Kitesurf365: Winners and Losers | Red Bull KOTA | The Megapod

Hosts: Adrian Kerr & Colin Colin Carroll
Release Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Theme

This Megapod episode dissects the highs and lows of the 2025 Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) competition. Adrian and Colin sit down—literally in a wetsuit-filled Water Sports Warehouse—to debate this year's most outstanding winners, disappointing losers, shifting trends, judging controversies, and what these results mean for kiteboarding’s future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Vibes from Water Sports Warehouse

• The hosts describe their recording location ("The stench of neoprene is actually, quite... I like it to be honest." – Adrian, 01:32) and set the relaxed, irreverent tone typical of the Megapod.

2. Standout Winners of King of the Air 2025

a. Foil Kite’s Main Stage Debut

• Evan Klein’s use of a foil kite in competition stole the show, marking a turning point for the technology on this stage.
  • "When that kite went up it was possibly the loudest cheer of the whole event outside of the final." – Colin, 02:10
• The hype around the Flysurfer Sonic 5 brought a level of excitement and innovation unseen in prior years.

b. Luca Ceruti – Rising Consistency

• Once known for inconsistency, Luca is now the highest-performing South African for two years running.
  • "He’s really dialed into the gear... a constant semi-finalist." – Colin, 03:49

c. The American Surge

• Zach Adams and Parker Sage sparked hope for the US scene. Parker, especially, shocked by eliminating Jason Van der Spee and displaying new consistency with a 5-strut Reedin kite.
  • "He's like a wrecking ball." – Adrian, 09:09
  • "If there was ever a question that gear makes a difference, that's a classic example right there." – Colin, 09:17

d. Casati Family Dominance

• Lorenzo Casati wins for the second time; his brother Leo Casati secures second place on his first final appearance.
  • "Usually the winner of King of the Air gets hoisted... Renato got hoisted up by his two boys." – Adrian, 22:53
• Father-coach Renato is celebrated as the mastermind: "He's nailing it." (Colin, 22:52)

e. Natalie Lambrecht – Women’s Champion

• Natalie redeems herself after last year's heartbreak, completing 10/10 tricks in the final.
  • "She was epic and great... just spoke clearly about what it meant." – Adrian, 25:19

3. Losers and Disappointments

a. Gear Decisions: Sizing Missteps

• Heel: Regrets not switching to a larger kite in light winds.
  • "That's got to be a misstep... looking back, he'll think probably a misstep from his part." – Colin, 04:49
• Andrea Principi: Unfamiliar with the brand-new 2026 Duotone Rebel, so sticks with older gear; Duotone critiqued for poor timing.
  • “Is Duotone a loser for not getting that kite out a little bit earlier...?” – Colin, 05:59

b. Red Bull’s Event Timing

• Hosts lament Red Bull not running the event during Sunday’s peak wind.
  • "Sunday the 23rd was a perfect day... something caused them not to call it. I don't think we'll ever know." – Colin, 06:49
• The three-day structure creates high pressure and long waits—frustrating for both athletes and audience.

c. Selection Controversies

• Event selection processes questioned, with Jamie Overbeek notably missing.
  • "Jamie Overbeach should have been there 100%. No one disagrees with that." – Adrian, 06:44

d. Disappointing Performances

• Andrea Principi: Out in round 3, major upset.
  • "It's a major, major upset for him." – Adrian, 11:05
• Jeremy Blando: After high expectations, early elimination.
  • "Disappointing for Jeremy... he's going to fall into that loser category." – Colin, 31:27
• Stino: Switched to Harlem, but had a rough KOTA despite a strong year.
  • "Stino a bit of a loser on this one..." – Colin, 28:15

4. Judging, Scoring System & Strategic Shifts

a. Impression Score and Unique Tricks

• New scoring gives 7/10 'overall impression' points for unique trick 'families,' promoting variety and objectivity.
  • "It was a much more objective scoring of kiteboarding for the first time ever. Big tick from me." – Adrian, 14:57
• Drawbacks: Implemented with short notice; some riders struggled with tactics.
  • "This was dropped on them very, very late... a lot of them were confused." – Colin, 15:42
• The controversial 6.5-point threshold for accessing unique trick bonuses discussed.

b. Judging of Charles Brodel

• Despite technical innovation (e.g., half cab with a foil board), Charles is "underscored" and left disappointed.
  • "He's upset and he's been robbed, but you still think he's a winner?" – Adrian, 18:16
  • Hosts argue Red Bull's push for "the show" sometimes comes at the expense of fair progression for wildcard riders.

c. Strategic Gaps

• Some riders failed to adapt—didn't utilize short lines, unhooked moves, or gear changes that could have given them point advantages.

5. Women's Highlights

a. Natalie Lambrecht’s Redemption

• Overcame last year’s devastating loss to dominate; attributes success to strong team support (notably Michael Schipper).
• "She wrote 13 minutes last year and that broke her down to coming back a year later and winning it. It's kind of crazy, her growth." – Colin, 24:27

b. Francesca Maini's "Mystic Move"

• Lands the biggest trick ever by a woman at KOTA—massive board-off with two extra rotations.
  • "Sickest thing ever landed at King of the Air by a female." – Adrian, 26:12
• Honest about the move being accidental, adding to her charm and reputation.

c. Lana Herman’s Comeback

• Returns after injury for a strong performance.
  • "Not the most talkative person in the world, but does her talking on the water." – Colin, 26:52

6. Industry Trends & The Future

a. Gear & Brands

• Shift away from Cabrinha (first KOTA without a Cabrinha rider).
• Duotone’s representation rests solely on Andrea, while Harlem and others are rising.

b. Coaching & Radios

• Speculation on use of radios for real-time coaching and strategy; possible future tech development.

c. Live Broadcast Critique

• Hosts and fans found live stream coverage "terrible" due to missed tricks and poor camera angles—a recurring frustration.

d. Trophy Consistency

• Hosts lampoon KOTA for lack of a consistent women's trophy design, hoping for a return to iconic tribal masks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "When that [foil] kite went up it was possibly the loudest cheer of the whole event outside of the final." – Colin, 02:10
• "He's not trained to do this. It's just him... the way he did it, what made it even more special to me is he didn't take that away from Zach." – Colin on Andrea Principi’s humility, 13:26
• "She was epic and great in the interview... just spoke clearly about what it meant." – Adrian on Natalie Lambrecht, 25:19
• "Sickest thing ever landed at King of the Air by a female for sure." – Adrian on Francesca Maini’s Mystic Move, 26:12
• "Usually... Renato got hoisted up by his two boys." – Adrian, 22:53

Important Timestamps

• 01:40: Kickoff – defining episode focus: KOTA winners and losers
• 02:10: Foil kite makes KOTA history
• 03:49: Luca Ceruti & South African leaderboard
• 06:49: Critique of Red Bull's event-day selection
• 09:09: Parker Sage’s surprise run
• 11:05: Andrea Principi’s early exit
• 14:57: Scoring system explained, impacts on rider strategy
• 18:16: Charles Brodel's innovative riding and scoring controversy
• 22:53: Emotional Casati brothers’ moment
• 24:27: Natalie Lambrecht’s transformation from heartbreak to champion
• 26:12: Francesca Maini’s game-changing trick
• 28:15: Stino’s disappointing outing post-Cabrinha switch
• 29:23: Discussion on coaching and possible use of radios
• 31:27: Jeremy Blando’s unexpectedly early exit
• 33:46: Upcoming interviews and community thank-yous

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Irreverent, passionate, and deeply invested in both the technical and emotional sides of the sport, Adrian and Colin deliver an episode packed with detailed analysis, honest critiques, and inside jokes. They highlight kiteboarding’s spirit—not just technical achievements but humility, innovation, and the camaraderie that makes the scene unique.

The future for KOTA and kiteboarding looks vibrant, with new stars rising, brands changing, and critical discussions about fairness, technology, and progression propelling the sport forward.

For in-depth coverage, check out upcoming interviews with Lorenzo Casati and Natalie Lambrecht, and revisit Kitesurf365 for deep dives into gear, scoring, and community stories.