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- [00:01]
A
Welcome to the kitesurf 365 podcast.
- [00:04]
B
Welcome back to the show. This is going to be a super busy week of podcasts. There'll be a podcast out almost every day as we fly through the post CO2 content. And before I leave Cape Town today, I sit down with the King of the Year winner, Nathalie Lambreck. A few days after winning the ladies division at this year's King of the Air, we talk about her amazing year heartbreak from last year's 30 minutes to this year's victory and the amazing team around her that made this win so special. I think her Instagram says it perfectly. Fearless on the water and the sweetest person off the water. Don't forget to follow me kitesurf365 for all the latest episodes. Ladies and gentlemen, Natalie Lambreck.
- [00:46]
C
Picking up now and I'm pretty ready, man. This one is probably a bit more nerve wracking.
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D
Kevin Langry, three time winner. This is like a heavyweight boxing match. This isn't the featherweights. There's no dancing around. Sponsor kicker. First move in ripple for a woman is super clean. That is yet another innovation move. Marc Jacobs heading out towards the iconic Robin Island. Highest trick scorer in all Red Bull King of the Airs, Janak Chiccici. Kevin Lany has taken it for the third time.
- [01:29]
C
Way more than a dream come tr.
- [01:36]
A
That is massive.
- [01:37]
C
Meanwhile, out the back and that has.
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A
To be for starting.
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D
It's an all out teenage affair.
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A
So you do your notes in a notepad.
- [01:48]
C
I even wrote some notes today. Yeah, that's the thing. Natalie, congratulations on winning the King of the Air. I don't like to say the King of the Air female division. I want to say Queen of the Year. How come we can't say that?
- [01:59]
A
I would love to call it Queen of the Air. It would be amazing. I feel like people are already saying, congrats, Queen. And that's the way I'm getting congratulated. And it feels pretty cool. Every time someone says it, I have like a tiny little smile and a warm feeling in my belly.
- [02:16]
C
You know, I was just saying to you before, we were always talking about you saying, oh, it's going to be when she wins a big one, not if and took longer than I thought. I mean, did that ever become frustrating for you?
- [02:25]
A
I wouldn't say frustrating, but for sure, like even weeks before leading up to the event, I was wondering maybe I'll end my career and never have like a big win and like to also be like satisfied with what I have done. And really work on Natalie as a person more than Natalie as an athlete. And that's the most important part of the journey. But now it's just the cherry on the cake, and I can't wait to keep pushing and seeing how far I can take this. And it's definitely a feeling that, I mean, like, you prove to yourself that you can and you're capable, and it was the best 15 minutes of big air kiteboarding of my life. And I want to just resemble that in my training now, too.
- [03:10]
C
Yeah, 10 out of 10 tricks. I mean, it's pretty awesome, too. I mean, how often in your life have you done a heat where you landed everything and not made any mistakes at all?
- [03:19]
A
Yeah, I can't even think about it. I know that I've had a few heats where I've been, like, really proud of myself, but I think this heat was just exactly what I needed for that day. Obviously, I did also want to push some other different tricks, but I was trying to also go with the variety and try to tickle the boxes before pushing harder tricks. But then I can just, for the next one, get those harder tricks more consistent and hopefully showcase them.
- [03:48]
C
What stage in the final do you think? I think I might be doing pretty well here.
- [03:53]
A
The thing is, I had no idea what the other girls were doing. Like, I wasn't focused on on them at all. Like, I saw them downwind, and I also, like, I wasn't even, like, truly going back to the beach. Just talking with Michiel and my sister, and they just focusing on what tricks I needed to do. And then I think four minutes. Like, at the end of the heat, I was like, wow, I've had an amazing heat, but I wanted to push till the very last second. But I was just. Yeah, I was sad that the last few minutes, it was hard to find a kicker, and I couldn't really get the back contour as high and as good as I wanted it, because my last trick, I really wanted it to be a boogie board off and land that in comp for the first time for myself. But, yeah, the ticker was just going a bit too fast those last two minutes.
- [04:43]
C
But by the way, that's a good sign because normally when you're leading, that time's going slow. It's giving your competitors an opportunity, and when you're behind, it's going super fast. So it was good that it was going fast for you.
- [04:55]
A
Yeah, actually, no, it did feel like time was in slow motion.
- [04:58]
C
Oh, no. It's the worst feeling.
- [05:00]
A
No, it's the best feeling.
- [05:01]
C
You like that?
- [05:02]
A
Yeah, because it's like you have all the time. It feels like you have the time and you don't feel as stressed and you like. That clock was just. I don't know. Usually I feel, like, really stressed with the timer going down, but now I just felt like, whoa, I've done so many tricks already and it's four minutes left, and I'm on my last two tricks that I want to push, which felt pretty amazing because usually on the last 15 minutes, maybe that. That's when I land my fifth or sixth trick and I had already done 10.
- [05:29]
C
This is almost opposite the Mega Loop, where in the Mega Loop, you got stuck far down the box and having to get up within that current and that wind. But here you're in the perfect position. The whole heat. Mika was there with you. It seemed like you had all the right space around you all the time.
- [05:44]
A
Yeah, I really feel like also, it was less strong than Megaloop, so it was easier to stay upwind in the box. I did feel like it was nice to stay there because also, I could see there was some good kickers rolling in. And then also because I'd already done so many of my tricks, I also took my time to go back upwind. I think Zara rode an amazing. It was so close between us two. I had no idea.
- [06:08]
C
Five. Five in the end.
- [06:09]
A
Yeah. Like, so amazing riding. It could have gone actually to her this year too. But, yeah, it was amazing. Her approach to me after the. She had found out that I won and goes straight to me, like, crying and hugging just because she knows how it is to feel your. To win your first big one. And that was so amazing that we could, like, share that moment without words, really. And now she's just posting so many beautiful things about it.
- [06:39]
C
Some amazing photos, right?
- [06:40]
A
Yeah, amazing photos. Wow.
- [06:42]
C
That one from Jason Broderick that he took of you, you two together was awesome.
- [06:46]
A
It was beautiful. It was like. Yeah, it was definitely one of my favorite ones. And then like, yeah, Seb's making a beautiful video now, too. And I feel like I can just keep that in my, like, little diary of moments and show it to my grandchildren when I'm older. I don't know. Like, yeah, like, it's really cool.
- [07:04]
C
Is that 15 minutes gonna change your life, you think?
- [07:08]
A
Changed my life? I don't know, but I definitely think that it adds something so beautiful and it just. I'm so grateful to have lived that. Lived that moment and proved to myself, even during all that, all that pressure that you can really enjoy yourself out there and then obviously it comes with. With good things. But we will see.
- [07:35]
C
You know, I was saying to you in the post show, you know, on 30th of May, 2022, I was at your place, your family house in Elgoon where you grew up three and a half years ago, and you were deciding to add Big Ear to your repertoire. You were fourth in the world at freestyle at the time. You were looking for a change. You competed that year at the Big Air World Championships, which is the first one in 2022. You got third.
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B
Are you super happy you chose Big Air?
- [08:02]
A
I love both disciplines still so much, but somehow I felt like Big Air was molded more towards me. It felt like when I went and tried was like, well made for me. Sounds a bit like I think it's okay, but it felt like I just. I fit in there so well with my writing style and I enjoyed it so much and the community. And I obviously still now miss a lot freestyle too, because it feels like that's what molded and shaped me as well to the writer I am. But I'm so happy that I got into this world introduced and yeah, kind of kept pushing it.
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C
You still did freestyle for another season or season a bit. Why did you decide to give up freestyle in the end and move away and just commit fully to Big Air?
- [08:55]
A
Well, I never gave it up. It was kind of by accident. I kept doing both tours for two years. And then after Gran Canaria, I got injured and that was like when I had the chance to fight for the title. And then after that I was going to do France where they had the freestyle stop, but then I had injured my knee, so there was no point. And then I find out Kota is coming. So then there was no point to do Brazil as well. And I had anyway missed Dunkirk. So then I was like, okay, I'm not going to compete this year in freestyle. But I was still planning on doing it the year after. But the thing is, the level of the women in bigger was just increasing and increasing and it felt like hard to keep up, especially after being injured for so many months back, like back to back. And then it just kind of happened by accident. And now I see it as. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah, it is hard to stay at a really high level in both disciplines. And also I was trying to get back to freestyle now in Brazil, but I was injuring my back. So it just felt a lot of signs were fighting against me also because when I was trying freeze, I was trying to go back to the level I already was at. So I have been trying to keep it alive and not put that to the side. But we will see. I'm not going to put too much pressure on it. And right now I really want to push how far I can get into big air. And then I would still love to do freestyle.
- [10:33]
C
You know, you're a rider who really wears their heart on their sleeves. How have you dealt with those emotions through the years? Because I felt at this event you were much more control of that and you seemed razor focused the whole, I mean, almost this whole year with the second at the Megaloop probably built on that. But this one, I felt like everything came together.
- [10:52]
A
Yeah, it's. It's funny because I also think that I felt that way and I was also a bit shocked after the first heat that I was like, almost like. So I was so happy because I thought maybe that Fran would have won that heat because of her huge trick score. But I just kept going and ticking the boxes for variety. And then I, I was just so happy. But I felt like I'm not done yet. And that's why I wanted to cool down the emotions because I wanted to be like, laser focused for the final. Like, I celebrated, I was super happy. But then I re channeled that and I wanted to put all my energy to that final and really fight for that crown. And yeah, I think for me just worked a lot on my mental state for how to be in a comp. What do I need to do before, what I need to do after? And sometimes it's just your day and that, that what, what it was at the end of the day, pretty frustrating.
- [11:54]
C
Comp for the ladies. Right? You rode on day one, then you had all these breaks coming in, going out, being let go and then being told it's not happening. Then obviously you're going straight to a final. You know, it's not really that fair. Right. You basically have a super tough hit, super tough final. And if you do lose that super tough, you have even the tougher sort of repercharge into another hard final. I mean, it's tough.
- [12:15]
A
Yeah, yeah. Like, I mean, in the end, it sounds cool. Oh, yeah. 50% of the ladies go to the final. But that first heat is so intimidating because it's like if you get third, you're out. And I was that last year. Like, I got third and got out. I got to compete like 13 minutes or what it was last year. And then that's the end of your journey and you just Feel like, okay. And I was just so happy I got two heats at least, you know, because that's the fun part. The fun, like, the best part about competition is competing is like, out there in the water doing your passion. Like all the things before, all the things after. It's like, it's extra, you know, But I just love the feeling of. Of competing.
- [12:56]
C
You changed up your team a bit this year, Bought a micro shipper. You've always had your sister, your family here. Why was it important to bring someone like Michael, who's competed in the big air Kitely? He's been around the industry a long time. Why was it important to bring him in as a person to help you with strategy and be a sort of first person to talk to on the beach?
- [13:14]
A
I just, honestly, I talked to him, Tarifa, and I just felt like this instant connection. And then when we were coaching together, I really felt like he could give me something on the table and that I really didn't have before. And he saw things in my takeoff or little details that we really concentrated and worked on that I really felt helped me here today, or not today, but on the day. And I think it was just a beautiful relationship between us as well. Like that we just connect so well on a person level. And then it just. Yeah, he says so many beautiful, encouraging words before I go out on the water, just these little things. And then when we're in the heat, it's just like, just tell tells me straight. Okay, now time to do the kai lub. And like, we're just focusing on my trick. Or like, oh, redo that one with thinking about this. Or, you know, like. And just like these little small words. And it really helps me because it. It just takes me out of my head that I don't have to think about all the strategy or which trick should I go for. It's just I can fully focus 100% on the trick that I'm going to do, like, right now because I get that direct feedback from him. And, yeah, I'm so grateful.
- [14:31]
C
I mean, it was awesome to see how stoked he was. I mean, if you look at the videos, it's like he's won the competition, which is so cool.
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A
Yeah, it was a team. We did it together, and my sister too.
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C
Have you ever thought about riding with the radio? Now Lorenzo's doing that. I know that Jeremy had a radio on his top as well. Is that something that you guys would like to work on? Or do you. Do you enjoy coming to the beach and having a Bit of a break. And, and maybe, maybe it's face to face you need to see.
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A
You know, I, I do enjoy coming back to the beach. Like, I do. I. I don't know, like the, the radio in my head. I don't know. I would be scared that I'm hearing too much noise from the beach, like, while I'm doing my trick, or hearing like a word that I didn't want to hear in the middle. I. I don't know, it just. I like the idea of coming back to the beach, but it's interesting. Would be interesting to give it a try, for sure.
- [15:16]
C
I mean, what advice would you give to young girls getting into Big Air? You know, we spoke about the big backroll kite loop you did in Blue Lagoon, which literally changed your trajectory in the sport. What advice would you give to girls who want to get into Big Ear? Because, let's be honest, we're not super deep on the ladies side at the moment. We've got a bunch of amazing riders, but then it's sort of, you know, once you get past that 10, it sort of drops off. Is there opportunity for young girls to come in and take over?
- [15:42]
A
For sure, for sure. Like, there's this girl called Aya Kasibova. She's super young and she's really charging. I think she's quite technical and you're just seeing a couple of these names. And I mean, it's funny because it's like, I won Queen of the Air now or Coda Women's division, but it's like she has some tricks that I don't even have. And it's about doing it with height and power and fit your style into what the competitions are asking for. And I think, like, my advice to the young girls is just, I think you need to work on your unique style and what you do to, like, stick out and then portray that. Because I think you doing something that's like, different in the sport is what's going to push you forward. I mean, it is quite difficult, I think, in the women industry also, with contracts and sponsors and support and some girls working jobs on the side in the top 10 women. And I think the level would be so much higher if also there was more brand support towards the women in this industry. And I think that's going to be also really important. And as we saw, it's like, okay, when we are standing on top of that podium, we have as much exposure as the men when we are there competing, you know, so it's really the time to invest in your young women riders. And that's what I want to see.
- [17:12]
C
Now, you mentioned Aya Casabova, and, you know, she's already competing in the gk. She was in Lords of Tram this year. It was crazy windy, and I was talking to her mother, Mila, and, you know, Mila was freaking out about how strong the wind and it's going to be okay. You know, it's kind of crazy to see that.
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B
Yeah.
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C
And. And you're right. I think it's important to find it your style.
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A
Yes.
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C
You know?
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A
Yeah.
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C
Do it your way.
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A
Yeah. Do it your way.
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C
Don't have to. Have to copy everyone. You can do something different.
- [17:35]
A
Exactly. Exactly. And that's what's so beautiful about this sport as well, is, like, you can do so many different things in so many different ways, and then, yeah, like, do what you do good and just make that better. And, like, I think the comparing game is, like, maybe the worst enemy. Like, I know I have done it myself as well, but I think it was really cool that. Yeah, if you just work on your strength and then just also see, like, okay, I have to really go back to the basics as well. That's also a good tip because I think that makes. If your basics are good, then the rest will follow.
- [18:14]
C
I mean, you said that to me in the post show. You said. When we went to Brazil, Michael got me just doing straight jumps again, working on my takeoff, getting my takeoff right. I mean, it's kind of crazy. And I remember seeing Zara up at the Breed river at Wit sand, just practicing her pop, you know, it's. Yeah, it's something that I don't think a lot of people understand that, you know, if you don't get the basics right, it's. It's hard to nail everything else.
- [18:34]
A
My jump is still far from great. Like, there's still a lot of work there to do.
- [18:42]
C
Come on.
- [18:42]
A
No, no. Like, I'm. I'm happy where it is, but there's. Yeah, there's. There's just these little details that, man, it just can boost you a little bit higher.
- [18:51]
C
I mean, you always like to loop super early. Where did that come from? I mean.
- [18:55]
A
No, that was by accident in the beginning, I think.
- [18:58]
C
You still do it now.
- [18:59]
A
Yeah, yeah. But now I saw it scores well, so now I do it on purpose. I know how to do it. I know how to loop later now, but I see that it scores well in comps, so then I keep doing it, and definitely to learn, for example, a doobie or these other tricks. Yeah, you have to learn to loop it later. And it is something that I have been working on and I know how to do now to loop later, but in comp, then we just go for it.
- [19:27]
C
You mentioned you've had a few injuries. Are you feeling great now? Is that something you've worked on as well to stop the injury prevention or to be more careful with your looking after yourself, leading into events and generally between events?
- [19:39]
A
Yeah, it's super nice because I have a sponsor called Goat Sports, and they're really behind me with both mental and physical preparation. And I have an app where I get daily programs of mobility to strength to all these little things. And they were there helping me through my knee injury. I had something with my sternum. I had something with my back. And it made such a huge difference in my recovery process. It was like, okay, maybe if I would have done that alone or seen a physio once a week, it would have taken me a month. But then because it was with them, they were like, on it with me for two weeks straight. And then, oh, my back was better. And I think that kind of support is something I always kind of dreamed of. And I'm just so interested as well in training and nutrition and taking care of myself. So, yeah, it's a passion of mine to just learn.
- [20:30]
C
I mean, if you follow you on Instagram, you see, you know, Nicole's giving you the best food all the time. I actually like to be around the team, Brett, because there's always a good food to be had.
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A
Yeah, it's super nice. Yeah, I love. I love her food. Oh, my God. Especially, like, the, like, vegan treats without, like, processed sugar. It's like, oh, it's the best thing in the world.
- [20:54]
C
Yeah, I just like straight chocolate. But let's just move on. You know, I asked you the other day about was, what was the party at Makani like? Have you. Have you heard any. Any reactions from the guys there? Because I know those guys would have been on that TV watching. They. They must have. They must have been partying at Makani.
- [21:08]
A
Y dad sent me a video of them all watching at Makani. And yeah, it was. It was some nice celebrations. And yeah, it's. It's. It's going to be cool to also come home and give everyone a big hug.
- [21:20]
C
I mean, how often do you spend in Makani or back in Egypt now, these days?
- [21:25]
A
Yeah, now less for sure. Like, when I did freestyle, it was honestly one of the best places to train because. Okay, yeah, it's a little Bit choppy, but you can find some places where.
- [21:34]
C
Secret lagoon, just like a little short boat ride north of Makani.
- [21:37]
A
Yeah, exactly. There's some.
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B
You know where it is.
- [21:39]
A
There's some flat water spots and like for freestyle was really amazing. I also think for like old school, it's also really, really cool. But then for Big Air, for the storms, I had to chase places where it's blowing over 40, you know, and go to Tarifa and go to Barcares and then I have spent less time there since I started with Big Air. But it's nice to come back there and come home and visit the family from time to time.
- [22:07]
C
But I mean, it's always the gateway to the safaris as well.
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B
Right.
- [22:09]
C
If you. You can get a little bit more wind in the. Out on those island, I think. I think it's a great place to learn. Bagheer, Egypt, actually, if you want to get into doing some loops and stuff like that, you can get some decent conditions for that.
- [22:19]
A
Yeah, exactly, exactly. For sure. Like, Alguna is a beautiful place to do it. And around Egypt as well, you have some other spots which are also really cool. And yeah, some days you can get a sandstorm, you know, if you're lucky.
- [22:33]
C
What's your plans for the rest of this year? Are you on holiday mode now or are you straight back to training?
- [22:38]
A
I was hoping for a little holiday, but apparently when you win an event, your life gets pretty busy. So. Yeah, like sitting here now to different shoots to things happening. But I'm hoping to go on like a little animal safari or something like this for a few days at least. But I really want to train, so I'm not.
- [22:59]
B
It's motivating.
- [23:00]
A
It's motivating. So the fire is lit and I'm ready to have a really good season here and push as much as I can in. In the Cape Town conditions. I'm gonna probably be here until my visa expires, maybe extend my visa or leave the country and come back.
- [23:18]
C
And the next competition is Lords of Tram.
- [23:20]
A
I hope so. I mean, like, we haven't really heard any official confirmations.
- [23:24]
C
I saw a Mekonos.
- [23:26]
A
Maybe you did.
- [23:27]
C
I saw someone said to me there might be a competent competition of Mykonos this year.
- [23:31]
A
Oh, wow, that would be super cool.
- [23:33]
C
I saw you in Mykonos this summer throwing some big loops.
- [23:35]
A
Yeah, I was. I was.
- [23:36]
C
You on short lines?
- [23:38]
A
No, just looping early again.
- [23:40]
C
Yeah. Because believe me, we walked in. That must be Cohen. Oh, it's Natalie.
- [23:46]
A
Yeah. No, yeah, mykonos it would be. It's just cool if we have more events, especially for the women, because, yeah, for the time being, it's sick now that we get to do Kota and get to do Mega Loop, but I'm happy to do more, more, more competitions.
- [24:03]
C
Have you set some goals for 2026?
- [24:06]
A
Yeah, I'm going to sit myself down and really reflect on this whole year and put some goals for next year. But definitely, like, yeah, I want to push my level as far as it can go and that's the biggest goal of all. Just see how far I can take it.
- [24:25]
C
Well, look, Natalie, three and a half years ago we had this amazing conversation Algona. It's sort of. It feels amazing. I went back and listened to that conversation. It's kind of funny to listen to now. But look, it's been awesome to see you grow as a person, especially in Big Air. It's been awesome for us, you know, because we've been so close to you and your family for so many years. It was amazing. And good luck for next year. Congratulations again. Just enjoy this. You don't have to push too hard now. You can take some time off. Don't go crazy.
- [24:53]
A
No, no, I'm going to take my time off and then I'm going to push hard as swear word.
- [24:59]
C
Thanks for coming on the show and congratulations again.
- [25:02]
A
Thank you so much.
- [25:03]
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. Keep them coming in, share them in your local WhatsApp or kite surfing groups, or just simply tell your mates. If you want to support us more regularly, head over to portraitkite.com and check out all the madness there. Portrait is an inst. 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, definitely go and check out everything over there. The podcast will always be free and if you want to find more episodes just like this one, use the search button at kitesurf365 to search your favorite rider or topic. As I said, there's going to be a lot of podcasts this week. On Wednesday, we're going to have the Lorenzo Casati interview. There'll be a short break on Thursday and on Friday we're going to cover wu's Battle Royale.