Kitesurfing History Made As Storm Powers Red Bull Championship In Netherlands

Furious 60 mph winds, nine-foot waves and 22 of the world’s boldest kitesurfers turned nature into a breathtaking stage for the Red Bull Megaloop 2025.

The rare competition, “summoned” only when conditions are deemed extreme enough, saw athletes launch themselves more than 60 feet into the air, spinning their kites in full 360-degree megaloops over the raging North Sea. Riders were judged on extremity, execution and flow, as the storm delivered the perfect canvas.

“I think we got the perfect storm,” said Italy’s Lorenzo Casati, who claimed the men’s crown with gravity-defying power. “The wind was super strong, big waves, it was just perfect to fly."

Casati credited his father for helping him reach this moment. “I always dreamed to win this competition, the most extreme competition, the biggest Megaloop, and I’m just without words. for this feeling.”

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For the first time, the Megaloop featured a women’s division, and history was made by Dutch rider Zara Hoogenraad, who stormed into victory on her home beach.

Hoogenraad emphasized the significance of the moment, not just for herself but for women’s kitesurfing. “I think women showed that we can also go super high, that we can also put the kite low, and that we can also perform in these conditions. So it was about time to have a women’s division, and I think we proved that next year will be another one.”

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As the storm raged, the shoreline of Noordwijk filled with cheering spectators, watching riders harness the raw power of the sea and sky in an adrenaline-fueled spectacle. For Casati, Hoogenraad and the other competitors, the day was more than a contest, it was a test of courage against one of nature’s fiercest backdrops.

“I was sure I could do it,” Casati said. “You just need to go big, put the kite low, and try to get the win.” And on a storm-swept day in the Netherlands, going big meant writing their names into kitesurfing history.

Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.