Kitesurf365: Winners and Losers | Cold Hawaii | The Megapod

Hosts: Adrian Kerr (A), Colin Colin Carroll (B)
Date: October 8, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Megapod is a high-energy, post-mortem on one of the wildest events in kiteboarding: Cold Hawaii 2025. Hosts Adrian and Colin break down the chaos, unpredictability, and standout performances from the event, offering their classic mix of sharp insight and irreverent banter. The big themes include surviving brutal conditions, who stood out (and who didn't), and a critical look at gear, judging, and the ever-evolving tactics of competitive big-air kiteboarding.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Wild Conditions & Event Drama

• Extreme Weather: The event saw a mix of wind, rain, and sun—creating a brutal test for riders, crew, and equipment alike.
  • “It was wind, rain, sun. It was every single combination of weather you could face.” – Colin (00:02)
• Technical Challenges: Catastrophic equipment failures, particularly for camera operators and judges, due to waves crashing into event infrastructure.
  • “The biggest losers of the day was the cameramen... all the cameras were broken. And the spirit of the camera people as well.” – Adrian (02:09)
• Logistical Mayhem: Judges and media were forced to relocate multiple times due to waves and power outages.
• Praise for Resilience: Both the crowd and the Red Bull Denmark media team are lauded for toughing it out and keeping things rolling.
  • “They just kept on pushing on. I was super impressed with the way those guys work.” – Adrian (17:52)

Winners and Losers: Performance Breakdowns

Big Winners

• Jeremy Blando - Event Winner

  • Clinched the final in a nail-biter against Lorenzo, marking a comeback after injury.
  • “He was sick from round one, Heat one... I saw the ingredients he needed to go the whole way from, from the very first tricks.” – Colin (21:00)
  • “That breakthrough moment, that moment of clarity when it's like, holy shit, I know I can do this again.” – Adrian (22:12)
  • Memorable Moment: Threw his bar on the beach in celebration, symbolizing his return to form. (23:25)

• Lorenzo Cassati - Consistent, Robotic Performer

  • Barely crashed, nailed huge scores, but narrowly lost the final.
  • “The guy's so robotic. He's so impressive. He never looks like he's going to crash. He's pushing the boat out every time.” – Adrian (23:51)
  • Hosts see him as a favorite for King of the Air due to his consistency and technical mastery.

• Steen Mohr (Stino) - Sleeper Finalist

  • Surprised many by beating big names. Praised for his “carefree-but-fierce” mentality.
  • “He has that sort of, you know, I don't care attitude. But did you see how pumped he was when he made the final?” – Adrian (10:52)
  • Mentality compared to tennis prodigy Carlos Alcaraz (11:45).

• Parker Sage - Breakout Performance

  • Strongest showing yet and overcame past struggles.
  • “This was a Parker that I wish we'd seen a lot longer ago... he was unbelievable.” – Adrian (14:25)

• Crowd - Endured the Elements

  • Recognized for sticking it out through “every single combination of weather.” (04:14)

Notable Losers/Disappointments

• Camera Crew and Judges
  • Suffered most from the conditions—loss of equipment and repeated relocations.
• Jamie Overbeek, Josh Gillett, Luca Cerucci
  • Disappointing results despite high potential.
  • “It's rocks or diamonds with Jamie....he definitely needs a big break…I can't put my finger [on] what it is.” – Colin (11:54–12:54)
  • Gear limitations (old equipment) suggested as a contributing factor for Jamie.
• Jason Van Der Spay’s Kite
  • Underperformed compared to previous events, possibly due to conditions or tuning.
• Charles Brodel
  • Sat in the “neutral” zone; exciting style but strategies may not match judging trends.
  • “The doubles bring excitement, doesn't bring the scores. The singles bring the scores, but they don't bring the same excitement…” – Colin (32:31)

Perennial Challengers

• Heel (Nick Jacobsen)
  • Once again fell short in a heated semi, despite consistently impressive performance. Hosts reflect on his unique style and misfortune in tightly judged heats.

Judging, Scoring, and the ‘Overall Impression’ Debate

• The “overall impression” score sparked heated debate:
  • “The impression score is bullshit for sure. However, I actually think it’s necessary at the moment because without it, those trick scores have to be so accurate... and these judges, bless them, don’t get to do this many times a year…” – Colin (07:08)
• Both criticize the system’s subjectivity but acknowledge its current necessity given live judging constraints and lack of replays.
• Reflection on the difficulties of judging simultaneous, fast-paced action, especially in such chaotic conditions.

Equipment & Innovation Insights

• Kite Evolution - Major jumps in performance noted:
  • “These guys are riding 8 meter kites, heels on a 9 meter kite. That was unheard of three or four years ago to go out in 45 gusting 50 knot winds on that size kites. But that's how much technology...has got better over the years.” – Colin (30:17)
• Standout Kites:
  • Core XR Pro 2 (Heel’s kite) highlighted for giving heavier riders competitive height and lift.
  • “I think that's a sign that that kite has got serious lift in it… I wouldn't be surprised if it's a Core XR2 that smashes a WOO leaderboard.” – Colin (27:59)
• Woo Record Battles:
  • Jamie Overbeek’s 36.1-meter jump on a 7m Duotone Rebel sets a new benchmark; his track record as the best “Wooer” continues.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---|---|---| | 02:09 | Adrian | “The biggest losers of the day was the cameramen... all the cameras were broken. And the spirit of the camera people as well.” | | 07:08 | Colin | “The impression score is bullshit for sure. However, I actually think it's necessary at the moment...” | | 10:52 | Adrian | “[Stino] has that sort of, you know, I don't care attitude. But did you see how pumped he was when he made the final?" | | 14:25 | Adrian | “That's something I never thought about it but it makes so much sense... Jamie's also on old-looking gear.” | | 21:00 | Colin | “He was sick from round one, Heat one... I saw the ingredients he needed to go the whole way from, from the very first tricks.” | | 23:25 | Adrian | “That breakthrough moment, that moment of clarity when it's like, holy shit, I know I can do this again.” | | 23:51 | Adrian | “The guy's so robotic. He's so impressive. He never looks like he's going to crash..." | | 27:59 | Colin | "I think that's a sign that that kite has got serious lift in it..." | | 30:17 | Colin | “These guys are riding 8 meter kites, heels on a 9 meter kite. That was unheard of three or four years ago...” |

Technology, Trends & What’s Next

• Kite Tech as a “Winner”: The ability to hold and perform on comparatively larger kites in extreme winds is reshaping competitive big air.
• Judging Evolution: Calls for better objective scoring, use of video replay and more precise trick scores.
• Event Character: Hosts ponder whether Cold Hawaii is now “the craziest” as much as the “windiest” event.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Event Chaos & Camera Drama: 00:00–03:47
• Crowd Endurance & Best Heat of the Year: 04:14–05:19
• Judging, Scoring, and Impression Debate: 06:20–10:07
• Steen Mohr Deep Dive: 09:47–11:45
• Jamie & Gear Limitation Discussion: 12:54–14:25
• Winners/Losers Lightning Round: 14:25–17:52
• Media Team & Judges Survive: 17:52–21:00
• Jeremy’s Comeback & Final Analysis: 21:00–24:42
• Lorenzo and King of the Air Favorites: 24:42–26:41
• Heel’s Big Kites & WOO Leaderboard: 27:59–29:23
• Woo World Aftermath: 35:28–35:55

Final Thoughts

Adrian and Colin’s lively recap perfectly encapsulates the madness, innovation, and competitive drama that makes Cold Hawaii such a fiercely beloved event. From windswept chaos and technical breakdowns to profound comebacks and gear geekery, this Megapod is essential listening for kiteboarding fans who crave the inside scoop and some sharp, often hilarious, commentary.

Don’t miss:

• The upcoming episode with Jeremy Blando for insights on his comeback mindset.
• Post-show interviews available on Portraitkite.com for raw athlete reactions.

Next up:

• “Woo Worlds” and more King of the Air speculation.
• Continued debate on judging, equipment, and which riders will step up next.