Image shows Ocean Rodeo Ambassador Karsten Holdt in the foreground. In the background are two Ocean Rodeo kites. Text overlaid says "Riders of the Wind: Karsten Holdt on A Decade of Riding Ocean Rodeo"

North Sea grit

Karsten Holdt: A Decade of Riding Ocean Rodeo

Based at Ringkøbing Fjord - one of Denmark’s most frequented kite destinations with wind and waves year-round - Karsten Holdt has been chasing wind since 2013. Drawn to the mix of water, speed, and physical challenge, his passion for kitesurfing has turned into a family affair: “My daughter’s caught the kiting bug too! She rides Ocean Rodeo gear, of course."

A chance beginning

Karsten’sconnection with Ocean Rodeo started by pure coincidence. “A friend ofmine who was an instructor used Ocean Rodeo gear, so that’s what Ilearned on.” he recalls. But what began as luck soon became loyalty.“That coincidence quickly turned into conviction. The gearsimply flies beautifully, holds up to a beating, and inspires realconfidence.”


Since then, he’s become a cornerstone of Denmark’s Ocean Rodeo community, officially joining the Ocean Rodeo Ambassador crew in 2016.

SPO memories and Danish connections

Anyone who’s attended SPO Kitesurf Masters over the years might remember Karsten’s friendly energy around the Ocean Rodeo stand. He’s been there every year the brand has attended, including the memorable 2019 event, when the first Aluula prototypes were unveiled. “That was a great moment,” he says. “It really showed Ocean Rodeo’s drive to innovate.”

Karsten has also introduced many local riders to the Flite A-Series, a kite that’s become a go-to in Denmark’s lighter winds.

Karsten's ocean rodeo setup

As you'd expect, Karsten's quiver includes a lot of Ocean Rodeo gear! He rides the Crave HL in 7m, 8m, 10m, and 12m, alongside an Aluula Flite 14.5m and a Flite 10m D-series, plus a Prodigy 8m D-series for versatility. His boards include a Smoothy, which doubles as a wakeboard, and a Mako for wave sessions.

“It's quality gear that simply flies – I fell in love with the Flite series when it came out, as there was nothing quite like it at the time,” says Karsten. “My Ocean Rodeo Soul drysuit from 2016 is still going strong after ten seasons without a single repair or seal replacement. That says everything about Ocean Rodeo’s quality.”

(Note: The Soul drysuit is now discontinued, but its legacy speaks for itself.)

Karsten's first impressions of the polaris

Never shy to try something new, Karsten recently got out on the water with the Polaris. “I've had my first session on the Polaris and it's great. The new autoswivel works excellently. Overall it feels very close to the previous Pilot bar, just with a noticeably improved autoswivel.”

Thanks karsten!

Always chasing wind on Denmark’s west coast, Karsten embodies the Ocean Rodeo spirit - dedicated, curious, and never missing a session when it’s blowing. With Ocean Rodeo kit in his quiver and the new Polaris Control Bar in hand, he’s ready for whatever the next session brings – confident in the gear that’s been with him from the start.

Feeling inspired? Explore Ocean Rodeo kites, or build your perfect setup with our kite bundle builder.

shop karsten's setup

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