PREVIEW

The Red Bull Megaloop kitesurfing event returned to the Dutch coast in dramatic fashion on Monday (15September2025) as 22 of the world’s leading kitesurfers braved Storm Amy’s 100km/h winds and three-metre waves in Noordwijk.

The Megaloop is regarded as one of kitesurfing’s most extreme contests. Held only when conditions are severe enough, riders are required to soar more than 15 metres into the air while forcing their kite through a full 360-degree loop.

This year, Storm Amy provided the brutal mix of wind and waves athletes had been waiting for. Organisers gave the green light just 48 hours before the event, drawing competitors and fans to Noordwijk – hometown of Dutch kitesurfing legend Ruben Lenten.

For the first time, the competition featured a women’s division, marking what organisers described as a landmark moment for the sport.
Athletes battled head-to-head in elimination heats, performing towering loops in gusts of up to 100km/h. Judges assessed each performance on extremity, execution and flow, as kitesurfers pushed the limits of what the sport allows.
In the men’s division, Italy’s Lorenzo Casati sealed victory with a Doobieloop Boardspin.

“It’s an incredible feeling for me. I always dreamed of winning this competition, the most extreme competition, the biggest Megaloop,” Casati said.

In the first-ever women’s final, Zara Hoogenraad of the Netherlands took the title on home waters with a Boogieloop.

“I can’t believe it. I am so happy — I’m crying because I’m happy. To win the first women’s division here in Holland, where I come from, is so special,” Hoogenraad said.

First held in 2013, the Megaloop has become one of the sport’s most prestigious and dangerous showcases. By bringing the event to Noordwijk for the first time, the Netherlands reinforced its reputation as one of the world’s most challenging arenas for kitesurfing.