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We Pick Our KOTA Fleets | The Megapod
00:38:53
On today's episode, Colin returns, and we debate and pick our fleets for the 2025 Red Bull King Of The Air. WOO Trade Up: Portrait: Woo Sports: Follow us:
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- [00:00]
A
This is the hardest year ever though.
- [00:02]
B
This has managed to build insane depth.
- [00:04]
A
His entry video is ridiculous.
- [00:06]
B
I mean this is life changing right?
- [00:08]
A
I mean the only German rider he's way better and I think he's trying harder than a lot of people are.
- [00:12]
B
Peroxided his hair white and I'm going.
- [00:14]
A
To throw some ridiculous ones in. See how angry Adrian gets Picking up now and I'm pretty ready man.
- [00:23]
B
This one is probably a bit more nerve wracking.
- [00:26]
A
Kevin Langry, three time winner.
- [00:28]
B
This is like a heavyweight boxing match. This isn't the featherweights. There's no dancing around.
- [00:32]
A
Aren't we sponsor kicker first move in Rebel clear for a woman is super clean try use contra being in the middle of the whole. That is yet another innovation move. Mark Jacobs heading out towards the iconic Robin Island. Highest trick scorer in all Red Bull.
- [00:56]
B
King Liers Janet Tikisi.
- [00:58]
A
Kevin Lany has taken it for the third time. Way more than a dream come true.
- [01:09]
B
That is massive. Meanwhile out the back and that has to be.
- [01:13]
A
It's an all out teenage affair. It's that time of year. Christmas comes early.
- [01:23]
B
King of the Air fleets around the corner man. Difficult every year we go to do this. It's difficult.
- [01:30]
A
This is the hardest year ever though. You do agree?
- [01:33]
B
Yeah, I mean I've got. I've got one space space 16 with three names in it. I'm just. Yeah, it's super tough. There's just so much depth in Big Ear now and that's awesome. You know it's. It's where and what aspects of the sport need to build depth. That's one thing that freestyles always struggle with to build depth. And I don't know whether that's the way it's been handled or the way things is but this has managed to build insane depth. But I want to say Colin, as you know King of the Air has always been and always will be a show and Sergio says it every year. So there's always a couple of random ones. There's always a couple of ones that are like head scratches but that's just the way it is.
- [02:15]
A
So yeah, you referred to Sergio there. That is of course the head honcho over Red Bull. King of the Air and then the head judge is Chris Bull as well who actually I spoke to last week. I was in Hailing island and sat down with him and chatted through his experience the past few weeks and what it's been like dealing with all the 80 or so video entries and having to consider multitude of factors. And today Adrian and I are going to go through who we think will be on that list. What does it mean to be, to be on it? Adrian, what happens to your little life when you, when your name is on there?
- [02:51]
B
I mean, this is life changing, right? I mean, to ride at this event can make your. Make your career. You know, I think Stig Hoof Nagel is a good example. Got third that year, that mark one. And from then on it's just, it's all go. So it's one thing to make it, the second thing is to stay with it, you know, and the people like Andrea, Lorenzo, Jamie, who've had, have used this and springboarded their careers, have stuck to us. But it is tough, you know, it is tough to stay at the top. Cohen, the first year got semi final and then he went out round two twice in a row. So it is a difficult event to win. It's highly challenging. A lot of pressure, they say the most pressure of all the events. And you just feel that with the magnitude, the way things work and everyone's in town, no one's flying in. When the event opens, there's a writers meeting, there's a writers party. You know, there's media there. It's. There's something special about this event. And that all is a lot of pressure on young riders. And how you handle that's always the best. That impresses me.
- [03:50]
A
Yeah. I mean, look what it did for Francesca Mani, who turned up and won on her debut and has since been plastered all over north, all over mystic and has got way more career opportunities. Everyone's talking about her. All from that one event in which she won two heats.
- [04:10]
B
Yeah, two. Yeah. Around one and a final. Yeah. Crazy. I mean, the woman. I haven't actually booked the woman's fleet. Maybe we can say that to next week because I think that will be kind of interesting as well. Even though it's only six ladies a little bit. Probably easier to choose.
- [04:24]
A
We're doing the women's today, are we?
- [04:26]
B
Okay, well, I'm really prepared for it.
- [04:28]
A
They're announce everything.
- [04:29]
B
Okay, well, I can probably just. I can probably go off the top of my head with that one, but I believe Mika's writing that, which is. Is going to be super interesting. So if she puts her hand up, she's an interesting one. Right?
- [04:40]
A
I know how we're. We're jumping.
- [04:42]
B
Yeah, we're jumping way ahead. We're jumping.
- [04:49]
A
So there are, just to remind you, 18 men and six women, all of the women have to qualify via video submission. There's no Pre qualification for them. So it's from scratch for all of them. The men's is a bit more complex. The podium from last year are pre qualified. So of the 18 there's already three. Andrea Pancupi, Lorenzo Casati, Luca Cerrutti, first, second, third last year. Then there's the qualified from the qualifiers which is Cohen van Dijk who qualified at the Tarifa qualifier and Jeremy Belander who qualified at cold Hawaii. They're the only people, the ones I've just named that we know are in for sure. The remaining. How Many is that? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 remaining? 13. Kind of anything could happen. Right. But there are some sure bets and I've got a list of five people that if they're not in there'll be like serious dramas. So who are the next strongest five for you? Adrian? I'll see if I got the same ones.
- [05:53]
B
Well, I'm sure we've all got Stino for sure. He'll Jamie. I mean mine are not in so much order but Zach, I've got there and Hugo, those are my next five.
- [06:03]
A
Zach, are in your next five?
- [06:05]
B
Well, I mean I wasn't putting them in order, I was just putting them in as what's the best way to.
- [06:10]
A
Do this for me I think the following five are for sure in Jason Vanderspae. Agree or not, I had him as.
- [06:21]
B
A fringe rider but he's going to make it. But he's not a lock in for me.
- [06:25]
A
Steno.
- [06:26]
B
Absolutely.
- [06:28]
A
Hail.
- [06:29]
B
Absolutely.
- [06:30]
A
Jamie Overbeek.
- [06:32]
B
Absolutely.
- [06:33]
A
Josh Gillett.
- [06:35]
B
I've got Josh further down.
- [06:37]
A
Okay, so you've got him in camp as Van Display.
- [06:40]
B
Yeah, he's in that sort of lower half of my group for the pure fact that Josh started out the year. Unbelievable. You know that double light back at like 25 meters is just crazy. Had the big crash. I felt like he's never really found his flow again since then. He can do it and he probably needs that little moment like Jeremy had to realize he can do it. But he's not a lot for me at the moment because I don't think he's had the best year. I reached out to him and he told me he's going to be really focused for this event. Yeah. So I have him. I have him in. But.
- [07:12]
A
But down the list, here's why those two are going to be in Jason Van Display and Josh Gillett. One, they're South African Red Bull, King of the air. Loves South Africans. Obviously they love it. Two, I know. And you didn't know this Because I spoke to Chris Ball the other day, but they are looking at bringing short lines more into King of the Year. That's the impression I got. He didn't say explicitly, but that's how I felt. Jason Van Display is the king of that shit. He loves it. And Josh Gillet's an absolute nutter and he puts on a show. They're in, Adrian. They are, dude.
- [07:47]
B
They're in. I never said they weren't, but I don't have them as a lock. The reason why I put Zach above that guy is because he was, he got fourth last year. You know, they've always sort of kindly looked on those semi final finishes. Won the mystic move of the, of the day as well. And then my fifth guy in that group is Hugo. And I put Hugo in there for the fact that he's a guy that has spent a lot of time in Cape Town over the last two years. Came down a few years ago, is just this young kid and has just changed the way he's completely ridden. And I know we didn't get to see him in cold Hawaii, but he's, he's going to be a problem.
- [08:24]
A
Yeah, yeah, I do agree with that. Okay, so based on the names we've said, which is the five names that I said, Jason, Steen Hill, Jamie and Josh as five and then Zach and Hugo, that's seven. That means there's only five remaining spots that we're going to discuss, including two wild cards. So who do you think those five are going to be?
- [08:48]
B
And one, I think for sure Leo Casati is going to get a look. I just think he's, you know, he's old enough now. He sat out in the past. He's, he's had hard luck this year not making being able to ride Denmark. He's good, man. He's super good. I think there's going to be more. His conditions been a little bit lighter. I, I think he's, he's going to be there for sure.
- [09:12]
A
Do you agree he's there? 100%. He, his entry video is ridiculous. It's ridiculous. If he was like that, he could, he could take out the whole thing. So yeah, Leonardo Do Casati is at the very top of my list for these spots only give you the next one that I think is most probable and for me, that's Finn Flugel.
- [09:38]
B
Yeah. You know what? I have got Finn in my little group of three people trying to find one spot. The only reason I've got him there is that he's only ridden the Lords of Tram and I kind of feel like people in the past have made it into Red Bull because they've been consistent and showing up and turning up to the Vince, I understand he's Red Bull, but we also have Andrea and. And Cohen is Red Bull athletes. In the past, we've only had like one or two guys. So I can pitch a case for Finn, but I could see why they couldn't select him as well on the fact that he's not really done much bigger at the moment. He's in Abu Dhabi preparing for the Hydro4 World Championship. And then the freestyle is going to go back to Brazil and do the freestyle. And then what? Get on a plane and come do Big ear?
- [10:21]
A
Yeah, he's 16. Of course. Listen, he's also the only German rider in the fleet. If, if, if they put him in. Germany's the biggest market in kiteboarding.
- [10:35]
B
So you're thinking business. You're thinking business.
- [10:37]
A
Then I think it comes down to that. I think there's an element of that. Yeah. I don't think you can separate those things. He also deserves to be there. He's really, really technical. He's really, really good. Everyone talks about him. Like when he rides at bar area, everyone goes, oh, you know. And he's not even doing this that much. His focus is elsewhere. It's not like Leonardo Cassatti or Shahar Sabri, who we'll talk about in a bit. This kid's doing all sorts of things.
- [11:02]
B
Backside nine and. And straps.
- [11:05]
A
Yeah, exactly. From blind.
- [11:09]
B
Crazy.
- [11:09]
A
But yeah, this kid's ridiculous.
- [11:11]
B
But do you understand what I'm saying, though, Colin, is that they do. They do reward consistency. I think that's how Nathan Tex has got in in the past, by turning up and being available for every event. I think there's something in that. I'm not saying that you're. I'm not saying that I'm right, but I think that's got to be considered. But listen, I'm going to put Finn in the maybes for me, but if you're going to. If you're going to mark them, that's totally cool. The next person for me, Shahar Sabri. I mean, amazing video. Deserves to be there. Great kid. It's just a mega talent.
- [11:42]
A
Yeah. They saw him at Lord the Tram as well, where he was, remember, standing there with his dad watching him in a heat. And I was just thinking that if he continues doing that, he's going to maim himself at some point. He didn't. I. He got away with it. But yet no one put. No one did more aggressive doubles than Shahar on that day. It was actually a ridiculous effort.
- [12:08]
B
This is where it gets really interesting for me. Now that you've told me that Chris is looking at short lines, maybe that I need to think of people like Usul Paralik going into the Megaloop. I thought that was just going to be a bloody disaster. But, man, he was unbelievable. He loves Cape Town. He spends a lot of time there. So maybe I need to think about him in the mix. I'll go for another one. Who's on my fringe.
- [12:34]
A
Timo Boyzma, Timo Boasma. That's all I got to say about that.
- [12:40]
B
In or out?
- [12:42]
A
He's right on the. He is the fringe for me. Because there's some other people that I think. Let's come back to Timo, okay? Come back to him because there's some other fringe people that. Yeah, okay. I want to bring up the Charles bridal. He's getting in for sure.
- [12:59]
B
I've got him on my list as well. For sure.
- [13:01]
A
One, he's good enough, but two, he creates a stir and rebel. Love that shit. So he's in for sure. Now, whether you like it or not, you can't kind of deny that he is good at what he does. And you also can't deny that he creates kind of. You know, everyone talks about it. I've just. I'm writing this article at the moment. They'll outline this process and you can read a little bit about all the writers and see how it kind of works. That will be up later today as we record on Wednesday the 22nd. And yeah, I put at the end, the thing is, King of the Air as a show, whether you think he's a clown or not, he's part of the circus.
- [13:36]
B
Ooh, nice line.
- [13:38]
A
He's a tremendous clown, in a good way.
- [13:42]
B
Dude. They gave Ayrton two or three goes and Ayrton did shit. You know, Charles has actually made it to round three in his first time, knocking out Parker, who's another person we can talk about. Charles. I have it number 17 on my list for sure. Let's talk about Parker again. Road last year, got knocked out by Charles in round two. Bitterly disappointed, I'm sure about that. Hasn't had the greatest year, but kind of turned on at the Cold Hawaii event. Has he timed his run perfectly or is he too late for you?
- [14:12]
A
He's had one good event, by the.
- [14:14]
B
Way, he still went out. Round three.
- [14:16]
A
I don't think so. I don't think so not. Not this time around.
- [14:19]
B
Okay, not this time around leads me to the guy I've bracketed him with, which is baby Shark. Now I got Parker and baby shark in brackets.
- [14:30]
A
Bro, listen to this. I'm talking to Marc Jacobs earlier. I said, where's your entry video? Send it to me. I want to say it. And he said, bro, guess who I think did their submission Too late.
- [14:46]
B
Baby Shark does not deserve to be there, in my opinion, for the fear fact that he's not been committed to Big Year. He's just in Brazil. He did do his video. I remember he went to Mykonos to get it done. But, man, is it just. Does he. Does he want to do this? I mean, he messed up his entry into Cold Hawaii. Has he messed up his entry into this? How do you mess it up? He went to. He's got the shots. He went to Mykonos to get the shots. What's going on here?
- [15:13]
A
I don't know. But we don't know that's true. That's just from one person saying that might be true. Maybe he did get it in in time, but it wouldn't surprise me if he. If he missed the deadline for it.
- [15:28]
B
That guy needs a bloody hand. Let's talk about Mark Jacobs before we go back. I put Mark in my list as one of the wild cards. Mate, he's the fifth king. He made the semifinals last year. I know he wants to go out on a swan song. He's a father. I think he's bringing the whole family this time. Did you put. Did you put him in your list? Yes or no? You didn't put him in.
- [15:47]
A
He's shaking his head in the entry video like you just can't. Mark will not get in via video entry. It will be wild card if he's there, and that of that he is deserving. One, because he's a fifth king. Two, because he's actually. He's good enough. Like, if it blows its tits off, Mark will be epic. He will rise to the occasion. He will outsmart the other young guns who are all shitting themselves. Mark can do it to Mark, in my view, deserves a wild card, doesn't deserve the video entry. I think he must come and know it. He must know it.
- [16:27]
B
Okay, let me go through my list and then let's go through your list. I've got Andrea, Lorenzo, Luca, Jeremy, Cohen, Stino, Heal, Jamie, Zach, Hugo, Leo, Shahar, Josh, Jason, Timo, Finn, Charles, and Mark.
- [16:43]
A
There's a few people you've missed out, okay? And they're Controversial Jet Bradshaw.
- [16:49]
B
I love you, Jet, but not a chance. Dude, there's more chance of Lewis Krathen shitting out a fucking woo 4.0 on the beach in front of all the crowd than Jet Bradshaw making this fleet. I'm telling you now, it's not going to happen. If he wants short lines, mate, go for someone like Usil Parallak. He's way better.
- [17:05]
A
Okay, here's my reasoning.
- [17:09]
B
Man. I'm fired up.
- [17:10]
A
He's South African.
- [17:11]
B
Yeah, we've got three.
- [17:12]
A
Okay. He's South African, though. He's Northern mystic north, domestic sponsor, King of the Air. Say what you want, that helped. Lastly, he was pretty epic at Megaloop, and he was pretty epic in Mykonos when we put him on the fuel and it blew his tits off. He's relevant right now. You know, people are talking about him. He's a happening guy.
- [17:36]
B
If you were the boss and you were told behind the scenes, you've got, guys, we're going to give you one pick. Do you go with Mark, who made the semi last time, who knows how to operate under pressure, has had some insane battles with Andrea, you know, has picked Liam when he's at his best, has gone on and won it on his birthday, is a. A legend in the game, or do you give it to Jet, who is a character?
- [18:03]
A
Okay, I see your point.
- [18:04]
B
You know, and then it's a swan song. You know, you say to him, hey, if Mark's Max, give it to me. Guys, I want to go out. I want to. I want to go out on my terms.
- [18:12]
A
Okay? The next person who you've overlooked is Chemo Mahmood.
- [18:16]
B
It's not good enough.
- [18:17]
A
He is good enough. You see his entry video.
- [18:20]
B
He's never done a major competition, bro. He didn't even win Pro2 at full power. Tarifa, I love chemo. If you are going to be making these fleets, you've got to win. You've got to win the Pro Tour events, you've got to win the Windsor Sinai, you've got to win these feeder events to show that you could. You're an operator. Losing the final or not making it, it's just not good enough.
- [18:38]
A
All right? Bloody hell, bro.
- [18:41]
B
You're talking about putting a guy who got sick, I think a second or third or. I can't remember, he was riding in Pro2 full power. Enter the biggest dance on the planet. Maybe next year.
- [18:51]
A
Okay, next person. The Goat.
- [18:59]
B
Yeah, I thought. Yeah, I had pinned Aaron's name down, but again, he's not been active Enough. You know he's not been active and I think Aaron will only come to events if he's 100% prepared. You know you and I have seen Aaron operating. You know he does things when he's ready and he's, when he's in thing and I think he would have to put his hand up and say I'm just not prepared enough to do this. I think you know last year he looked at the event and thought mate, maybe this event I could have done well in. But you can't pray. It's going to be a 25 knot event again. I think Aaron. Yeah, I can't, I can't see it dude. I. I can't see it.
- [19:35]
A
He's got the kite.
- [19:37]
B
He does have the kite. D stino and Stino and Lauren and Leo have got the same kite and they're going to beat Aaron 10 out of 10 times.
- [19:47]
A
I absolutely hate to hear it. I can't.
- [19:50]
B
I mean dude, let's just move on.
- [19:51]
A
I don't want to hear it. I don't know.
- [19:52]
B
What about. Okay, well what about the other person? Another guy, Clement Earl again?
- [19:56]
A
No, no, no, no, no.
- [19:58]
B
What about you saw then if they're going to go low lines. What about you saw?
- [20:01]
A
What about Timo Boise?
- [20:03]
B
I mean Timo's in. I've got him on my list.
- [20:05]
A
Why mate?
- [20:07]
B
He's good. He's super good and he can do it.
- [20:10]
A
He just needs one podium mate.
- [20:14]
B
Go back to Lords of Tram. Those Dutch guys were killing it. He did well. He did well at Cold Hawaii. I think, I think he got into. I think he got into the round three. Maybe in the semis. Bro, he's an operator. He's there. He wants to be there. That's the thing man. Those guys are turning up every single time. He doesn't have the kite at the moment. Doesn't seem to have the kite.
- [20:33]
A
Yeah, Timo, I would really like to see him in there. I think he deserves it honestly because he is always there and he is knocking on the door and I think he's trying harder than a lot of people are.
- [20:44]
B
Did you put baby shark in your list?
- [20:46]
A
No.
- [20:47]
B
It's crazy right? I mean that is just so crazy. Did he might make it? I mean listen guys, this is only, this is only me and Colin just sort of messing around here. But for me he doesn't deserve to make it because I just don't think he's 100 focused on what he wants at the moment. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. That actually hurts me not to write his name down, because he deserves to be in there.
- [21:10]
A
Okay, I'm gonna rattle through some names that aren't getting in, but we can just talk about them and explain maybe why they should be or why it's maybe the right thing that they're not. Max Tullett, British rider. Young one. Puckle. I know that's a national event, but you won it by a mile. He's good. He was in Lords of travel in 2023. Why is he not in Kenvia?
- [21:34]
B
Just doesn't have the experience, doesn't have the name at the moment. I think that, you know, I'm always encouraging these young guys. Just keep putting your name in. Just keep putting videos in, because it builds your sort of online presence. I just don't think Max has that at the moment. When he was like, 10 years old, he had the whole world talking about him, but he sort of went off the boil. Now he's 16 or 17 years old, man, he's a super talent, but it's just. It seems to be. It's not the right time. I hope he can focus more on his training now and, you know, in years to come, I expect to see him in this fleet. I mean, he's the next big talent coming out of the uk.
- [22:09]
A
Apart from czp. But the. The crazy thing with Max is he is of the same age as Leonardo Casati and Finn Flugel. Okay, the next one. Edgar Ulrich. Where the has he gone? What happened?
- [22:23]
B
Mate went away, peroxided, his hair white, and is, you know, going around the sailing camps and doing stuff. And maybe I think he's just had enough of kiteboarding.
- [22:34]
A
There's no money, so. He almost won a world championship once, got beaten. Lorenzo took it and then gave up. That's kind of what's happened.
- [22:49]
B
Very French, isn't it? Quitting. I don't know what we can say about that. I mean, I. I'm a big fan of Edgar. I'd love to see him in there, but I just get the feeling from Edgar that his kiteboarding or competitive kiteboarding days are over.
- [23:03]
A
And in this game, when things are moving this quick, if you take your foot off the pedal, you don't really make.
- [23:10]
B
And, dude, maybe, you know, when we saw him at Lords of Tram, right, he's like, you know, I'm single again. I'm really focused on this. Just when I got his ass kicked, you know, that must have been horrible. To change your life and just dedicate to this world championship. Because he bitterly wanted that and just to get absolutely murked in the end, you know. So, yeah, went from favorite, still good on the podium, got a third place, but yeah, not. Not what he wanted or what he planned for anyway.
- [23:36]
A
Right, we're gonna have a little wind noise segue here, and then we're gonna come back and I'm gonna throw some ridiculous ones in. See how angry Adrian gets. Right. What about your boy? Nathan Texier from France has never won a heat. What do you reckon?
- [23:58]
B
I can't see him getting in.
- [23:59]
A
I mean, he's always in.
- [24:02]
B
I know. I don't know what's going on here. Maybe he's. Maybe he's, like, related to Sergio. I don't know, but he's. Yeah, I can't see it. He's a little bit like Clement in the past, where he could put out amazing videos.
- [24:15]
A
Videos are a joke. They're so good. But it's video entry.
- [24:18]
B
Yeah, but I mean, if I cook on. If I cook on WhatsApp and it's tastes like I put them out, wow, it's delicious. And I get into a cooking contest that way, and then I get to the cooking contest, I suck. That's not very good. You actually have to be proven. There's. There's some proof in the pudding. Not to use a pun or something.
- [24:35]
A
But come on, he's burnt the sou.
- [24:37]
B
Hey, listen, if. If the judges put him in, I'll write them a personal email. I'll give you all Nathan's results for the last two years. You tell me why. Explain to me why. I want to know why.
- [24:46]
A
Okay. Okay. All right. What about B. Gomez?
- [24:53]
B
Yeah, I mean, I just think Beto's lost his place in the pecking order. And that's what I'm talking about, like, being consistent. There's. As you are consistent, you get into that picking or when you stay there and you can sort of. Even with a couple of bad results, you sort of. You don't drop down too much. Beto has been gone for a couple of years. I think the last time we saw him was when he lost a baby shark in 2023. And he's done a few comps but never really got going again. Yeah, I would love Beto to be in because he's just that character. And. And he. By the way, those speeches he gave during King of the Air were just. They're world class. They're like the kind of stuff that, you know, can change his career, but he never capitalized on that or his sponsors never capitalized on, let's put it that way.
- [25:35]
A
Do it deserve to be that?
- [25:37]
B
No.
- [25:38]
A
Okay, long story short, that's the answer. Okay, Great, Great stuff. Lucas Gramstrup.
- [25:47]
B
No, I mean, I love you, Lucas, but you don't deserve to be there, bro. It's, you know, the. He's doing his schooling, he's studying. He's just. He's not focused on this event. He's not focused at the moment. And we saw that at Cold Hawaii. He's just not ready to compete at the highest level. At the moment. At the moment.
- [26:04]
A
Liam Whaley. It's good, isn't it? That's it. There's a good. This is a tricky one that.
- [26:13]
B
Yeah, I mean, Liam is another guy I put on my list. I think if Liam put a video.
- [26:18]
A
What number did you put?
- [26:19]
B
No, I just put him in my list of could be's. But I did Liam put in a video. I looked around, I couldn't see it.
- [26:26]
A
I didn't see it.
- [26:29]
B
This was the big one that Liam always wanted, right. To cap off that 2015 world title. 2025. It's 10 years on. It could be. It could be all the ducks in a line.
- [26:40]
A
Is it. Is he fit enough to even do it?
- [26:42]
B
Rode the Lord's a tram in those 50, 60 knots and he said it was the windiest event he's ever in. And it's not going to be like that in Cape Town. He is fit enough. When I say he's fit enough, his body's good enough to do it.
- [26:54]
A
Is he at a seat harness still?
- [26:56]
B
Yeah. If Liam makes it, I will be so happy. I can't see it at the moment.
- [27:02]
A
Yeah. Okay.
- [27:03]
B
What about you? You think Liam.
- [27:05]
A
I think they could put him in just on sheer star power. He's like one of the only people that is fringe that has the. Has the clout, you know? Yeah, he can still do it.
- [27:13]
B
No. Does he still have the clout?
- [27:15]
A
Yeah, he's really popular online. I've got one more name for you.
- [27:21]
B
Give it to me.
- [27:23]
A
Tom Bridge.
- [27:24]
B
No, he's not gonna make it. I mean, I don't think Thomas even do it. I mean, you got going back. You've got to pick people who want to be there. You can't just pick people who think they want to be there. Like baby shark. I don't think baby shark gives a. I want people who want to be there.
- [27:39]
A
I asked him, tom, if they put you in, you going? And he goes, yep, of course he's going to go.
- [27:45]
B
He doesn't give a though.
- [27:46]
A
But the funniest thing is, as him and I were having this conversation because I'm an ex at the moment, his mom, Seth Bridge, goes, did you put in the entry video Tom? And he goes, absolutely not. And she was like, well, why not? And then he joked that if he did put a video entry in, he'd be way less likely to get in his wild club.
- [28:10]
B
But, you know, that whole wild card situation with Red Bull athletes has completely changed now with, you know, with Andrea, with Finn, potentially with Cohen. You know, it's just that I don't think that becomes a play. I don't think the South African card becomes into effect so much as well as it used to in the past.
- [28:27]
A
Because. Because in the past they gave it to Air Tom because he was the only rebel athlete in the. Because Lasso was injured or not good enough.
- [28:34]
B
Yep.
- [28:35]
A
So now they've actually got loads of people that are in there that are. Did not. The thing is, if you did put Tom in, he would ride boots and no one else would. He would also unhook loads and no one else would.
- [28:46]
B
You think Cohen's gonna unhook?
- [28:49]
A
He needs to, but he won't.
- [28:52]
B
Interesting position that Cohen's in, eh?
- [28:54]
A
Needs to stop trying to ride like his contemporaries do. He needs to ride in his own way. That's the only way he's going to win one of these puppies. Otherwise he's just going to hit the podium consistently and not move up. Right, good.
- [29:06]
B
Here's my question to you. Who's going to do the best of the three potential debut athletes? Hugo, Leo or Shahar? And by the way, that's a harder question than you think, if you think about it.
- [29:18]
A
What about thin and Finn is.
- [29:20]
B
And Sorry. And Finn, if he. If he makes it as well.
- [29:24]
A
Leo is the most experienced of all of those. He's also probably got really solid heat strategy in the form of his brother and his dad. Like, they will tell him what to do via the walkie talkie strapped to the back of his head. Finn Flugel would have done more competitions in his whole life, just not big air once. Who's got the best kite? They're probably all kind of equal. Honestly, if you look at, like, actual, like, raw lift, it's probably pretty similar. The Harlem's the quickest. The core has probably got the most, like, sheet and go. The duo tone is probably the second liftiest. Like, as in after the loop. It keeps you in the air longer, but that maybe gives you a softer landing, which isn't as good for the Judges, that's going to be a fact.
- [30:14]
B
A big factor.
- [30:15]
A
That's King of the Air, I think, especially there. Yeah. Who's gonna have the strongest debut? I'm gonna go with Leonardo.
- [30:23]
B
Okay.
- [30:25]
A
What about you?
- [30:25]
B
Interesting. I think it's going to depend on the wind. If you got me really thinking about doing short lines and all that stuff, because now we've got a situation where we potentially have foils. Short lines, foil kites. Yeah. Very, very, very interesting. Yeah. This is going to be one of the closest King of the years in some time, I think, because the fleet. I think last. Last year's fleet was. Was weak. Let's be honest. That was probably one of the weakest fleets I've seen for a while. This looks tight. I hope Mark makes it. If he doesn't, man, you got Clemon, you got Usual Parallax. You've got Parker, you got Baby Shark. There's heaps of. Heaps of people to fill up that spot who are at that level and deserving. But, yeah, tough one.
- [31:11]
A
Super tough indeed. All right, Windows Segue. Let's go to the women's.
- [31:19]
B
Let's talk, ladies. We need six.
- [31:21]
A
You'd have to say the dead Certs are. Francesca Maney, won it last year, is an absolute stone cold killer. And Zara Hugenrad, who won Megaloop and is just kind of a savage. Do you agree? They're definitely in. Without a doubt.
- [31:37]
B
Yeah. Yeah. 100. And I. I think we can probably add Micali Soul, if the rumors are correct. And she did say to me in Mykonos that she is going to Cape Town to. To go for this. And that's a big move for her, right, because she hasn't really focused on big air recent times. She's not really done competitions. It's left foot forward. It's never been her strength, but she can do it. That's the thing. She can do it.
- [32:01]
A
She ain't going.
- [32:02]
B
You think?
- [32:03]
A
Hear me now. I am always right. Meet Carly Soul. Will not do King of the Air. I want her to. You want her, too. The rest of the girls flee. Don't want her too.
- [32:15]
B
That's so true.
- [32:17]
A
She ain't going.
- [32:18]
B
She hasn't. She's not. She's in. She's in Brazil.
- [32:21]
A
If she was serious about it, she'd be somewhere left foot forward, getting used to getting used to her face yanked off.
- [32:27]
B
And that's the thing, right? You know, when you. When you. When you go back to 20, 19, you talk to Mark going through those 19 and 20 where he completely changed the way he rode. Mika's not going to give that much commitment to this. Like Mark said, I became a little bit of a freak, a little bit freaky. Leading to 20, 21. I was so focused. Mika doesn't have that. She's got nothing to prove, dude.
- [32:46]
A
Need that. If she tried to go left foot forward, she'd win it. No offense, ladies, but like that's the reality. Bali Soul is so much better at learning stuff. She's so quick at learning stuff as she applies it. The rest of the feet are FL are. I said all flucked. They're. But I don't think she'll be there.
- [33:09]
B
Pippa was another one, dude who struggled left foot forward. She did it. And you'd have to say, and no offense to Pippa, you'd have to think Mike can easily do that if Pippa can do it. Let's be honest.
- [33:20]
A
Micah is the best female ever to have flown a kite ever. Yeah.
- [33:25]
B
Okay, so m in or out for you?
- [33:28]
A
She's out for me, but she's in for you. Which means. Let's discuss the three last spots. I think the next most probable one is Natalie Lambrick who podiumed at Megaloop. She's good at chucking the kite low.
- [33:43]
B
She's good.
- [33:43]
A
She's really good.
- [33:44]
B
Fearless as well. Yeah.
- [33:46]
A
Fourth. Who's this? These are the last. The last two is super hard.
- [33:52]
B
I don't know where Pippa is. I think Pippa has to be included in this. She was a podium finisher last year.
- [33:59]
A
She hasn't had the greatest year video entry this year. No, no. Pre qualification from the podium.
- [34:06]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm just saying she podium last year. Hasn't had the greatest year this year. I think Pippa's gonna make it. I think Pippa want. She looks like she's focused. When we saw her she that that missing out on that Mega Loop fleet. You know, a lot of people would be bitterly pissed off and and upset about that. She sort of used it as motivation. I quite like that. Pippa for you.
- [34:28]
A
What's she doing kite wise though? I have never seen her on a new Duotone Rebel or evo D Lab 2.
- [34:39]
B
She's still on the 23s, is she?
- [34:41]
A
I don't know.
- [34:43]
B
Who's your fifth person then?
- [34:45]
A
It would be Lana Herman. But she's been injured.
- [34:49]
B
Doesn't seem to be able to get over this injury. Right.
- [34:52]
A
Or an infection.
- [34:53]
B
The other. The other two who are sort of fighting for one spot for me, Sara Sadiq and Zoe Peters. Zoe Got selected, couldn't make it because she was sick. Sara Siddique, she is a person. She's fearless. She's so tiny. She's so little, but she will throw. She threw doubles at. At the Mega Loop trying to get through. She podiumed at the Lords of Tram. She's on. She's on one of the great kites in that Harlem kite. Yeah, it's tough. I. I mean, the thing is, there's not many.
- [35:28]
A
Alessa.
- [35:29]
B
Yeah.
- [35:29]
A
Podium, megaloop. She conquered her fears, was doing late backs. Left foot forward. It's hard. It's really hard thinking.
- [35:38]
B
Okay, let's go. Zara, Francesca, Natalie.
- [35:44]
A
Video entry. You need to consider its video entry as well. The. What women have been riding and recently and have been filming as well. Alessa will have. Alessa's been in Cape Town. She would have been filming for sure. Pippa's been injured. Lana's been injured. Zoe Peters, training for sure.
- [36:03]
B
Sara, Sadiq, for sure.
- [36:05]
A
I think those two are in.
- [36:09]
B
Yeah. Interesting.
- [36:09]
A
In which case you've got your six.
- [36:12]
B
You know, I said at the top that I hadn't really prepared for the girls, but it's interesting to. To think about that. I know. I saw Michaela Pilkington had a video. She's. She was one of the sort of driving forces behind getting ladies involved way back in the day. I think it'd be tough for her.
- [36:26]
A
We're young.
- [36:27]
B
I think she's probably too young. She's probably only 15. Yeah, she's probably too young. But again, these would be conditions that would suit those younger girls. Right? They're a bit fearless. Not so strong, man. She went in 50 knots. I mean, come on, she can do that. I think too young for her. I think that she's. She's a 26, 27 type athlete for me. Tough one.
- [36:47]
A
That's that then.
- [36:48]
B
Yeah.
- [36:49]
A
Boom. Done. King of the 2025 fleet, heavily discussed in detail. Obviously, we don't have any sway in this, but, judges, we know you're listening to this shit. We know you are, and we know that you know that we know everything. All right, that's enough King of the Air. That's enough hype, okay? We got our own hype. Yeah. Dot Zip. The hype begins tomorrow, which is Friday. If you listen to this, on Thursday. Dot Zip is the series, the project that we've shot with the Trap with Andrea and Jeremy Lorenzo in Mykonos, where it was unbelievably windy for a couple of days, where they kind of tore Mykonos to shreds. Off out on the water and we were there to capture it. You'll be seeing little leaks from there, from here of that and how the project is going to look and how it's going to function, what your part's going to be in it. So keep an eye out for that and yeah, it'll be on the site. If you've been part of the portrait world for a while and you're on the Discord, you would have seen a couple bits that we've been testing with you guys through, through the Discord and you've been involved in that. Thank you for giving us your time and clicking on stuff, making sure it all works, giving some feedback because, yeah, we've built something brand new for. For this project and we are presenting the video in a way that we've never done before. So we're excited to show you all.
- [38:28]
B
We're not going to give any more information or just. That's. That's it for the time being. People are going to want it. Well, what's the. What's the idea behind the name? Or is that going to be. Is that all the surprise? Leave it a mystery at the moment.
- [38:38]
A
No, we'll say you're gonna have the chance to download it all. All of it. That's our cliffhanger. Think trust as always. We'll see you in the next one. Goodbye.