“It took me two summers to fight my fear of kiting and its power”: Interview with Jule, kitesurfer from Germany
Kitesurfing can pull you into huge jumps and airs, and seems quite technical from an outside perspective. But, what if kitesurfing was actually not that hard?
“In itself, learning to kite is not difficult. You need a certain amount of body tension and body control and then you can learn it quite quickly.” – Jule
We recently spoke to intermediate kitesurfer Jule, who lives in Germany and kites on the Baltic Sea. Jule is not a professional, she’s one of the many women out there who kitesurf for fun and to get outside in nature. You don’t need to become a pro to enjoy it, and this is one of our goals to show you.
So let’s dive into Jule’s story, which involves some inspiring tips about conquering your fears… are you ready?
Could you tell us who you are, where you’re from, and what watersports you do?
Hi! My name is Jule, I am from Germany and live near the Baltic Sea. My favourite water sport is kitesurfing.
Did you find it hard to learn kiting? How long did it take you?
In itself, learning to kite is not difficult. You need a certain amount of body tension and body control and then you can learn it quite quickly.
However, in the beginning it took me a long time to learn the waterstart. Unfortunately, at that time I was very determined by my fear. I almost gave up kiting. In total, it took me two summers to fight my fear of kiting and its power.
Whoa! Okay, so what were your main challenges and how did you get through them?
My biggest challenges were fear and the lack of belief in myself and my abilities. Fortunately, I had a lot of support and people who believed in me during this time.
In addition, the regular sport helped me to improve my fitness and to better control the forces that prevail in kiting.
What 3 top tips would you give to a woman reading this who wants to start kiting?
1) In any case, take a kite course at the beginning. Preferably at a school where the kite instructor accompanies not more than two beginners.
2) It’s also nice to do the course with someone else. A good friend, for example. That’s incredibly motivating.
3) It’s even more important not to compare yourself with others. Everyone learns differently and has a different learning curve. Comparing yourself to a woman who is already further along or even comparing yourself to a professional will make you fail in the long run to progress yourself.
Who is your favourite female kitesurfer?
My biggest role model is Jalou Langree. Not only because she is a fantastic kiter, but because she is incredibly inspiring as a person. She is down-to-earth, at peace with herself and committed to protecting the ocean.
On the water, she is graceful and always radiates joy, even when the session might not have been so good. At least that’s how I see her, unfortunately I haven’t met her in person yet.
What’s your no. 1 piece of favourite equipment to take kiting?
In fact, I always have several things with me. A water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, my dog and good friends.
How did you find switching to a strapless board? Any tips for someone trying this?
The switch to the directional was actually not difficult. Although it is like learning to kite all over again. But the feeling of riding without bindings is incredible.
