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- [00:01]
A
Welcome to the kitesurf 365 podcast.
- [00:04]
B
Welcome back to the show. I hope you all had a great weekend. On today's episode, I'm joined by Timo Buezma. This podcast has been on the cards for a very long time. I don't know, but just some reason why we couldn't get it together or never worked out. But since he signed with Ozone, it seemed like the perfect time. Ladies and gentlemen, Timo Boisma. Timo, I've been talking about getting on for, like, five years. How come it's taken so long?
- [00:37]
A
Yeah, I don't know. It's. Yeah, we've been talking about it a lot, and, yeah, we haven't really planned to. Never lined up to let it work.
- [00:47]
B
Yeah, mate, before we get into the Ozone stuff, how was Gran Canaria, dude? I mean, some of the footage I saw coming up from you guys, and, I mean, Lorenzo is just next level there, right? I mean, is that a spot that you enjoy to ride and train and to visit?
- [01:03]
A
Yeah. So last year was my. My first time visiting Gran Canaria, and I already really liked it, but we didn't really get the conditions that we were looking for last year because, like, chemo. I was going with Kimo Stino and Jenna, and they had a very good experience before there, and they said, like, yeah, the conditions are crazy there, and we should go there. And then we went together, and the conditions really didn't really align that time.
- [01:31]
B
Classic kiteboarding.
- [01:33]
A
Yeah. So I was like, I'm not sure if this is now, like, a really good spot with the. With last year, but this year, I. I had a week there with Kimo. We went with the two of us. We had, like, very good conditions every day, so I changed my mind on that.
- [01:51]
B
Mate, how do you navigate those rocks? I mean, what. What's your secret trick? To get in and out of the water without sort of messing up your feet and board and stuff.
- [01:59]
A
Yeah. So when you're very powered, you. I. Most of the times I depowered my kite a bit to get into the water without getting pulled over the rocks, and then. Yeah, just walk very carefully and. I don't know. Yeah, just the last. The last moment just before heading in. Maybe sometimes we just do it. Do a beach start, like, where you jump in your board and then. Yeah, just pray for the best.
- [02:30]
B
Yeah. I mean, dude, some of those shots that Lorenzo has been putting up from that spot are just crazy, right? I mean, you can see. I mean, him and Leo in particular, really connected with that spot. I mean, it Is kind of a crate. Some of the shots he puts out there is just so crazy.
- [02:45]
A
Yeah. And especially seeing it in real life, it was, it was, yeah, definitely were on another level for sure. And everyone was saying it like he was saying it, Charles was saying it. Everyone was saying like what. What is happening here?
- [02:58]
B
Yeah, those guys are, those guys are so dialed in there. Well, look, mate, congratulations on signing with Ozo, mate. How did that come about? Because I know for a while there you were sort of in between brands and in sort of limbo.
- [03:09]
A
Yeah, yeah. So for a pretty long time I have not been having like kite sponsor and I was just in contact with a lot of brands, but it didn't really work out with most of them. And yeah, as you. As you might know, the, the budgets are a bit tight sometimes on the, on the current industry. I would say that made it a bit harder to really find a good new match. And then Ozone, where I been riding before, before Nash, I picked up some contact with Torren from Ozone and went straight to get in contact with the, with the team manager from Ozone. And it was a very good fit actually like from the beginning onwards. And as you might have seen at Lords of Tom, I was already riding the Ozone. And in Barcarez I was also riding the Ozone. And that was actually the first time I tested the kite. So that was also that I made it a bit hard for the competition in Barcarest to really showcase my best riding. Most of the people didn't even know, but my first session was one day before the competition on the kites and the boards. So I had one day to warm up on the gear and I did not sign yet back then at Barcarez. So it was a bit of a testing period. And yeah, I was just, I was thinking like, I think this guy is looking very good and it will work out.
- [04:44]
B
Is there some pressure when you go to Buckarez and you know you haven't signed that you want to put on a good performance because, you know, I know, I know that. I know that brands, you know, they look at Ryan's, hey, you know, he's new on the kite. You know, we give him some flexibility. But as a rider, you want to perform every time, right. I mean, you don't want to them to come off and think, mate, this guy went to, you know, I mean, did you feel that pressure?
- [05:07]
A
Yeah, of course, small pressure. But I was thinking I will just do the best I can. And they, they, they also knew I had one day on the kite before and they Were like, we know, we know it's. It's gonna be a bit harder to adopt like that quick. They weren't like putting too much pressure on me actually. Yeah.
- [05:32]
B
How do you find that kite compared to your previous kite? Because quite a different shape. Right. A lot more high aspect. How did you find that kite changing over? Did you adapt to it quickly or did it take a little bit of time to get used to?
- [05:45]
A
Yeah, so it's. It took. It took some times but it's like with, with every kite you. Yeah, some people say yeah, you can just adopt in two days or you can just adopt in three days. But I think to actually really get the best connection with the kite, you just need a lot of sessions and that's with every kite. Also the kites. I tried a lot of other kites from. Yeah. For example duotone, Harlem F1 in Cape Town. And that's the hard part of trying all those kites is that you. I think you need. You need more than two or three sessions to really get very confident on it. But after. Yeah. Getting those sessions in, it's. I'm just super stoked with the guide and it works out really well right now. So I'm very stoked on that.
- [06:37]
B
I know that board in particular. Jamie really liked that board. That was a board that he really, really liked. And I think for, you know, even. Even once he'd left Ozone, you know, we saw him riding the WHIPA branded board and have you enjoyed that board as well?
- [06:51]
A
And I really enjoy it especially in the. In the more choppy and like not flat water conditions. So also in the waves in Gran Canaria it was just working very good, very stoked. But Jamie, Jamie actually also always used it on the flat water, but I think it's especially very waves.
- [07:10]
B
I just want to go back to what you said before because I know you know in the media we've been talking a lot about the industries and not. Not such a great position as a top rider going to brands and. And then just saying we've budget. I mean is it the similar story across all the brands, some brands a little bit more willing to spend money? Because if you look at the size of some of the teams, mate, they're just decimated. Down to maybe two or three riders per team now.
- [07:36]
A
Yeah, yeah. I think you. You've seen it with a lot of riders. Indeed. Also with Sara, Gio and I think a lot of other riders are facing rough times now. So it's make it. Makes it a bit harder for sure. Yeah.
- [07:57]
B
Because I remember reaching out to you saying, timo, man, when are we going to do this, bro? What's happening? You're like, bro, I've got no news, man. You know, I want to share news with you, but I. I can't. And I, I mean, I remember Ben and I were like, man, I mean, Timo just needs a brand, you know, because you are one of the big faces in this industry. I mean, I remember Back to that 2022 cold Hawaii final. I mean, probably not your greatest performance in a final, but one of the great finals in our sport. Watching Andre and Lorenzo go crazy and you just been, I think, oh, maybe 18 at the time or something, just making that final and just thinking, wow, this guy's a. Another big name in that mix. I was really stoked when I saw you sign and you're back because I know you've been finishing your study and you're really ready to commit to it again, you know?
- [08:40]
A
Yeah, for sure. And, yeah, as you said you were reaching out before, like, should we do a podcast on what. What's your next plan? But I, Yeah, as you already said yourself, I didn't really know. And that's why I was also thinking maybe it's not too relevant to already talk about it too much, as I was also talking with a lot of brands and didn't know what. What I could say yet and what I couldn't say.
- [09:07]
B
So, yeah, is that, Is that cool to have Yena in the team as well?
- [09:11]
A
Yeah, it's very cool because, like, yeah, Jenna, Kimo and I, we. We've been traveling for the last three years, almost every, Every trip we did together. And now with Jenna, we. We're on the same team and we can also just start pushing for those comps and also make content for OZONE right now. And we're doing that a lot as well. So, yeah, I think that's a perfect match, to be honest.
- [09:37]
B
What content are you guys going to make for for ozone?
- [09:41]
A
We've been working on a vlog as well in Tarifa, and vlog is. I think it's coming out soon on the Ozone YouTube channel, and we are collaborating on it. And yeah, so we've been doing the Wind Games challenge from, from the SpaceX guys in Tarifa, and it was. Yeah, the video was just about. About that challenge and just some funny stuff. Yeah, was pretty, Pretty, pretty fun to make as well.
- [10:12]
B
I mean, I think it's going to be great to see Ozone back more regularly in competition. I mean, I know Jenna's been In and out. And it's been some time since Jamie was riding. But I think it's going to be great to have Ozone back, you know, because it is a big name in the sport and a legendary brand and a brand that's done things differently and, you know, and in a good way, actually. I mean, they're in a good position because they have done it differently to other brands. Are the Ozone guys really excited about what you guys potentially can bring to the competition scene?
- [10:42]
A
Yes, so they are very excited and also just supporting us on this, on this journey as we. As our main focus is still on competing. They are also, yeah, supporting us in that. And I think they really like to see Ozone back on the. On the competitions. But they are also, yeah, as you said, doing it a bit different than the other brands. And they're also, yeah, putting a lot of value on. On just the content side of the Kyborg. And I think the demo days, they're really. They really like to push the demo days as well. And Santi is also running all those demo days, so we are sometimes hopping on those as well.
- [11:29]
B
Are you going to get to really work with Jesse Richmond? Because it's kind of cool if you can, you know, spend some time with Jesse made and make some content with him. Because, dude, listen, if Jesse walks in a room, everybody's stoked. You know, he's got that, he's got that. He's got that magnetism about him. And when I see Jesse, I'm happy.
- [11:46]
A
I would really like to do a session with Jesse very soon and maybe on. Maybe on Maui or Hawaii. I don't know where he is right now, but I think it will be very fun to do a session or make some like a video together. So Jesse, if you're listening, let's do it. Let's do it.
- [12:06]
B
Are you going to get involved in the R D side of the development of the next kite? Because it's a real tough one, Timo, because reviews who don't really sell kites. Right. Let's be honest. Results, podiums, great performances are what get people hyped about kites, especially people who are already in the Ozone tribe. And Ozone's got such a great tribe of. And loyal followers. You know, results are going to be. Make them more excited, but the sport's changing so quickly. Do you think you guys can bring something to their R D team?
- [12:38]
A
Yeah, so I think they. They trust us in testing out some prototypes for sure. And yeah, I think when there are coming soon, when they're working on Some new prototypes. We can, I think Jine and I will be involved for sure. And also on the, on the foil kites. I've seen Jen have been testing some prototypes for foil kites as well. So yeah, I think we will work on that as well. For sure.
- [13:10]
B
Yeah. I saw Yena on some foil kites and, and Mykonos there as well. Have you got into the foil kite side for training? Because it seems to be now like the guys have 6, 7, 8, 9 and then it's only foil kites. You know, gone are the tens and twelve and big kites. They've basically gone foil kites for light wind and small kites for big air. Is that what you're going to do as well?
- [13:31]
A
Yeah, that's what, that's what I'm, what I'm already doing for like two years. It was like seven, eight, nine and then foil kites before, but now I'm just also really enjoying riding the 10 meter vortex. It's, I think it's one of the best 10 meters I, I, I've, I've ever, I've ever ridden. So I really like the 10 for, for, for kite loops as well. And then I have a 11 and 13 meter foil guide and I just use that from, I think from 25 and lower. I just go on the foil guide for sure. Yeah.
- [14:06]
B
25 and lower, dude. 25 and lower for most of us is like nine meters. But yeah, it's, it dude. It's crazy Timo, how enjoying lighter winds now and going out on those four kites. Right. I think Hugo, Jamie, you know, those type of guys who are, you know, even Klein to some extent, they've made it look cool, they've made it look fun. You know, they've, they've taken that sort of, you know, foil kites used to be like what old menus, right. Was like oh, the old guys. But those guys have turned it into something like everyone wants to be on.
- [14:36]
A
Yeah. And actually it's, it's all, it's sometimes it's almost even, even more fun to ride foil kite than, than the tube guide. Like, especially when you have those very lofty days where the wind is just very uplifting. It's just so much fun to ride. To ride it. And then yeah, at ISO Mir in, in Holland that's like where Jamie always, always rides his foil kites. I don't know why, but the wind is just also so, so uplifting there. And to ride the foil kite there, it's just, yeah, we call it in in Holland. We call it lop. Lop heaven.
- [15:11]
B
The lob heaven. Okay.
- [15:12]
A
The love heaven. Because. Yeah, I don't know how you In. In. In Dutch. Yeah, we just have those fun. Those fun terms. We just call it Lopen in Holland. When you go. When you go on the foil guide,
- [15:24]
B
dude, after Mykonos and there was some lighter days, mate. Honestly, the whole fleet that was remaining was literally out on foil kites. I mean, Luca, Hugo for sure, Jamie had left, but, mate, it was just incredible to see how many guys were on Sonics. And it's mainly Sonics at the time. Right? You guys, obviously, with Ozone, they've. They've got their kites coming through. Tell. Tell us about the. The Ozone high performance foil kite. What's it called?
- [15:50]
A
The. Like the. The one I'm using? Yeah, yeah, it's called the Mach one. I haven't really tested the smaller sizes, to be honest, yet.
- [15:58]
B
What about looping a foil kite? Have you. Are you into that yet or. Not really?
- [16:02]
A
Yeah, I. I haven't. I haven't done that before, but maybe I should try it.
- [16:07]
B
I think Evan's done the best low loops, I think, on foils. I'm sure. I mean, I'm sure Jamie and Hugo and Luca have done some, but I think the ones that I saw Evan done, I mean, the. What most ones are off like. Dude, that's right on the edge even.
- [16:22]
A
Yeah, yeah, those are. Those are actually on my home spot, I think. You. You. You were talking about that one on the lagoon. Yeah, the sky's for. Yeah, that was my home spot at the Sun Motor, and those were.
- [16:33]
B
The tide must have been high that day.
- [16:36]
A
I think so, yeah. Because nowadays it's. Yeah, it's almost not possible to guide there in. In stronger winds than 20 knots because you just fly out of it, go
- [16:47]
B
out of the lake. Tell us a bit about Zammota. It's not really. I mean, it's a spot that obviously a lot of people have heard about, but it's probably not a lot of. I mean, I don't think people actually travel to Holland to kite. Right. Most Europeans don't. Maybe some Germans come, but what's that spot actually like?
- [17:04]
A
Yeah, I think a lot of Germans do, because especially in the summer, you see a lot of Germans guiding here. Yeah, but mainly the pros are not. I think they're just not traveling to the. To the Netherlands to kite, because, yeah, the spots are really good. And also when you have a good south southwest, day of wind, it can be very good, but it's just not happening anymore. I don't know why, but it's, it's. There's no wind anymore here and yeah, I, I'm just actually almost only guiding on the foil guide and like, like, yeah, a few times per year I can just go on the, on the tube.
- [17:45]
B
Isn't it crazy, bro, that the Dutch produce so many good riders and the conditions have. Let's say maybe they've got worse over the years. Maybe it's global warming. I mean, I don't want to say that's the reason, but isn't that crazy?
- [17:58]
A
Yeah, I also don't want to say that's the reason, but in my, in my, like in my memory when I was 16, 15 years old and starting guiding, I think there was also just a lot, lots of more wind here, I think. I think it actually changed.
- [18:19]
B
Yeah, that's crazy. Are you spending more time in Tarifa now? I mean I've seen you in Tarifa quite a bit. Is that, are you gonna be based more there? I mean that's, that's the spot, right?
- [18:27]
A
Yeah, yeah. So for the last whole month of, of June, I think. Yeah, for the whole month of June I've been staying there and have been having some really good training sessions also. And maybe for September and October I'm also planning to go there for a longer time to, to train the area for sure. It. I think outside of the Cape Town season, it's very good to train there. And now I had a really good week at Gran Canaria as well. So I think you're gonna be switching a bit between those spots. Gran Canaria, Tarifa and Denmark can also be very good, but it's a bit like the same as Holland, but a bit more. But also not. I, I don't think you have too many win days there.
- [19:20]
B
It's a long way from Holland, bro. That's a long drive up to Klipmuller
- [19:24]
A
there at Coldhui, it's actually pretty, pretty doable. I think it's nine hours drive, ten hours from my home. Yeah, it's for sure it's a pretty long drive, but Barcarez is even further. It's 13, 14 hours drive.
- [19:42]
B
Timo, how's all the injuries?
- [19:44]
A
Yeah, so I have. I had some very annoying injuries now. When I finished my school I. I went to Tarifa as my first trip and first time not having to go to school for one month and then I just broke my leg and that was very unfortunate because we already. We also planned to go to Brazil afterwards and we still went to Brazil, but the first. We went to Brazil for one month. In the first three weeks of Brazil, I couldn't guide because my leg wasn't ready yet. And after that it was just going up and up and up again. And I was, yeah, just ready in time for the King of the Air. After that and one year after, I had one year of no injuries. And at the end of last year, at the end of 2025, I would say September, I've also did a Instagram post about that. I had a muscle tear in my, in my app. And that was for sure the hard, the hardest injury I ever had. Because I still, sometimes I still just. It still still doesn't feel 100 and it's almost one year ago already. And at. At the Mega Loop Challenge, at Gold Away and at King of the Air, it was. It was a muscle tear. And I was also riding all those comps with the injury and with painkillers to, to ride it because the, the doctors in Holland, they told me that there was nothing wrong and you should just, yeah, just go out and use painkillers and it will be all right. It will be all right. Because they did not spot any tear. And I was thinking, yeah, maybe I'm just overreacting and I just have to go. But it was hurting so much every session.
- [21:37]
B
Actually, mate, did you get a. Did you try the seat harness?
- [21:41]
A
No, I don't want to try it.
- [21:43]
B
But you'd look good in the seat house, teammate. Trust me, you'd look good. Maybe you could bring seat harnesses back, bro. He can bring it back. You know, make it cool again.
- [21:54]
A
Yeah, maybe. But, yeah, then after the, after the Cape Town season like last year, 2025, 2026, I was going back to the doctor and saying, yeah, I'm just facing so much pain and stuff in my, in my app. And how, how can it be? I'm going to be having so much pain for so long. And then they did another check and they said, oh, there's a muscle tear. So it's not good that you. That you've kept on guiding for three, four months. And I think that even made the injury a bit worse that I kept on guiding. And after that, I had to not guide for two months to recover from that tear. And then one week after I was having my first session again, that was when the Lord Trum was going on. So it was actually two months of not guiding for the injury to recover and then my first time trying new gear in the Lords of Tram. So that was A tough injury and still. Yeah.
- [23:02]
B
How did that tear get fixed? You had to just rest.
- [23:05]
A
Yeah, just rest. And the, the bad thing about that, about that tear was just that just resting was not enough. At. Sometimes at some point you just had to do progressive overload on it, but. But in a like, very gentle way that you do very, like, boring app exercises to get it stronger and progress a lot, like very slight on it every session. It was hard to recover from it.
- [23:35]
B
You're only 21. You. You wait till you get into your 30s and 40s, mate. Those injuries, they. They're like times 10. The recovery times, it's never ending. I've got a shoulder injury which is going to last me. I'll probably die before it gets better, you know, but, yeah, you're. You'll be right, mate. It's good. But I mean, kiting and pushing it over that time probably didn't help it, right?
- [23:55]
A
No, no, for sure not. And you just want to keep on going, but the injuries just holding you back.
- [24:01]
B
Yeah. Timo, you know, you were finishing your studies for a few years and, you know, you were very open about, I want to finish school, I want to get that done. How hard was it to keep your momentum up during those two or three years where you were getting stuff done? Because there was times where you'd gone from, you know, sort of being picked in every fleet to being, let's say, fringe in every fleet. You was that tough on you because you know what you can do, but you've got goals that you want to achieve.
- [24:28]
A
Yeah. So, yeah, also my, my parents, they really, they were really saying, like, just finish your school and then afterwards go. Go full on it. And yeah, I also, I really believe that it was good, a good thing to do that as you're just very relied on your body, on your body as a kite surfer. And if something happens with your body and yeah, maybe you have injury where you can't get over or something. I think it's very good to have a plan B.
- [25:04]
B
What's the plan to. I mean, the GKA Tour is over now. The. The World Championships are done now. Now we go into the big Red ball events and there's basically three left, right? We've got Megaloop Cold Hawaii, which you've been a finalist before, and then obviously the Red Bull King of the year, which is the one everyone wants to win, you know, and is. Is the toughest one to win. What's your plan for those three events now?
- [25:27]
A
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. My plan is to. To make an. To make an entry for. For all of those and to see if I'm being selected. Yeah, I'm. I'm just very, very keen to. To ride those and show my current riding on Ozone because I think I've made a lot of progression lately and I'm very stoked to show that at. I think the first one is going to be called a Y.
- [25:55]
B
You think there's going to be no wind in for the Mega Loop this year or.
- [25:58]
A
The Mega Loop? Yeah, like, no. No. Yeah. I. I don't know. Yeah. Yeah, maybe.
- [26:05]
B
I mean, it's been. It's been marginal, right? It's been marginal. I mean, the last few years have been good, but they haven't been the strongest wins. I mean, guys are riding nines that shouldn't be Mega Loop.
- [26:14]
A
No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah, yeah, maybe. Maybe Mega Loop or maybe Gold away. But yeah, I think. I think last year they were one week after each each other. So it's gonna be. It's gonna be one of those. To be the first competition, you know,
- [26:33]
B
once you sign with Ozone and, you know, you know, feeling comfortable with a great company. Did you find that your progression was sped up because you were dialed in and committed as to say.
- [26:44]
A
Yeah, yeah, for sure. I can definitely say that my progression went up after riding those on kites. One. One thing, like, I forgot to. To mention, I. I don't know if it's. If it's just if it's confirmed yet or something, but on the Red Bull side, I was also seeing something about a Red Bull qualifier in Taiwan.
- [27:02]
B
It's interesting you brought that up because I. I was speaking to Greg James, which is Robbie James's dad. He was talking about this to me for a long time. I don't know what's going on about that, man. I. As far as I know, there's no Rebel qualifiers if they do that event. I mean, I don't. I mean, are people going to risk coming all the way from Europe for a Red Bull qualifier in Taiwan? If you've got Cold Hawaii, you've got Megaloop, you've got all these events all happening around the same time.
- [27:33]
A
Yeah, I saw it on the Red Bull side, and I think it was between the 21st and the 26th or something of October.
- [27:41]
B
That's like three weeks before King of the Year.
- [27:43]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [27:44]
B
So close. I don't know. I mean, they've done it before in the past. I don't know if you remember, a few years ago, Lewis Krathen won an entry there. I would think though, we'll see people, top guys go and try and pick up entries. You know, I mean I'm sure Asian writers will come, but I'm sure we'll see a bunch of, let's say that second ter try and pick up a spot. Cuz I mean, dude, you've been in the sport and been in these events since the back days, bro. How are these young rides coming through now? Like the Maxwell Dahls and these young kids? I mean these guys are two years younger than Leo. It's, I mean, Martin Kishi who you would have seen in, in Grand Canary as well. It's crazy that the level of these
- [28:21]
A
kids, yeah, it's, it's crazy for sure. And they are really pushing it and also I think they're also all very keen to show their face on the competitions. So I think there's also a lot more competition to make it in those comps as well. I think a lot of people want to, want to ride it and yeah, there's a lot of competition right now for sure.
- [28:47]
B
You know, over the years and you're, you're part of that as well, right? You've posted tricks on Instagram and these young kids watch it and they think, oh, that's how it's done. You know, like you're, you've given away the secrets of, you know, you guys had to learn the hard way and have the big crashes. Now these kids come through, they're, they're learning quicker. But you're right, man, I reckon that the, I reckon if you, if you're ranked 12 through 25, it's actually harder to make the fleet than ever. Maybe even to 30. There's probably, probably fifth. The riders who are ranked 15 to 30th, that might be the most competitive part of riding. I mean I think that top five group, that top six or seven guys is probably fairly set. Then you've got a guys who are those regular, you know, semi, final getters. But dude, that next group, man, that's tough. It's so tough now, you know, very
- [29:36]
A
tough and also very big. Like there, there are, there are lots of riders who are, I think, yeah, good, like just good enough to, to, to be selected or just not good enough. And I think it's very, it's a very hard, hard thing to, to say who's better also with those entries. I, I, I actually haven't been selected to compete at the GTA in Mykonos.
- [30:03]
B
Yeah. Yeah.
- [30:03]
A
I don't know if you saw, if you saw I was there, bro.
- [30:06]
B
Of course I saw. We're looking forward to seeing you. We were walking around, Timo, but you weren't there.
- [30:10]
A
Yeah, no, I went there. No, I was not selected. And I think I was second reserve.
- [30:16]
B
Yeah.
- [30:16]
A
And yeah, I think also with those entries, sometimes it's just hard to say which one is better because of the filming angles and stuff.
- [30:25]
B
Go on your Instagram. There's kids doing tricks I've never heard of.
- [30:28]
A
I'm like, who is this kid?
- [30:29]
B
You know, I'm like, where's this kid come from? You know, it's crazy, but yeah, it's. Look, you know, it's not as easy as, you know, we used to laugh about King of the Air, right? Saying, oh, it's harder to be dropped from King of the Air to make it. This isn't, you know, the early 2013 through about 18, you know, it was barely the same group. Maybe one or two guys changing now, man, it's tough, you know, you just, you have to keep your spot.
- [30:52]
A
Yeah, yeah, it's. It actually is. And just, just as six years ago, we were changing places of, of names like Nick Jacobson, Kevin Longer and stuff, I think the, the next gen is also coming. And I don't want to say that I'm the, the old, old generation right now. I just want to keep up for now as well. But it's a hard time keeping up for sure.
- [31:21]
B
You know, Aaron had like a 20 year career, you know, Kevin also, you know, I just don't think, Mark, these guys, I just don't think that people can do it for that long anymore. I just think that there's too many good guys coming. Right?
- [31:34]
A
Yeah, I'm not sure actually, when I
- [31:37]
B
was 28, I thought that I was at my sort of like physical prime. And I thought, man, if a 21 year old Adrian came along, I'd kick his ass, you know, but these kids are just, they don't have any fear. They don't seem to get injured.
- [31:51]
A
Been talking about it a lot with a lot of people, like also saying, like, why. Why are just the kids so good in this sport? I'm not. I don't know. And then also the 16, 17, 18 years old, it looks, it almost looks like that that's the prime age or something. And then as you mentioned, I think in most sports, the physical age, the physical prime age is around 25, 28 maybe. But it looks like in kiteboarding, the, the younger kids are doing it very well and maybe that could be that they are less fear that they are less, they have less fear or that they, I don't know, maybe are not injured yet.
- [32:36]
B
Also, Timo, they're coming in with more competition experience. You know, there's just so many more events around, right? You've got, you've got Puckle, you've got Windsor Sinai, you've got one and two divisions at full power. Tarifa, these guys are not coming in. You know, like you guys back in the day, the only competition was really to ride back all and then pray for the big ones, right? So these kids are coming in, they've done five or six comps and they're not coming in with that sort of. And they don't come with any fear. You know, I remember like Martin Kablishki beating Andrea Principe in that first, first heat of. I mean, that would never happen five years ago, a rookie kid coming in and beating one of the greatest kite borders ever. That would never happen. But these kids are just, they're built different now. Is that, is that motivating for you to, to keep pushing?
- [33:25]
A
Yeah, for me it's very motivating actually. And I'm just trying to still keep up and I've still some goals to achieve actually. So I'm not losing motivation because of those kids, actually. But I think, yeah, also the way of training, I think lots of kids are riding the foil kites from young age right now. I think that also helps a lot. And I also see a lot of young, young guys like hanging on the tree and practicing the movements with the boards and stuff. And I just really think that all those kind of trainings help a lot. Like, I think the older guys are not doing it because maybe it's boring to do it or it's a bit. It doesn't look very cool to do it. And I also don't really do it, to be honest, but maybe I should. I think I'm going to go out.
- [34:21]
B
What's your thoughts on the board flips and the, the multiple rotations now? I mean, has it got a little bit out of control with the board spins and flips and throwing the board into the air and catching it after three or four rotations?
- [34:32]
A
As I haven't really done the, the board throwing around myself yet. The, the osmosis thing. I, I don't want to, to say too much about it as I think you can say bad things about it if you can do them yourself, but I'm doing a lot. I'm doing more board flips now and they're actually very fun. To do and very rewarding to land. And I think they like the, I don't know, like the tornado board flips from Leo and Finney. I think they look pretty sick, to be honest.
- [35:05]
B
I think it looks good if it's done in the PowerPoint of the loop.
- [35:09]
A
Yeah, that's. That's exactly what I was thinking as well. Like if you do it on the way down at your down loop or something and then like one more flip. One more flip. I'm also not very, like, not like a very big fan of that. I also really don't push those tricks myself. But if you do it at the critical moment, just as you said, like after or before your loop, like. Yeah, just in the critical moment. I think they are pretty safe, for sure.
- [35:36]
B
I mean, often we see guys, you know, they've taken the board off, let's say they've taken the board off with their, with their right hand. And then in the download they take their ball off with the left hand. You know, they're just showing variety that it's not powerful there. It's just, it's just they push it right out to the side. Hey, look, I'm using my left hand. You know, it's like, check me out.
- [35:54]
A
No, those are also not like the, like, I can, I can probably do those as well. Like two hands bored off in one trick. But I don't know. I don't like those. I can definitely say that I don't like those. I would, I would, I would do like you can better just keep your board out longer. I would say with one hand.
- [36:16]
B
Like Jeremy back in the day when he was like putting the board on super last minute. I always think that looks cooler.
- [36:21]
A
That's cooler.
- [36:22]
B
Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. I remember we had, we. We had heel riding Yinna's kite actually in Mykonos. And, and by the way, so he spoke so highly of that kite. Like, that was one of the kites that he really liked. And you know, I've ridden that vortex before, by the way, the construction on that V Texas actually incredible way. I mean, it might be one of the best constructed kite. Like, the quality of the work on the kite is pretty awesome.
- [36:49]
A
Yeah, for sure. And it's also just so light when you pick it up. It's. Yeah, it's just insanely light.
- [36:57]
B
You think Alula's the way?
- [36:59]
A
I like Alula for sure. I've also been riding it before, of course. I just really like the feeling of Alula and I think it, it also gives some good pull. I Would say in the loop, when
- [37:14]
B
you were testing Brainchild kites, how does the Alula feel different to Brainchild technology to you?
- [37:21]
A
Yeah. So to be honest, I mentioned that I tried the Brainchild kite. I don't think. I'm not sure if I mentioned that I tried the Harlem, but I haven't really tried the Harlem Peak. I only tried the Brainchild trigger. Brainchild like the. The one from F1.
- [37:40]
B
F1 trigger? Yep.
- [37:41]
A
Yeah. And yeah, it was. It was good, but a very fast. But there was not too much pool in it and also not a lot of hang time. I think the Adular kites are giving more hang time and more distance in the jumps. I don't know why, but sometimes it looks like the Alula guides are getting more distance in the jumps than the rain child guides.
- [38:06]
B
That kite seemed to struggle a little bit in. In Baccaras, you know, like, I mean, it's crazy. Like if they're not even the top, you know, looking at the surfer app, they're not on the jump heights. But when we went to Mykonos, suddenly they're at the top. Why. Why do you think they struggled out of the flat water? What. What's causing that?
- [38:23]
A
Yeah, I, Yeah, we've been talking about that as well and I'm not sure, but it. It indeed looks like the kites are not really working properly on the flat water and they are really peaking and working good in the. In the wave conditions more. I don't. I don't know actually why that. Why that would be. But I think Jamie also chose to write to ride the Rebel in flat water and he said that he liked the Brainchild as well in the waves. So it looks like it hot backing for.
- [39:01]
B
For Jamie at Mykonos, man. I mean, dude, you could. He couldn't. It couldn't have got much worse from. In that final. But mate, it was really cool the, the support of the Dutch guys, you know, man, they. They were so behind Jamie the whole time. It was so cool to see. But yeah, a heartbreaking decision. Mate, while I've got your head, dude, what did you think when you heard Andrea was signing with rrd? What was thoughts on that? Whoa. Was it whoa or whoa is the question?
- [39:30]
A
No, no, whoa. Whoa from the question. But also like, yeah, it was. It was for sure a bit of a woe for me to see that. But yeah, I don't know. I was yeah, pretty surprised to be honest.
- [39:45]
B
It seems like this is the. The times, right, with he'll going to Vantage, Andrea going to rd. I Mean, I guess he'll went to Ocean Rodeo is kind of similar move, right? Maybe, maybe different time of his career and that sort of changed heel's career by going to Ocean Rodeo. But you know, five years ago we wouldn't have seen big riders leaving big brands to go to smaller brands. Yeah, I think that's probably the state of the industry.
- [40:10]
A
I think that's the, yeah, that's the key point for that for sure. To see those riders moving to the smaller brands and maybe getting a bigger position there or something.
- [40:22]
B
Has Andrea made RD cool again? I mean I know that then you know, they've been around. You know, we're all big friends of Alicia but I think him going there, man, I think people are going to be like, man, I want that kite. It's going to be, you know, it's going to be called the, the addiction apo4. That's his own signature kite.
- [40:38]
A
Yeah. And I've, I think it's an Italian brand, right?
- [40:42]
B
Sure.
- [40:42]
A
Yeah, yeah. So I think, yeah, that's also pretty cool. Maybe that Andrea is just moving to an Italian brand as he's Italian as well and he was also moving to Vantage and Vantage is a, is a Dutch brand.
- [40:56]
B
Have you had a chance to ride any of those Vantage kites yourself or did you get a chance to ride a Vantage kite?
- [41:02]
A
I, I, I, I've brought them to, to Barcares actually to, to try them but I haven't, I haven't tried them. Yeah, I had, I didn't had too many as I, as I mentioned I didn't had too many sessions and I can, I couldn't afford it to write different guides as well before the, before the competitions.
- [41:24]
B
I remember the year before when you, Stino and Kimo all made the semi finals there at Bakar. I remember Nelson, Nelson, Holes was riding and dude, Nelson was going big on that vantage. I mean huge.
- [41:39]
A
Nelson is still going big.
- [41:40]
B
I mean I don't know how he does it, especially after that head injury. I mean if that had been me that would have been kiting over.
- [41:46]
A
Yeah, that's, yeah, that's crazy. But I've seen he was at Gran Canaria as well. I think he was, yeah, he was staying with in Gran Canaria and we've been kiting a lot as well together and it was also sick to see the progression he made.
- [42:02]
B
He's another one of those guys who's in that 20 to 30 group. Right. It's just such a great rider, such
- [42:08]
A
a talent and said kid, yeah, 20, 20 to 40, maybe even.
- [42:13]
B
Yeah, maybe you're right. You know, maybe you're right. Maybe there's that many guys who just need that lucky break. Yeah, you just need to have that good video. But I don't think it's just good videos anymore, bro. You know, I say to people, you've got to have. You got to have some good performance as well. You can't just have a good video and let's just give this guy a chance. Doesn't work that way. You've got to have some performances where you're showing it. And that's why I think the videos are. Are a good way. But it doesn't show how you perform under pressure. It doesn't show how you perform if you're in a heat that you must win.
- [42:45]
A
Yeah. Yeah, I think so too. Yeah. I think they are rewarding the videos at Barcarez a bit less lately. Of course. For sure. For. Especially for King of the Year, especially for the competitions like with waves, I think Color. Yeah. King of the Air and Mega Loop. I think they are rewarding the flat water spot and even. And like, especially Barcarez a bit less because, yeah, you can also on. On spots like that, but on every spot, when you have someone filming you for three hours in a good, strong session, you can just also don't land any of your tricks and then have one big gust and just land it luckily, and then you have a good video.
- [43:25]
B
It's like when people used to go to Brazil to train. No one goes to Brazil to train anymore. I remember that Brazil was the training venue.
- [43:31]
A
But, yeah, I was thinking about going to Brazil as well this year, but then I thought, yeah, it's just. It's very good and very fun to go there, but I'm not sure yet. It's just not getting any stronger than 30 knots. And with the. With the current. With the current level of big air, you just almost need those stronger days to train. Yeah.
- [43:56]
B
Well, Timo, thanks for coming on, brother. I'm absolutely stoked that you've signed with a great company like Ozone, you know, and. And also I want to see Ozone back in competition. You know, we haven't seen them for so long, and they're. They've been a brand. I know they've been recruiting. Alex Vlieg is there now as well in the sales position. So, yeah, it's super cool that, you know, more and more guys are wanting to go to that brand. And they're also. It's great to see them actually supporting comp riders, you know, and. And going down that traditional route and yeah man, good luck dude. I hope you can find that consistency and get back into those competitions bro. Because mate, when we see you out there riding mate, it's always awesome.
- [44:32]
A
Yes, thank you and hope to make the cut in those competitions for sure.
- [44:38]
B
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