Harlem Kitesurfing: Beneath the Surface
Harlem Kitesurfing 6 episodes Nov 11, 2026
In just a few years, Harlem Kitesurfing has grown from an ambitious challenger into a trailblazing force within the sport. Beneath the Surface is the official podcast from Harlem Kitesurfing, hosted by Lewis Crathern. Through honest conversations with the founders, designers, riders and innovators behind the brand, we uncover the thinking, bold decisions and product breakthroughs that are positioning Harlem at the forefront of the sport and driving the next chapter of kitesurfing.
Episodes
Lewis Crathern: The 42.6m World Record
This episode of Beneath the Surface sees Aaron Hadlow take over hosting duties to sit down with Lewis Crathern, fresh off breaking the kitesurfing world record with an incredible 42.6-metre jump.They talk about the story behind the record, the storm session that made it happen, the tense wait for WOO to approve the jump, the equipment involved and what it takes to ride safely in extreme storm cond
Fynn Hedrich - Ocean Pulse : It's more than our playground.
Plastic production is projected to triple by 2060 if we continue on our current path. It's a sobering prediction, and one that makes protecting our oceans more important than ever.Harlem Kitesurfing has partnered with OceanPulse, a non-profit organisation bringing communities together through beach clean-ups, education and awareness. In this episode of Beneath the Surface, I'm joined by Fynn Hedri
Scott Barendsen - Beyond the Water
Scott Barendsen is a professional kitesurfer who has found a creative way to take his career beyond the water. Based in Tarifa, Scott is a Big Air rider, coach, judge and model, and has found a unique way to combine his passion for kitesurfing with the world of marketing.We explore the concept of custom kites and how Scott uses Harlem’s custom kite capabilities to turn kites into flying billboards
Renato Casati - DADICATION
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.Our co
Andrea Zust becomes 3X World Champion
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 Harle
Harlem's Game-changing Thrive V2 and Launch V2
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 - Harlem Team Manager
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 - "Fear is a Switch"
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 jo
Martin Rahnel - Estonian National Team Rider
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 be
Leonardo Casati - 2026 Big Air World Champion
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 p
Baptiste Bourdoulous - Harlem International Team Rider
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 Mykonos
Behind the Thrive LiteX & Rise board
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 - Harlem International Team Rider
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, wh
Behind the Flow with Ralf Groesel & Aaron Hadlow
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 Groesel36:
Lana Herman - Harlem International Team Rider
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
Aaron Hadlow - Harlem Product Manager
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 Harlem16:50 – What’s next at Harlem?30:30 – Where is
Alex Morgenstern Founder & CEO of Harlem
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 Products49:25 - Leadership & P
