Kitesurf365: The Megapod

Episode Title: Where Is The Fun
Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Adrian Kerr (“A”), Colin Colin Carroll (“B”)

Episode Overview

In this lively Megapod edition, Adrian and Colin dive headlong into the latest happenings and trends in the kiteboarding world, blending gear talk, competition buzz, team dynamics, and their trademark irreverent banter. Key themes include the evolution of kite technology, the impact of brand strategies on performance and sales, excitement about upcoming competitions—especially the Lords of Tram, changes to their Fantasy game, and a call to refocus the sport on fun, community, and character. The hosts reflect on their own riding experiences, share industry insider perspectives, and speculate about the future of big names and upcoming stars.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Pain (and Joy) of Getting Back on the Water

• Colin describes the soreness from two intense kite sessions after a long break, likening it to playing footy and noting the bittersweet pleasure of physical exhaustion.
  • “Yesterday I did two two-hour sessions of kiteboarding ... I woke up today feeling pretty brutalized ... it’s that pain when you’re like, man, I put a shift in yesterday.” (00:42)
• He also laments lingering effects from losing his voice after a recent cold session in Ishigaki (02:28).

2. Gear Talk: A Historical Gear Perspective and Brand Dynamics

• Shifts in Winning Kites: The conversation tracks dominant kites across years at King of the Air—Nick Jacobsen's Cabrinha Switchblade, Naish Pivot, North Orbit, Duotone D Lab Evo and Rebel, Harlem’s rise—and asks which brand will step up next.
  • Colin: “Maybe that's a team to keep an eye on in the next 18 months…Harlem's the team at the moment. Who's next?” (03:18, 10:07)
• Tech Plateau: Adrian argues the performance differences between high-end kites have shrunk—“The standard of kites now is fairly level... it’s swinging way further back round to being more about the rider.” (04:27, 06:02)
• Iconic Kite Models: D Lab Evo 2023, Core XR, Slingshot NXT, and new Nash kites are discussed for their unique characteristics (06:04 onwards).
  • Memorable: Adrian (joking about selling his D Lab Evo): “I will sell it to anyone for €6,000.” (06:04)

3. The Team Spirit and Culture in Kiteboarding Brands

• Harlem is praised for its integrated, motivated approach, blending riders and backhouse designers—“They really want it. And I think north wanted it back in the day. And maybe teams need to find that want again.” (08:23)
• F-One’s momentum in France is noted, especially with riders like Charles Brodel and Pippa van Iersel (10:07).
  • Memorable: Adrian: “If you’re talking about, like, culture and wanting it, is F1, who also have access to Brainchild... making a big push at the moment.” (09:35)
• Design Philosophy: The hosts debate whether kites should be tailored to elite riders or the mass market.
  • Adrian: “It’s smart to make the most technically advanced, highest performing thing, because that's actually what the consumer wants, even if it’s not good for them.” (12:35)

4. Performance vs. Market Appeal and Brand Evolution

• Longevity of Influential Kites: Colin observes that old North Orbits (2020-22) are still everywhere:
  • “The amount of north orbits that I still see... they're unbelievable. They're still... I still see so many of them.” (15:34)
• Core’s Usability: Adrian distinguishes XR as the kite with “usability at its core,” making even amateurs feel like legends—
  • “That’s something that's always had usability at the core of it, and that's allowed people to get the best out of themselves, which is completely different to something like a D Lab Evo, which is so technical and difficult to use.” (13:56)

5. Competition Landscape & Rising Talent

• Lords of Tram Entry: They go through the automatic GKA qualifiers, spotlighting promising names and discussing whether veterans like Edgar Ulrich will return.
  • Colin: “The big name that stands out to me there is Edgar. Are we going to see Edgar ride?” (18:26)
  • Adrian (dryly): “No.” (18:28)
• Women’s Side: The top six are listed, with discussion about the format offering real opportunity for rising stars (18:47).
• Importance of Open Entry: Colin credits Lords of Tram’s open entry for nurturing young and fringe riders:
  • “It is a valuable pathway for young riders and... gives a lot of opportunity for people to get in from the fringe…” (18:45)

6. The Megapod’s Fresh Direction (Fantasy & Content)

• Announcement of changes to their fantasy league: new systems, community focus, more complex team selection (19:40)
  • “We will be changing the system so it’s going to make picking teams more difficult ... we want to mix that up… Now you're going to be able to pick and actually be able to have a bit more fun with, with your fleet.” (19:40)
• Preview of new video/production efforts: More behind-the-scenes, dramatic storytelling, and side-by-side benchmark gear tests.
  • Adrian: “What else is happening? We’re just going to do more dramatic stuff … more strict, I guess, storytelling and using drama to do that.” (21:22, 22:21)

7. The Core: Bringing Fun and Characters Back

• The hosts call for a renewed focus on fun, adventure, and personalities over competition-based obsessions:
  • Colin: “I think we're here, let's be honest, I think the industry is in delicate times right now and it needs a bit of fun… let's find the fun again.” (23:11)
• Rediscovering the enjoyment of riding, pushing past the “all big air all the time” rut for broader, more creative riding styles and stories.
  • Adrian: “I think the real fun is actually in freeride and in combining freestyle and foiling and downwinders and adventure, as well as jumping around and looping.” (23:51)

8. Talent Trajectories & The Next Generation

• Candid reflection on how the new guard of kiteboarders (“the next group of savages and rock stars”) might eclipse big air specialists Andrea and Lorenzo, being more versatile and balanced.
  • Colin: “I used to think Andre and Lorenzo were going to dominate for the next 10 years, but I don't believe that anymore… I think the next kids are coming, are more balanced and more well-rounded.” (24:18)
  • Example: Finn Flugel’s adaptability across gear and styles.
• Speculation on future development of stars like Leonardo Casati, and the hope he carves his own path beyond his brother Lorenzo’s shadow (25:00).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Suffering after a Full Session:
  “I'm sore. I'm so sore. I feel sick.” (00:42, Colin)
• On Legendary Kite Trades:
  “He was like, can I buy it? And I was like, I mean, they're not for sale. ... I think it's worth 5,000. And he just laughed in my face, obviously.” (04:27, Adrian)
• On Technical Kites & Consumer Demand:
  “Should people have bought that D Lab Evo 2023? No, it was like, very technical to fly... Did they sell a shitload of them off the back of Andrea winning two King of the Airs? Yes. People are stupid. They just want what the best person's on.” (12:35, Adrian)
• On Team Culture:
  “The six packs made in the kitchen. ... It's a great line.” (09:29, recurring joke)
• On the Character of the Sport:
  “The real fun is on the characters.” (24:11, Colin)
• On the Future of Content Creation:
  “We're just going to do more dramatic stuff... paying more attention to how we're constructing the story and how we are displaying each character in a thoughtful way...” (22:21, Adrian)
• On Rediscovering Fun:
  “Let’s find the fun again. Let’s find the fun, Ben.” (23:11, Colin)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:42 | Colin’s post-session soreness and the “good pain” | | 03:18 | Recap of dominant kites and rise of Harlem and F-One | | 04:27 | Iconic kite trade story, D Lab Evo discussion | | 06:04 | On the D Lab Evo, technical difficulty, and collectibility | | 08:23 | Harlem team dynamics and integrated brand “hunger” | | 10:07 | F-One’s rise in France and Brainchild influence | | 12:35 | Market vs. rider-designed kites debate | | 13:56 | Core XR: usability v. ultra-performance kites | | 15:34 | Influence of North Orbits and Core’s competitive legacy | | 18:26 | GKA automatic entry list; future of Edgar Ulrich | | 19:40 | Lords of Tram’s format and Fantasy toolkit improvements | | 21:22 | Upcoming content production and team goals | | 23:11 | Call to refocus on fun and community in kiteboarding | | 24:18 | Next generation of kiteboarders and talent trajectories |

Tone & Style

The episode is packed with the hosts' trademark camaraderie and off-the-cuff humor, blending deep-cut industry analysis with relatable kite-life stories and playful digs. Adrian and Colin are candid, occasionally irreverent, and not afraid to challenge industry trends or hype. Their enthusiasm for both kiteboarding’s present and its future shines throughout.

Takeaway

This episode delivers a fast-moving wrap of what’s hot and evolving in kiteboarding, plus the Megapod’s own creative trajectory. Whether you care about gear wars, athlete drama, or just want to rediscover the “fun” in the sport, Adrian and Colin serve up sharp insight—and plenty of memorable lines—that show why The Megapod remains a fixture for kiteboarders worldwide.