Storm Amy Set The Stage For A Historic Showdown As Men And Women Rode Monster Waves and Launched 20m into the Skies in The Netherlands.
Red Bull Megaloop returned to the Dutch coastline in spectacular fashion as 22 of the world’s best kitesurfers braved Storm Amy’s 100 km/h winds and three-metre waves in Noordwijk. For the first time, the event featured a women’s division, marking a historic breakthrough for the sport.
Held only when extreme weather aligns, Red Bull Megaloop challenges riders to perform the megaloop, one of the most daring manoeuvres in kitesurfing, demanding athletes soar more than 15 metres into the air while looping their kite a full 360 degrees.
Key Facts
Event: Red Bull Megaloop 2025
Date: 15 September 2025
Location: Noordwijk, Netherlands
Conditions: 100 km/h winds (Force 10), 3 m waves, strong currents
Participants: 22 riders (16 men, 6 women)
Format: Elimination heats judged on Extremity, Execution, and Flow
Winners: Lorenzo Casati (ITA) – Men’s Division; Zara Hoogenraad (NED) – Women’s Division
About Red Bull Megaloop
First held in 2013, Red Bull Megaloop is one of kitesurfing’s most extreme contests. The competition highlights the megaloop manoeuvre, a kite loop executed at extreme height and speed. Riders are judged on Extremity, Execution, and Flow, with conditions determining when the event can be called. Noordwijk hosted for the first time in 2025, continuing the Netherlands’ reputation as one of the world’s most challenging kitesurfing arenas.
Event Overview and Timeline
Organisers issued the green light just 48 hours before the start, with Storm Amy delivering the brutal conditions athletes and fans had been anticipating for two years. Riders rushed to Noordwijk, hometown of Dutch kitesurf legend Ruben Lenten, to face the North Sea’s rawest elements.
Elimination Heats: Riders launched into 100 km/h gusts, battling in head-to-head duels for progression.
Megaloop Spectacle: Athletes performed loops at heights of more than 20 metres, with judges scoring on extremity and flow.
Final Showdown: Four riders pushed to new limits before champions were crowned.
Historic Wins
In the men’s division, Lorenzo Casati (Italy) 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 inaugural women’s division, Zara Hoogenraad (Netherlands) claimed the title with a Boogieloop, making history on home waters.
“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.
Why It Matters
Red Bull Megaloop is staged only in extreme storm conditions, making each edition a rare global spectacle. In 2025, the introduction of a women’s division marked a landmark moment for the sport, inspiring a new generation of riders to challenge the North Sea’s storms.