Harlem Kitesurfing: Beneath the Surface

Renato Casati is the father and coach behind two of the biggest names in kiteboarding, Lorenzo Casati and Leonardo Casati . With both brothers now World Champions , Renato has a unique view of what it takes to reach the top of the sport. We talk about what it is like raising two competitive athletes, why family values matter and how he reshaped his life to be the most dedicated father possible. Ou...

Andrea Zust has done it again. In Sylt, Germany, the Swiss rider successfully defended her Hydrofoil World Championship title, making it three consecutive World Championships. But it’s never been straightforward. Just three years ago in the hydrofoil big air discipline, women were still competing directly against the men. Andrea talks about her journey, what it means to be part of the amazing Harl...

Ralf Groesel and Aaron Hadlow join us to discuss the game-changing new Thrive V2 kite and Launch V2 Kiteboard. We go beneath the surface of what has changed, why it has changed, and how those changes translate onto the water. Ralf takes us through the design and development of the Thrive V2, while Aaron shares his experience testing and overcoming the challenges of improving the already successful...

Victor Looijestijn has been part of the Harlem Kitesurfing story since the very beginning and has worked in almost every department. From his early days as one of the brand's original team riders to becoming Harlem's Team Manager, Victor has been involved in everything from team development and community building to product development, design, and shaping the direction of the brand. Based...

Sarah Sadek is Harlem's highest-ranked female team rider and one of the world's top five Big Air athletes. From her home in Egypt to competing on the biggest stages in the sport, Sarah discusses how she harnesses her fear control switch, the mindset behind her success, and her approach to competition at the highest level. Growing up in Dahab, Sarah explains how the destination shaped her j...

Martin Rahnel is already making his mark on the world of kiteboarding. An Estonian national team rider for Harlem Kitesurfing, youth sailing world champion and multiple national champion, Martin has already competed at some of the sport's biggest events, including Lords of Tram and Full Power Tarifa. In this episode, Martin joins us to discuss his competitive goals and aspirations, the story b...

At just 17 years old, Leonardo Casati has reached the pinnacle of Big Air kitesurfing, securing the 2026 GKA Big Air World Championship after a commanding performance at the final stop in Mykonos. Fresh from the biggest win of his career, Leo joins us to explain how it feels to be a world champion, what makes the Casati family such a force in kiteboarding, how Harlem Kitesurfing has supported his...

Baptiste Bourdoulous has carved out a unique career in kiteboarding through his distinctive riding style, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to growing the sport in Greece. As the driving force behind the upcoming GKA Big Air Kite World Tour Finals in Mykonos, Baptiste is helping bring one of the sport’s biggest events to one of its most iconic destinations. We explore his connection to Mykono...

Harlem Kitesurfing’s product design team, Ralf Groesel and Aaron Hadlow, return to Beneath the Surface to break down the latest additions to the Harlem lineup - the Thrive LiteX kite and the all-new Rise board. We explore how Harlem is pushing ultra-low-end performance to the next level, the design philosophy behind both products, the challenges faced during development, and how these innovations...

Stijn Mul is one of the rising stars of Big Air kiteboarding and a key rider on Harlem’s international pro team. From becoming Dutch Champion to landing podiums at some of the biggest events in the world, Stijn has built a reputation for powerful riding and total commitment to progression. We discuss his journey through competitive kitesurfing, the mindset needed to perform at the highest level, w...

Harlem Kitesurfing’s product design team, Ralf Groesel and Aaron Hadlow , take us inside the making of the new Harlem Flow - A high-performance wave and freeride kite built to push limits across disciplines. We break down the full journey from concept to release, where this kite sits in the lineup, the design challenges they faced, and why you should go with the Flow. 01:00 - 36:27 : Ralf Groesel...

Featuring Lana Herman from Slovenia who rides for Harlem on the International team. Renowned for her powerful riding Lana is fast becoming a household name in Big air Kiteboarding most recently achieving yet another podium on the big stage at the GKA Lords of Tram event in France. We talk about her outlook on life, competition riding, family, her home in Slovenia and what it takes to be a professi...

Episode 2 welcomes Aaron Hadlow , one of the pioneers of Kitesurfing, multiple world champion and now key figure at Harlem Kitesurfing. We break down his role inside Harlem, what drew him to the brand in the first place, and where he sees kitesurfing heading next. He also drops a few hints about what’s coming next with Harlem… 00:55 – Your role at Harlem 16:50 – What’s next at Harlem? 30:30 – Wher...

On today’s episode, we’re joined by the man behind it all - Alex Morgenstern , CEO and founder of Harlem Kitesurfing. We go back to the start - the vision, the risks, the challenges and explore the journey that’s shaped Harlem into a driving force in the progression of kiteboarding. 00:50 - The Beginning 21:19 - Why Harlem? 27:04 - The Harlem Way
 42:08 - Performance Products 49:25 - Leadership &a...