Kitesurf365 Podcast – Sam Light | Blank Kite Test | Episode #425

Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Adrian Kerr
Guest: Sam Light

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the "Blank Kite Test," an innovative 12-meter freeride kite review conducted by Sam Light. The conversation, recorded at Makani Beach (Egypt) and Hayling Island (UK), explores the nuances of freeride kite performance without brand bias. Adrian and Sam take listeners through the methodology, surprises, and broader trends in kitesurfing gear—highlighting the test’s impact and the shifting dynamics in the industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State and Importance of the Freeride Category

• Freeride’s Place in the Market

  • Sam emphasizes the significance of the freeride category:
    • “It's the majority of the market realistically. You know, most guys cruising around doing a variety of things, sort of kind of somewhat focused on jumping... it's what most riders are going to be using.” (02:17)
  • Freeride covers everything from big air to foiling and freestyle; versatility is key.

• Freeride Kites: Jack of All Trades or Specialist?

  • Sam argues freeride kites should be competent in multiple disciplines, even as big air becomes more dominant.
    • “Kites need to be good at everything and they don't necessarily need to, yeah, be really good at one thing. But still, I think in this day and age they've got to be a good big air kite, really, because that seems to sort of be the driver.” (03:33)

2. Trends in Kiteboarding and Gear Selection

• Big Air’s Social Media Impact

  • Social feeds and pro-rider exposure heavily influence consumer choices, sometimes at the expense of freeride diversity.
    • “Big Air is always going to have that, you know, eye-catching, you know, viral thing... that is the majority of what people are posting.” (04:08)

• Rider Motivation & Multidiscipline Approach

  • Sam highlights personal cycles of obsession, shifting between disciplines for freshness and longevity in enjoyment:
    • “I've always liked doing different disciplines... that's what enabled me to keep my motivation up.” (06:29)
  • The next-gen pros (e.g., Finn, Lorenzo) switch easily between disciplines, reflecting better gear adaptation and deeper talent pools.

3. Inside the Blank Kite Test

• Testing with “Blank” (Unbranded) Kites

  • Sam approached the test naïvely, purposefully ignoring brand research for authenticity:
    • “I sort of kept... a more organic view of all the kites.” (07:32)
  • Admits to struggling with brand guessing, adding humor and authenticity:
    • “I was like, oh, no, what a bloker.” (08:00)

• Authenticity over Accuracy

  • The blank test format eliminates bias and brand loyalty, leading to more objective feedback.
    • Adrian: “Maybe the idea of the blankness of the kite is that so you can speak freely without sort of feeling like, oh, I don't want to say anything bad here in case this brand... comes after me.” (09:36)

• Aaron Hadlow Comparison

  • Contrasts Sam’s approach with Aaron’s “kite DNA” knowledge—demonstrates the value of testing from different expertise levels.

4. Price and Value in Kites

• How Price Informed Perception

  • Sam was shocked by the price spread and felt it altered perceived value:
    • “The ones that I had maybe given not as good a feedback, made them almost, you know, seem better value as some of the most expensive. Because... how can you compare, you know, this thing that's like three times the price?” (11:30)

• Material Choices: Do They Matter for Freeride?

  • The role of premium materials is significant mainly for advanced riders pushing performance limits.
    • “If you're an accomplished kite surfer and you really want a sportier kite... you're going to benefit from that. But if you're sort of beginner to intermediate... it's not gonna, you're not gonna notice any difference really.” (14:47)

5. Standout & Surprising Kites

• Surprises from the Test

  • The Bandit stood out as a surprise favorite, showing how perception can flip when blinded to branding:
    • “Bandit was your favorite for most of the tests... I was convinced that was a Brainchild kite for the whole time. So I was really impressed that it wasn't.” (12:51)
  • The Core Pace was mistaken for Ozone, illustrating bias from reputation vs feel.

• Test Conditions and Methodology

  • Sam kept 22 meters from the kites, couldn’t inspect design details up close.
  • Noted that even slight visual cues (from a distance or passing by other branded kites on the beach) subtly influenced guesses.

6. Freestyle as Part of Freeride

• Forgotten Side of Freeride

  • Sam’s inclusion of freestyle (tricks, not just jumps/loops) was appreciated by the community.
    • "Freestyle... I think a lot of people that, you know, are long time kiters actually do really enjoy watching it because it looks more... more kind of, what's the word? Technical." (19:42)

• Rider Ownership and Individuality

  • Encourages riders to push their own styles rather than always following the latest trend:
    • “I think, yeah, it just needs riders that are really like driven to push like their side of things and not maybe like, you know, sort of joining the herd and following what everyone else does.” (21:03)

7. Brand Loyalty and Consumer Behavior

• The Pull of Brand and Community

  • Many buyers stick to the brand they learned on, influenced by tribalism and social factors.
    • “If you learn on one brand and you end up just buying that brand because it worked for me, it comes back to also having that positive experience...” (22:16)
  • Investment and inertia (“platform switching” is costly and intimidating).

• Advice for Buyers

  • Demo multiple kites—ideally with your usual board for accurate comparison.
    • “Don’t change everything at once... keep your own board and demo other kites.” (24:04)
  • Be realistic about your sessions and aspirations:
    • “In reality, you ain't sailing the world or doing double kite loops.” (24:49)
  • Leverage online knowledge and tailor decisions to your skill, conditions, and goals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Testing Kites Blindly:
  "Not knowing, you know, stops you having any kind of predetermined ideas about how the kite's going to fly based on, you know, what friends and peers and, you know, or I read online..." — Sam Light (08:24)

• About the True Value of Top-End Materials:
  “For beginners, even jumping five or six meters, you know, it's not gonna... you're not gonna notice any difference really.” — Sam Light (14:47)

• On Staying Motivated in the Sport:
  “If I just did one thing, you know, I'd get bored and burnt out.” — Sam Light (06:29)

• On Brand Influence on Buying:
  "It's sort of almost like cultish... you want to kind of be included in the gang..." — Sam Light (22:01)

• Advice to Riders Considering New Gear:
  “Be realistic with yourself... there's so much information online nowadays... think about how the attributes and the riding that they're going to be doing...” — Sam Light (24:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:17] — The importance of freeride kiting
• [04:08] — Social media’s influence on gear choices
• [07:19] — The experience of riding unbranded kites
• [11:30] — Discussing price and value in kite selection
• [12:51] — Surprises revealed: the Bandit as standout
• [16:28] — Material choice and skill-level considerations
• [19:42] — Freestyle’s overlooked role in freeride
• [22:16] — The pull and effect of branding on consumer behavior
• [24:04] — Pro tips for demoing and buying kites

Episode Wrap-up & What’s Next

Adrian hints at the next Blank Kite Test (with a female tester and a new kite size) coming at the end of the year, promising to continue pushing for authentic, unbiased feedback in kiteboarding gear reviews.

End credits and promos omitted per instructions.

This episode provides a comprehensive, honest exploration of freeride kiteboarding—balancing technical insights, cultural commentary, and practical advice for anyone serious or curious about the sport. Sam’s grounded, open approach and Adrian’s knowledgeable, easygoing hosting make for an engaging listen packed with actionable takeaways.