The Casati Brothers on Back-to-Back Titles & the Harlem Thrive V2

The Brazilian Brothers caught up with the Casati family, a true powerhouse of kitesurfing. Lorenzo and Leo Casati are both World Champions, with Leo just taking a back-to-back win for the family after Lorenzo won it last year.

Interviewing the Casati Brothers

Two days after winning the competition, Leo says it feels amazing and still a bit unreal. He always wanted to become World Champion since he started kitesurfing. All the hard work put in with his dad, who is his coach, has finally paid off.

Lorenzo achieved his own massive dream last year by winning the Red Bull King of the Air, the Red Bull Megaloop, and becoming World Champion all in the same year. He notes that winning the trilogy is incredibly hard to achieve, especially since the Megaloop only happens when there is a crazy storm. Lorenzo is super happy to see Leo win the World Championship title this year, saying that if anyone should win it after him, it's his brother since they do all of their training together.

The Harlem Thrive V2 Kite

The guys discuss the brand new gear from Harlem, specifically the new Thrive V2 kite. Leo has used it for double loops and notes it's a really fast kite. The 6m and 7m sizes are perfect for double loops. He also highly recommends it for beginners starting to kite loop because it's really fast and gives you a lot of confidence when you loop. It's really soft on the bar, letting you really feel the kite. The Brazilian Brothers agree, noting that while it can handle triple and double loops, it makes first kite loops and rotations really easy because it's so light on the bar.

Lorenzo adds that the Thrive was his first kite when he started with Harlem. It's the perfect kite for freeriders and for pushing your riding to the next level with kite loops and board-offs, while still keeping performance high. He rode it in Cold Hawaii, the Red Bull Qualifier in Tarifa, and the Red Bull King of the Air, getting great results. He considers it the best kite for everything around, from double loops to single loops.

The Harlem Launch Board

Lorenzo discusses the Launch board, which he was using before the Assen. He calls it an amazing board and the best option if you want a fun freeride session and are starting to jump higher to get your board off. It gives a lot of control, super nice speed, and is really smooth on the landings. He highly recommends pairing the Launch board together with the Thrive kite.

Post-Session Feedback: Harlem Thrive V2

After a session on the water, Lorenzo notes the wind wasn't too strong but was perfect for some loops. Comparing it to the Thrive V1, he says the new version is definitely better. This was his first proper session on the 9m for looping. He noticed more lift on the kite, better hangtime, and overall the bar pressure feels better, making it easier to know exactly where the kite is.

Leo also went quite high on the new Thrive despite the lighter wind, and his tricks felt amazing. He praises the soft and nice bar pressure, noting you always feel where the kite is. The vertical lift shoots you super high. Regarding the Launch board, he says taking a lot of speed makes it go really fast, it cuts out the chop really well, and lets you shoot out and fly massive.

Harlem Thrive vs. Harlem Peak

When asked about the biggest difference between the Harlem Peak and the Thrive, Leo explains that the Peak has a bit more hangtime but is harder to use. Looping is way harder if you are learning. He recommends the Thrive if you're doing kite loop board-offs or want to learn them, as it's way easier and more loop-friendly. The Peak is for riders who want more aggression, more yank, and more power through the loops.

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