individually because I think we just carry a higher value as together as one. Well, with two perspectives, you know, because it's not just one. You have two amazing people that are completely different from each other but do the same thing and love what they do and they're just sharing it. And I think that's amazing.

[Adrian]

I mean, it's a bit of an extension of Trap House and I want to bring up that name because Trap House sort of crashed and burned. I mean, we can all laugh about that a bit. But back then you were saying to me last year in Mykonos that you want to do more lifestyle stuff. And you, you were talk. And actually I think when I think back, you've been talking about that to me for a number of years, saying I want to do something different. And I guess this is the first part of it.

[Mikaeli Saul]

It's hard to do something different if you don't get the opportunity or the budgets to do something different, you know, because, yeah, you can do it alone, but if you can get a videographer and vlog and everything, I think it just comes out way better. Because, I mean, not quality over quantity, but at one point, quality is necessary. You can't just take your phone and film yourselves all day. It's not like you're not TikTok influencers in a sense. You know, like you, you want to be athletes, but you also want to be inspirations and you also want people to see your life. So in a good way, you kind of need to have someone that knows what they're doing. Yeah, you can learn, but if it's good from the start, it's gonna be good forever. You know, if it's like Rocky and you continue, sometimes you get a bit unmotivated because it's like a lot of work but not a lot of work that you shy away from it. It's just like it's. You can't feel like if you want to take videos on the water, you're not gonna only do vlogs of GoPro shots. You know, you need someone out, but you also want to be putting together. So it's. It's a bit difficult.

[Adrian]

I was just looking on, on Instagram this morning. I saw the Ion shoot with you and Soph. Is that gonna be a full length feature?

[Mikaeli Saul]

I don't know, to be honest. I think it's just a four part series. I think there's two more coming out and yeah, I think it's just like little mini things. But you see like, even there, like the. I think if you see the views and the comments and everything, the reshares, people really enjoy that sort of stuff. Going back to the other topic, you know, because you really get to know Soph and I on a deeper level. Yes, sure, we're still only scratching the surface, but it's something more. It's something different, it's something. It's not like a full on like vlog. Oh, hi, Amika. I'm so. It's like little short clips.

[Adrian]

It's also like a little bit to the inside. What you're saying about is it is the inside of you two. You know you can't even say my name right. Shut up. You know, it's. I. I love that type of stuff.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Right.

[Adrian]

Because it is the way we see you around, you know, the way we see you and Soph together. By the way, we're big Fans of Soph. She's a legend.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, I know, she's great.

[Adrian]

I guess I have to ask you about the whole Andrea Principe situation. Yesterday dropped a big bombshell leaving Duotone. It's crazy. I mean it's. I mean probably people saw it coming, but yeah, this is a huge move. Maybe the biggest news in kiteboarding this year.

[Mikaeli Saul]

For sure. I think for sure. The biggest news in kiteboarding this year. 100%. I would. It's crazy, but I'm not surprised. Like, be honest. Like Andrea, leopard print, face tattoo, Italian, whatever. Crazy guy. And then there's Duotone. German, Austrian company, corporate doesn't really match. You know, if that was north in the past, I don't know how it is now. They would be like all for it. But like if you really see there's no compa compatibility, you know, like, I think Andrea is the type of guy that needs to be on a super long, long, long leash and just. And I think it's just trying to like reel him in too fast and it just doesn't work. You know, this guy needs to. He, he has so much energy. He's such a good guy that he just needs to be out there and just be let free. And I think he's so marketable in a sense of. He's one of a kind. Like, he's so unique, especially in this industry. There's no one else like him. And I think Duotone is just not the type of brand to take advantage of all of his qualities. So I don't know where he's going. I don't know what he's gonna do. But I know whatever he does, if he puts his mind to it, he'll do it well because he, he's. He's an amazing person and he, he has a strong head. He's hard headed, but in a good way, you know?

[Adrian]

Yeah, I mean, I think you summed it up perfectly. I mean whether as futurism, competition or not, when Andre turns up, people know. You can feel it. He's got that energy about him, right? He's mag. He's got that magnetism about him. Whether it's the hair, whether it's the

[Mikaeli Saul]

outrageousness, but it's just his attitude. Like his, his, his whole sense of being is just to a different level of extreme. Like you see him dancing on the beach, singing, burping, whatever he does, you know, he does it at its max, you know, like it's, it's him, it's him. He's just, he's. He's the most extroverted person I've ever met.

[Adrian]

Like you. You know, you said like a freestyle was your sort of development, and then Big Air was sort of next phase and where you sort of found some more peace. I hope he can find that piece now, going to the new brand and doing what he wants to do, because you're right, he needs a long leash. He needs someone to say, whatever you do, we're going to. We're going to love. Because look at his. Look at his video. I mean, look at the breakup video. It's awesome, right? No one's ever done a video like that before.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I would have never thought to announce leaving a brand like that. It's so ingenious. Like, if you really think about it, it's just. I think his creat. His mind works in a different way and his creativity is strange, but also captivating, you know? So I think if, like you said, if he has a long leash and it's just like a blank slate and just do whatever you want to do. There's no judging here. You can really create something nice.

[Adrian]

You know, if you read the comments online over the last few days, you're like, oh, you know, he's this, he's that. I'm like, these people don't know him. And I tell people all the time. I mean, if you actually get to meet Andrea, he's super nice.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

Maybe this last six months when he's come out of a shell and, you know, maybe this is. This is the real Andrea.

[Mikaeli Saul]

I don't know if this is the real Andrea. I think it's him trying to find himself, but I think he's. He has a long way to go still. You know, he's not the most mature person. Like, he's mature, but he's also a lot. But he's a great guy. And I think that if he continues down the way that he's going and really just goes in and really finds who he truly is, he's going to be the best person ever.

[Adrian]

For me, he doesn't even have to do the comps anymore. I don't care if he does new comps. If he rocks up, I'm gonna be super happy to see him. I mean, and I think the people who know him and care about him, man, the dude's the most prolific winner we ever saw in the history of this big in Big ear. No, it's crazy how much he's won.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

And if he never does comps again, I won't give a.

[Mikaeli Saul]

But it's Even his energy when he wins, you know, it's. It's like, it's you. You won't. As much as if the people don't like them, they still want him to win. It's like he just, like, in Mega Loop, when he won, he took off his wetsuit. Like, they're just like in the freezing cold and, like, showed the tattoo and everything. Like, he just is. I. I don't have the right words to describe him. That's the problem. Like, there, there's no way to, like, describe him. You have to meet him, you know, like, he. He's the type of person who's just like, what's Andrea like? You're like, oh, he's. He's Andrea. You know, you don't know until you really meet him. And get this.

[Adrian]

I mean, I remember having him first on the podcast. He barely spoke English. It took a long time. We had to go through it very, very slowly. Now his English is amazing and he uses English in a way that even English speakers don't use. Like he said to me, you know, Adrian, I sit down, I get the illumination. He's talking about learning tricks, you know. You know, we say, I had an idea, a light bulb moment. He's like, I had the illumination. And it's like he's using English in a beautiful way. Maybe that's Italian, you know, and super interesting guy and very infectious and magnetic and yeah, I'm. I'm stoked for him. I'm looking forward to seeing where he goes, for sure. Yeah. Well, look, Mika, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. It's been a long time since we've had you on in a full length episode. Unbelievable work in Mykonos. It was so great to see you in. So great to see you. And so for celebrating, congratulations on the website and I guess I'm going to see you in Megaloop. No, probably Cape Town or Brazil.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Come to Brazil, Why not?

[Adrian]

I need to get my ass down there.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah.

[Adrian]

Thanks, mate.

[Mikaeli Saul]

Yeah, no worries.

[Adrian]

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 the show on Spotify. I'm loving those five star reviews. Keep them coming in, share them in your local WhatsApp or kite survey groups, or simply just tell your friends. If you want to support us more regularly, head over to portraitkite.com Portrait is an independent media company trying to tell the stories of kiteboarding the way we believe they should. These projects are funded by people just like you. And if you believe in what we do and want to support us more, head over to portraitkite.com the podcast guys will always be free, so don't worry about that. If you want to find more episodes just like this one, use the search [e-mail] to search your favorite writer or topic. And we'll be back this Thursday for the Makeup Pod.