About Us
Our Story
Harlem Kitesurfing wasn’t born in a boardroom — it was born on the water.
It all started with a simple idea from two friends, Alex and Hans: make the best gear out there. Working in their kite repair shop, they kept seeing the same problems — kites that broke too easily, cost too much, and ended up as waste way too fast. So they set out to do things differently. Think differently. Break a few rules.
In 2016, Harlem Kitesurfing was launched — with a mission to build gear that performs, lasts a dog’s life, and doesn’t cost the earth.
In 2022, we kicked off an exciting partnership with Brainchild Production — Europe’s most sustainable and innovative kite and wing manufacturing facility.
Together, we launched our groundbreaking kite bag, made from 95% recycled materials. A year later, we became the first brand to produce a kite at Brainchild: the pioneering Harlem Force, the first in our Game Changer Lineup, soon followed by the innovative wing, the Harlem Pace.
In 2024, Ralf Groesel joined the Harlem Family as our lead product designer. We also welcomed the G.O.A.T., Aaron Hadlow, as a pro rider and product designer.
Today, our entire kite and wing range is built at Brainchild — setting new benchmarks for performance, sustainability, and innovation in wind sports.
Alongside the evolution of our kites, the Harlem Family began to grow. A major milestone came when Lorenzo and Leonardo Casati joined Harlem, bringing insane talent, fearless energy, and proving what’s possible on every world podium.
Our pro team continued to expand with fresh talent like Clement Huot, Lana Herman, Baptiste Boudolous, Elsien Zijlstra, Sil Romeijn, and Sarah Sadek. From local ambassadors to world champions, our Family keeps riding harder, pushing limits, and redefining the world of wind sports.
We’re just getting started.
The future of Harlem is all about pushing harder, going further, and continuing to change the tide. With innovation in our DNA and sustainability at our core, we’re here to leave a lasting mark on the industry—building gear that performs at the highest level while making a real impact.
More breakthroughs. More bold moves. More riders joining the mission.
Let’s change the the tide — together.
It all started with a simple idea from two friends, Alex and Hans: make the best gear out there. Working in their kite repair shop, they kept seeing the same problems — kites that broke too easily, cost too much, and ended up as waste way too fast. So they set out to do things differently. Think differently. Break a few rules.
In 2016, Harlem Kitesurfing was launched — with a mission to build gear that performs, lasts a dog’s life, and doesn’t cost the earth.
In 2022, we kicked off an exciting partnership with Brainchild Production — Europe’s most sustainable and innovative kite and wing manufacturing facility.
Together, we launched our groundbreaking kite bag, made from 95% recycled materials. A year later, we became the first brand to produce a kite at Brainchild: the pioneering Harlem Force, the first in our Game Changer Lineup, soon followed by the innovative wing, the Harlem Pace.
In 2024, Ralf Groesel joined the Harlem Family as our lead product designer. We also welcomed the G.O.A.T., Aaron Hadlow, as a pro rider and product designer.
Today, our entire kite and wing range is built at Brainchild — setting new benchmarks for performance, sustainability, and innovation in wind sports.
Alongside the evolution of our kites, the Harlem Family began to grow. A major milestone came when Lorenzo and Leonardo Casati joined Harlem, bringing insane talent, fearless energy, and proving what’s possible on every world podium.
Our pro team continued to expand with fresh talent like Clement Huot, Lana Herman, Baptiste Boudolous, Elsien Zijlstra, Sil Romeijn, and Sarah Sadek. From local ambassadors to world champions, our Family keeps riding harder, pushing limits, and redefining the world of wind sports.
We’re just getting started.
The future of Harlem is all about pushing harder, going further, and continuing to change the tide. With innovation in our DNA and sustainability at our core, we’re here to leave a lasting mark on the industry—building gear that performs at the highest level while making a real impact.
More breakthroughs. More bold moves. More riders joining the mission.
Let’s change the the tide — together.
Our mission
We challenge the status quo to create the best gear out there — gear that’s better for riders and for the planet.
Or to put it another way: Pursue your passion, no matter what. Perform in any conditions. Stand out on the water. Be unapologetically you — and feel damn good doing it.
Our pillars
We’re driven by curiosity and obsessed with pushing boundaries. From revolutionary production techniques to bold designs, innovation is our compass. We’re here to raise the bar — and make high-performance kiting accessible to all.
Discover our game-changing tech.Our pillars
The planet is our playground — and we’re here to protect it. Every product we craft is designed with sustainability in mind: from recycled and recyclable materials to low-impact manufacturing and mindful logistics.
Our pillars
Harlem is more than a brand — it’s a global family. A crew of riders, ambassadors, partners, and friends, united by passion and a shared mission: to change the tide together.
Meet the team riders
CHANGE THE TIDE
MEET The CREW
We’re not just a team — we’re riders, creators, and occasional mischief-makers. We live the lifestyle, chase the wind, and love building gear that lets you do the same.
We take our gear seriously, ourselves - not so much. Here’s who’s behind Harlem:
ALEX, Founder & CEO
The man who started it all—and hasn’t stopped since. The guy who talks to a lot to people while building the most innovative kitesurf brand out there. Always on the hunt for new opportunities, chasing ideas, and proving daily that limits are just suggestions.
His go-to? The Harlem Ascent—because, in his own words, it “glides through chop like a hot knife through butter.” Favourite spot? South Africa, for the views, the variety, and the pure stoke.
Fear of heights? Yes. Loves going huge? Absolutely.
WOUTER, Operations
The man who sees inefficiency and can’t sleep until it’s fixed. One moment he’s implementing new IT systems, the next he’s optimising the warehouse organisation.
His secret power? Relentless improvement—if there’s a better way, Wouter’s already on it.
Addicted to sport (run, ride, swim, repeat), he’s on a mission to outrun time itself. Rides the Peak with the Ascent for record-breaking jumps and smooth landings. Loves riding in Maasvlakte, chasing wind and goals with equal focus.
Sharp and 100% committed.
REMCO, Finance
Behind every smooth session is a guy making sure the numbers don’t crash. Meet Remco: former King of the Air (if air meant Excel), now taming invoices, budgets, and bank accounts with the grace of a boogie board-off.
His superpower? Turning numerical chaos into crystal-clear reports.
Rides his custom Thrive because it’s smooth, reliable, and doesn’t argue about budgets—preferably in Zandvoort or Bonaire.
Pragmatic thinker, vintage soul.
DENNIS, Sales
The calm in every storm—the guy turning last-minute mayhem into market strategy over coffee (or an açaí bowl, depending on the continent). Dennis drives Harlem’s global growth, backing up distributors, fine-tuning sales, and sneaking in kite sessions whenever Noordwijk’s wind allows.
Secret power? Staying cool under pressure. Rides the Thrive, as it does it all, with style and speed.
Positive, pragmatic, and always moving forward.
VICTOR, Team Management
What’s his role? A better question: what isn’t his role? Victor’s days disappear faster than a downwinder in 30 knots—but mostly, he’s supporting our team riders, customers, and dealers. He’s the soul of the company, always bringing the stoke, the energy, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. Claims to be the world’s best speller and planner (his calendar begs to differ).
Loves the big-size Peak and Thrive, paired with an Ascent or Launch for those smooth old-school sessions, particularly in Cape Town and Tarifa.
Powered by passion. Tons of it.
ALEKS, Marketing
Aleks crafts strategies, builds campaigns, and protects the Harlem brand like a Greek goddess with Wi-Fi. Her not-so-secret power? Telling compelling stories and turning puzzle pieces into marketing magic. Balkan roots means she’s got “a guy” for everything .
Loyal to the Thrive for doing it all, and absolutely obsessed with the Ascent (and not just for the looks). Chases wind (but often people and deadlines) between Limnos and Cape Town, with a soft spot for anywhere off-grid.
Always curious, with a flair for the extraordinary.
STEF, Production Planning
Master of logistics, IT whisperer, and keeper of the office order. When things get hectic, Stef activates his stealth mode. Juggles suppliers, packing boxes, and solving mysteries of the production timeline—all without breaking a sweat.
The Thrive is his ride of choice, whether it’s Dutch downwinders or the waves of One Eye.
Down-to-earth, with a body (allegedly) sculpted by the gods.