Overview
“Look at this dirty loop from Andrea… That was dirty, bro. By the fin, by the fin. That was dirty, Graham. Graham would have liked that one. Send it for Graham today and that’s what it’s all about.”
— Lewis Crathern & Ruben Lenten (Commentary)
Held in September 2025 in Noordwijk, Netherlands, the Red Bull Megaloop went down in history as one of the most extreme kiteboarding big air contests ever. The event featured the introduction of the first-ever Women’s division and a profound tribute to the late Graham Howes.
Conditions and Rules
Riders faced fierce North Sea storms, heavy sandstorms (Mayhem), and dramatic weather changes as huge black clouds rolled in. The competition adopted a strict “One Trick Counts” format, where only the single most extreme megaloop per heat determined the score (70% Height and Extremity, 30% Technicality). Men were also restricted to 18m short lines, resulting in lower, more aggressive horizontal yanks.
Women’s Division Drama
The introduction of the Women’s division was a historic milestone. Zara Hoogenraad claimed the title of the first-ever Megaloop Queen, fighting back with a massive Boogie loop after suffering a brutal crash earlier in the heat. Alessa Mensch secured second place with a solid megaloop delayed backroll, while title favorite Francesca Maini was knocked out early due to a heavy crash.
“Yeah so sick because also it’s been it is the most extreme event in kitesurfing so I’m so excited to compete as a woman.”
— Zara Hoogenraad
Men’s Final: One-Trick Showdown
The men’s final was a spectacular three-way clash between defending champion Andrea Principi, title-hungry Lorenzo Casati, and local hero Cohan van Dijk. Under the extreme one-trick format, Andrea put up a massive 8.60 with hardcore tricks like rodeo and extreme dirty loops.
Tribute to Graham Howes & Dirty Habits
Throughout the event, the community paid a heartfelt tribute to Graham Howes, founder of Dirty Habits, who passed away in September 2025.
- Ruben’s Flag: Ruben Lenten raised the Dirty Habits flag on the beach, uniting the community in a legendary moment of remembrance.
- The “Dirty Loop”: As a tribute to his legacy, the trick formerly known as the contraloop was officially renamed the “Dirty Loop” across the tour.
The official broadcast shared a moving message: “Graham turned failure into fuel, wipeouts into wins and every crash into a story worth telling… keep going, keep crashing, keep getting back up, keep feeling alive.”
Show detailed results (Spoiler Alert)
“I don’t know it’s just too crazy I think I just got the nothing I wanted I can’t believe it… Honestly the first thing I want to say this win is here and I want to dedicate this victory to Graham…”
— Lorenzo Casati
Lorenzo shattered the tight competition with a breathtaking maneuver. He stomped a massive megaloop with 4 backrolls and a board-off from an extremely inverted position. Praised by the commentators with a loud “Bangst!” (the Dutch superlative for ‘the most terrifying/scary’), this trick scored a 9.04, the highest of the day, securing his long-awaited victory.
Men’s Final
- 1st: Lorenzo Casati — 9.04
- 2nd: Andrea Principi — 8.60
- 3rd: Cohan van Dijk — 8.06
Women’s Final
- 1st: Zara Hoogenraad (Netherlands) — 7.14 points (First Megaloop Queen)
- 2nd: Nathalie Lambrecht (Sweden) — 5.62 points
- 3rd: Alessa Mensch (Germany) — 5.38 points
Notably, Cohan van Dijk’s impressive 3rd place finish earned him a ticket to the Red Bull King of the Air 2025. As a 2025 KOTA finalist, Cohan continues to cement his place at the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
🔗 Related Link: https://www.redbull.com/us-en/events/red-bull-megaloop-2025
Search Aliases: Red Bull Megaloop 2025, RedBullMegaloop2025