How kitesurfing changed my life
The first time I flew a kite, I was hooked. Honestly, it’s probably the exact moment my life changed forever. And believe me, the feeling only got better from there. I still remember the first time I flew my own kite—an absolute rush! Or when I finally landed my first trick. Those moments stick with you. And while today, they might seem small compared to what I can do now, at the time, they felt HUGE. I mean, I was over the moon landing a backroll. Now? A backroll is just part of the warm-up.
But as your skills improve, so do your expectations. It’s like this endless chase—learning new tricks takes longer, and landing ones you already know doesn’t give you that same hype as before. It's easy to brush those small victories off, but here's a reminder: be kind to yourself! Those wins—big or small—are still worth celebrating or at least the acknowledgement of you being awesome.
That one trip that really sealed the deal
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment kitesurfing became my passion, but there was a pivotal experience that took my love for the sport to new heights. It was during a two-week downwinder progression camp in Brazil. Why did it change everything? Well, let’s see... Non-stop wind, daily kite sessions, a super fun crew, mouth-watering food, and a drop-dead gorgeous location. Oh, and the realization that kitesurfing is your ticket to exploring beautiful beaches around the world? Yeah, that didn’t hurt either!
The rut I didn’t see coming
Of course, not every chapter in the kitesurfing journey is all sunshine and wind-in-your-hair vibes. A few years ago, I hit a bit of a rut. Sure, I lived close to the beach (kitesurfer’s dream, right?), but many of my kite buddies didn’t. And as much as I loved spontaneous sessions when the wind picked up, it wasn’t always easy to find others to join. You know how it is—friends can't just drop everything whenever it's windy, so most of the time, I was out there alone. And let’s be real—kiting is fun solo, but it’s way more fun with friends.
The real secret to kiting passion: Progress and people
This year, I finally figured out the key to keeping the kitesurfing fire burning: progression and kite buddies. Don’t get me wrong, the kitesurfing community is great—we share tips, hype each other up, and get everyone stoked. But, like in regular life, friendships aren’t instant. You have to build them. Just sharing the water with someone doesn’t always translate into lifelong kite pals.
But if you invest time and energy into finding your kite crew, trust me, it’s worth it. Not only will your sessions become infinitely more fun, but having friends to kite with will seriously speed up your progression. You push each other, laugh together, and next thing you know, you’re landing tricks you didn’t even think were possible. So if you’ve got kite buddies—treasure them. They’re not just helping you have fun; they’re the key to becoming a better kitesurfer.
Final thoughts: Keep the stoke alive
Kitesurfing has taken me on a wild ride, both literally and figuratively. From solo sessions on a windy beach to unforgettable trips in Brazil, South-Africa, Hawaii and other places, the sport has changed my life. And if you’re just getting into it, remember: progress is great, but the people you share the water with make the biggest difference.
So here’s a tip from me: Want to kite more? Make more kite friends! Just make sure they can drop everything when the wind kicks up.
xox Berit