Lindsay McClure investigates the rise and rise of the female side of our sport looking at the progression of the top ladies, and how accessible kitesurfing has become for the fairer sex.

Years ago it was rather rare to see a woman at the beach, back when the sport started there were just a handful of trailblazers. These days with the advancements in equipment and accessibility, the explosion of female participants seems to be booming. That’s a great thing for our sport, more equality brings more innovation, it’s no mistake that we have more ladies working for us at the magazine than we do guys.

This year the progression at the top end of our sport seems to have rocketed. This article came about after my mind was quite literally blown watching the ladies final video from the Triple S. The feminine side of the sport appeared to have undergone a paradigm shift where they were now, really, truly, mixing it at a level where the guys had to stop and take stock for a second.

I asked our Features Editor, Lindsay McClure, to investigate the rise not only in the skill level but also in the numbers of participants. Then to create an article that would not only showcase the high standard of riding out there, but also inspire all women to push their level, and to encourage more girls to get involved too. Who knows, one day soon it might be the guys who are outnumbered on the beaches!

Lindsay McClure

As I’m seated along the shore of a small lagoon in Northern Brazil, a burly, local approaches me, asking in broken English how I’m able to participate in a sport that requires so much brute strength. I smile and give a quick explanation about the physics of kiteboarding and the utility of my harness.

Knowing that I will lose my audience if I continue my explanation deeper into depower systems and strength-to-weight-ratios, I significant say, “It’s nice to meet you,” give a smile, then glide off the beach in a motion that’s easier than walking.

We often forget how remarkable our sport is. Spectators routinely ask me how I’m able to ride my board without being picked up by my kite and carried away. Not long ago, kiteboarding was only for daredevils and risk seekers who weren’t afraid to put their life on the line. Today, kiting is for everyone. Visit any kite beach, and you will find athletes of all kinds: tall, short, round, thin, old, young, male and most importantly female.

I started kiteboarding in 2008. At first, one token girl at each beach was the norm. For each group of 10 male kiters, there would be, maybe, one girl in the mix. Fast forward to 2016 and the landscape is completely different. Women now have every advantage in kiteboarding at both the early stages and at the elite level. Today, the male-to-female ratio is levelling out, and the vibe on the beach is becoming more inclusive.

Sensi Graves: "I think women are a lot better at supporting one another. Women are more emotional and attune to one another's feelings and therefore are compassionate and supportive.”

Many people are quick to point out that women in action sports are fighting an uphill battle. Because of physical differences, the ladies have a different crayon box to draw with as it were. Often, women take a more measured approach to learning new sports. However, what we lack in raw power, we make up for with finesse and technique.

Karolina Winkowska: "We have less strength, but that doesn’t mean that we train less or try fewer tricks. We train as hard or even harder than the guys because we know we need to make sure our bodies will take all the impact from the heavy crashes.

It’s with this mentality that the women at the top of our sport are achieving great things.

Paula Novotná: "The girls started pushing the level with Bruna Kajiya landing the first double handle pass (by a female), a backside 315, and other girls will follow."

Colleen Carroll: "Just in the past year, we’ve seen more progression from all of the women than in any of the years before.  I think, over the next year or two, we’ll start seeing a lot of ‘never been done’ tricks landed by the ladies in competitions and video parts.  The more this happens and the level increases, the more we’ll see this ‘all out’ mentality amongst the women’s division that we see in the guys heats."

It’s not just about the top level though, it’s about the grass roots number of girls coming into the sport too, and progressing on their journeys within kiteboarding. Today, women’s gear is well-designed and readily available, making the kiting more accessible, comfortable, and fun. Almost every major kite brand has recognised the need to provide women’s specific products. Brands have resisted the "shrink-it-and-pink-it" model for designing equipment. Instead, the brands are bringing influential women into the design process as they strive to meet the needs of even the most demanding female riders.

With today’s equipment, beginners can learn the sport without fearing for their lives. For instance, I recently introduced my mom, the last person on the planet who I want to see flying through the air, to the sport without hesitation. Modern kites are designed so riders can decrease or eliminate the powerful pull from the kite in an instant, a quality that’s appreciated by riders across the spectrum.

Katie Potter: "Kiteboarding brings a particular type of girl into the sport. The sport teaches you that you have to be resilient. We all get along because we've all been through the same stuff."

Kiteboarding is unique because it's an all-in lifestyle sport. People who love kiting, live kiting. Passion for kiting leads participants to travel, seek the wind, embrace adventure, make personal sacrifices, and spend long days engaging with the kiteboarding community. If our community is welcoming, the level of female stoke will continue to grow. I see, more than ever, that ladies are not only participating, but they are falling in love with kiteboarding.

Sensi Graves: "I don't think that deciding to do this is a sacrifice, it's a lifestyle choice. We acknowledge the things we're missing out on, but consciously choose a cool opportunity that not many people get."

Female kiters now travel comfortably, feeling safe and making friends along the way. Cars full of women drive hours to find the best conditions, and kite posadas fill with ladies who are excited to hit the water together. Scores of women have creatively figured out a way to design their life so that kiting is a priority.

Paula Rosales: "Aside from progression and the camaraderie on the water, I think we're seeing a bigger picture from the girls about where the sport as a whole can progress. We are taking care of the sport and growing it in the direction we want to see it go."

Each year, more women are coming to appreciate the value of kiteboarding. It’s a great excuse to get outside and travel the world. Kiting requires spontaneity and flexibility because of the ever-changing conditions, and developing these traits is good for the spirit.

Colleen Carroll: "In the park, it's a very relaxed vibe.  We are all competitive, of course, but it's a 'good' competitive. The kind that motivates you to push yourself and leaves you hungry for more after each session or event. Not to mention that a lot of us are all great friends on and off the water.  We travel together, freeride together and even support each other during competitions when someone needs it."

The opportunities for ladies to compete are also becoming more abundant. At the amateur level and the professional level, more women entering competitions. This means that the share of the prize money allotted to women, in many cases, is growing. With more prize money, more women are motivated to compete, and this positive growth cycle is pushing the level of riding up, up, up.

Paula Novotná: "It's difficult to stay friendly with somebody you compete against, but in kiteboarding it’s different. We are a small community of athletes, we travel around the world together, and some of the riders are my close friends. If I competed against a friend, I don't feel like I lost. I am happy for my friend who won, even if, deep in my heart, I want to be there. A good example is when I compete against Gisela Pulido. Even if I lose against her, I'll still help her to win the event and support her during the competition. There is no point being jealous or having enemies in this sport."

Karolina Winkowska: "Some relationships among the ladies are friendly, and some are more competitive. When I started to compete on the world tour, I didn’t do it to make friends. However, today I can say I have friends all over the world, and this is the most amazing thing I've gained throughout these years."

One significant change I’ve recognised is that the ladies themselves have become a lot more open and welcoming to each other. During my first years kiting, the other women I met were super competitive. I felt that my skill level, my appearance, my gear, and everything I did was scrutinised; this was happening when I could barely ride upwind.

Now, I find that the women I meet through kiting are friendly and outgoing. Even if all we have in common is our shared passion for kiteboarding, we immediately have a bond, mutual respect and experiences to share. One reason for this change is that the industry has become more accepting of women in our sport. There are more pieces of the pie, so to speak. There’s more space for everyone to do their thing and be accepted and supported.

Manuela Jungo: "The women's community is growing. Girls are interacting with each other and sharing what they do on social media. Girls want to feel healthy and be fit, and they want to follow other girls who are real and inspiring. It's all about being active and eating well: ‘try this recipe’ or ‘I went for this hike...’ I find it fascinating and inspiring."

Still, I cringe when I see athletes, media outlets, and friends on social media playing into the stereotypical scene with the boy shredding and the girl posing on the beach. I hope to see our sport continuing to accept ladies as athletes instead of viewing them as accessories. We’ve made so much progress in such a short period of time, and I’m very optimistic about where our sport is heading.

Rou Chater: "Four years ago the team at IKSURFMAG came up with an unwritten rule, to no longer publish videos where guys shredded, and girls flounced about in bikinis on the sidelines. Rather than make a public statement we quietly emailed the worst protagonists explaining why their video hadn’t been shared on the biggest kitesurfing media outlet out there. The response was fantastic from some of the guys, and we’ve seen a shift in those styles of videos. Even though a few still appear on the web.

The rule here at the magazine now is that we shouldn’t be selling sex for sex’s sake. Yes, most ladies kite in hot locations in bikini’s, but there is no need to sexualize that overly and it is far better to see a girl riding in a bikini rather than just standing there getting jumped over. We feel this approach encourages a positive outlook to women’s kiteboarding. It’s been great to see that grow over the last few years…"

So, where do we go from here?

It’s time to take action. For those who are new to kiting, the first step is to find a reputable kite centre. It can be worthwhile to seek out an instructor who has a proven history of teaching women. Also, try to buy, rent, or borrow equipment that fits and works well, especially checking to see if the harness, wetsuit, footstraps, and board feel right for you and have been designed with female riders in mind.

Colleen Carroll: "For women’s kiteboarding as a whole, I would love to see the rapid progression we are seeing right now continue to gain momentum.  I’d love to see more women getting into kiteboarding, closing the gap in number and skill level between us and the men."

For intermediate level riders, seeking out ladies kite meet-ups, women’s clinics and adventure camps is a great way to get more involved in the kiteboarding community, improve your skills, and stay motivated. At the advanced level, camps and competitions are a great way to keep from plateauing or getting bored.

I don’t think there’s been a better time to persuade our moms, daughters, girlfriends and anyone else to sign up for kite lessons. We should be relentless in encouraging our friends and family members to jump onboard. After all, when something is this good, why wouldn’t you share it?

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By Lindsay McClure
Lindsay is a pro rider from Hood River in the USA, she works for IKSURFMAG as our Features Editor and is an integral part of the team. Lindsay is really into wakestyle riding and can be found in the Hood River Slider Park during the summer months, she also travels all over the world with the World Class Academy helping younger riders develop through kiteboarding!

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