One-to-one with Lorenzo Casati: The road to KOTA 2024

From winning title after title to scoring multiple world’s firsts, Lorenzo Casati is having a year like no other. As he trains hard for the season's most anticipated event, Red Bull King of the Air, we caught up with him off the water to talk about his recent wins, the training and game-changing mindset behind them, and what it takes to continually push the sport to new heights. Read the interview below.

Lorenzo, what a year so far! Congrats on winning both Red Bull KOTA Qualifiers in Tarifa and Denmark. Can you walk us though these past two competitions, what was your mindset going into these competitions?

LC: Thanks! It's been an incredible year so far. Going into both the Tarifa and Denmark qualifiers, my mindset was to really understand what the judges were looking for and to push my abilities in that direction. I knew the competition would be tough, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared to showcase my best tricks and skills. It's an amazing feeling to have won both qualifiers and I'm excited to see what the rest of the year will brings.

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

How did the conditions differ in Tarifa and Denmark? What were the challenges of these spots?

LC: Tarifa was wild windier, allowing me to showcase my doubles and triple loop variations in +40-knots offshore conditions. Denmark was lighter and better for single loops, and I'm happy to have shown people that my single loop game is also strong. Someone may have forgot that 2 years I won KOTA 2022 with a wide margin, mainly with singles, and after that competition, by choice, I just pushed on doubles and triples, that have a totally different level of difficult and requires  much more time and skills to progress and close properly. That’s’ why new school is always exciting in my training, keeping high the hype. When you close doubles, training single loop is the most boring thing you can experience. It is a finished kite concept in my visions. Doubles and triples are what just a few people can do properly, and that has always excited my mind. I have at least 10 tricks that no one in the world can do, that’s what give my mind adrenaline. Push the limits, advance the evolutions, being always forward, shaping the lines of the future, these are the visions that my father taught me and that I am trying to transfer into reality of the new school of Big Air.

"We saw some world firsts! Is there a particular move you were most proud of?

LC: I'm incredibly proud of the many triple loop variations I am inventing day after day, and the fact that I was the first one to land, some of them in a competition. I have been working for a long time on a couple of new trick that are something unreal. I am still studying with dad how to arrive to have consistency with them, but when I will, it will set up again the barrel soooo high, man!

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

You are the most consistent rider on the water. What’s the secret to landing every trick?

LC: In Tarifa I closed 35 on 38 all double and triple very high risks tricks, and in Denmark 36 on 38 all singles loop with many variations. I train hard with my dad and my brother in a special way, that of course is secret, as my dad has masters in sports and training and invented this system on his own. The exercises we do daily in the water with him is our secret, as they are focused in many directions. Being consistent is one of these. Is not a chance that my bro at 14, in Barcares Lords of Tram, at his 1^st ever competition in GKA Big Air circuit, with +40 kts closed at first round 7 on 7 huge doubles, beating with a good margin Edgar and Marc that crashed more than him.

You also scored podiums in the strapless and hydrofoil discipline earlier in Sylt. How does one become so versatile on the water?

LC: My dad's passion for the sea and his huge guidance guided he me to develop day after day the vision to try to become a real Waterman in kitesurfing. I've always been passionate about the sea, since when I started with surfing, and I have dedicated countless hours to honing my skills there. This dedication, combined with my dad's expert trainings, has allowed me to excel in multiple areas. To become versatile in water sports, consistent and focused competent training with proper techniques is the key. And of course, you must love the sea more than any other thing. You must train being happy to share your life with the elements, not to see it as a job or just for the win. This makes the difference in the end.

Photo: GKA, Lukas K. Stiller

In all competitions so far, you have been riding the new Harlem Thrive. Tell us more why it has been your kite of choice?

LC: The Thrive has become my go-to kite for all types of competitions. I absolutely love the way it feels and the incredible performance I can achieve with it. It's the perfect balance of power, stability, and maneuverability, making it ideal for both strapless and big air tricks. The Thrive's responsive handling and wide wind range allow me to push my limits and consistently land clean tricks. I've developed a deep connection with this kite, and it's become an essential part of my success on the water.

How does the kite excel in the Big Air discipline. Tell us more about its jumping abilities, hangtime..

LC: I love the kite's amazing vertical lift, which allows me to reach new heights for incredible and fast loops. His huge hangtime lets me float in the air for a long time and allow me to land clean all my tricks. With the Thrive you have the certainty to always know where your kite is, with no surprises!

Photo: Samuel Cardenas

How does the PROWELD leading edge feel in extreme maneuvers such as doubles and S-loops in strong winds?

LC: It feels amazing! I can truly appreciate how stable and rigid the kite flies in the air, even in super gusty winds. At the same time, it maintains incredible speed. Who wants really push also in loops, singles or doubles, should consider seriously to buy this kite. Who have had the luck to try it, has immediately decide to be in the game with that.

And in lighter conditions?

LC: The reduced weight of the PROWELD makes it fly exceptionally well in light wind conditions. This allows me to perform my tricks even in lighter winds like in the recent Denmark Cold Hawaii and use larger kite sizes thanks and still loop well.

The Thrive is also your weapon of choice in the strapless disciplines. How does the Thrive perform in the waves?

LC: The Thrive performs exceptionally well on waves thanks to its huge speed and ability to follow you during the wave (drift). In strapless it comes out the same abilities that I appreciate for the Big Air Twin tip. So is really a kite that can fit on you, at the best, for all exigencies of all riders in all disciplines.

Photo: GKA, Lukas K. Stiller

What’s your favorite size in the Thrive lineup?

LC: 8m for single loops and 6mfor double loops

And your preferred line length?

22m

Can you tell us a bit out  your training routine? 

LC: A good part, as said you before, is secret as is a key factor of the success of me and Leo. I can tell we have a very well-organized day, in which every minute is optimized between gym, run, kite, healty food, video analysis, strategy, mindsets and sleep.

And how do you mentally prepare before a big event? 

LC: We work mentally each day in our training routine, to be at the top when it needs. Our sport is dramatic. We have to work maybe 4 months in a row, let’s say 600hrs. including all the routines out of the water to take out all this huge effort, without mistakes, in maybe just 10 min. and 7 tricks of a heat, so in less than a minute of real flight time. Before the competition I just know that I am ready, because that’s what I I have been doing for so long, so I know I will not go wrong. Having my dad beside me the minutes before I start,  giving me the last tips before I enter and the plan of attack for the heat, is what gives me the certainty that I will not fail. He’s really the best coach and mentalist on this planet.

The recent qualifiers have been a great rehearsal for KOTA. How do you feel about the upcoming competition in Cape Town? Do you have any secret tricks you will be pulling out of the bag?

LC: The last two events have been extremely positive, and I'm feeling super confident going into KOTA soon. I'll definitely bring something new and exciting to try to win again this year. I have in the pocket so many secret tricks that I have never published that I don’t even know from where to start. But of course, I need the right conditions to do them so just let’s hope for wild conditions to put on a damn good exciting show.

Leo is following your steps closely and you are an inspiration for many young riders who are just starting. Do you have any advice for rising talents?

LC: I receive every day a lot of messages from young guns. I am incredibly honored to inspire them. Everyone ask me to close a quadruple loop soon, to push the limit again, and they told me that they will do soon a double loop. I am so excited to see that what I am doing has this impact on the next generation. The only advice I can tell them is to have the passion in the heart, the dedication to work hard, to always take care in the water and not to risk too much. The tricks will close on their own when you have the right level. Pushing too much when you don’t have the right control of the kite can be dangerous. Have fun but with mindfulness. Love the sea and never give up when it seems you can’t’ do it! Your day will arrive when you believe it for real!

Photo: GKA, Samuel Cardenas

What are your plans and goals after KOTA?

LC: My plans and goals after KOTA are to train harder than before in all disciplines, pushing even more the limits in Big Air, and try to win all the most important events in all kitesurfing disciplines. Is not easy to get there, but I work hard every day and I am sure that I will be there one day soon. 

We are certainly sure too! Good luck and strong winds, Champion!