Meet Hanna Twarog, a windsurfer who agreed to try kiteboarding for one day to give her more fuel in her argument for why windsurfing was the superior sport. It didn’t work out quite how she expected, and now she’s a full-time pro kiteboarder!

Meet Hanna Twarog, a young rider from Poland who has been tearing up the freestyle scene. Hanna took a year off from her studies to travel and kite as much as possible. Get to know more about this young charger by reading her story here!

When did you learn to kite, where did you learn to kite, and why did you learn to kite?

I was a windsurfer before I learned to kite. I had been windsurfing for ten years and saw myself as a serious windsurfer. Therefore, when my dad tried to convince me to learn to kite, I was totally against it. I mean, for windsurfers kiteboarding was taking up space on the water, and I didn’t consider it a real sport. Generally speaking, windsurfers didn't kite, and kitesurfers didn't windsurf.

Then, during my vacation to the Polish seaside in 2013, I met two friends who were kiting. The endless arguments about whether kitesurfing or windsurfing is better led to the conclusion that I couldn’t judge kiting because I had never tried it. So, to prove my point, I decided to try kiting on my next trip, which was to Tarifa. Although the conditions were challenging, I could ride back and forth on my 3rd day practising. After that, I fell in love with the sport, and everything started developing rapidly toward competitions.

Where is your home spot, and how has being where you are from shaped you as an athlete?

My home spot is the Hel Peninsula at the Polish seaside because it’s the best spot in my home country, but I feel that Prasonisi, Rodos had much more meaning on my path. I have been travelling to Prasonisi for years. In my earlier years, I went for windsurfing, and now I visit for kiting. It is an ideal training spot with both flat and wavy conditions. It’s the spot where I learned my first jumps and my first unhooked manoeuvres.  It is also where I got involved in the kiting community. Prasonisi is not only the spot where I learned most of my tricks but also the spot where I found a place for myself in the kitesurfing world.

Can you tell us about the filming of Nobile’s “Women’s Games” video that you were a part of this winter? How was that experience, and what did you learn from it?

Filming Nobile’s “Women’s Games” was a great experience because it created a platform for us to come together, get to know each other better and become a real team. The moment we entered the lagoons in Brazil and four Nobile kites rose into the sky; we caught everyone’s attention. The shock of us throwing big tricks played a significant role in the goal of the movie - the impact of women in the kiting industry.

Do you find it important to ride on gear that’s designed specifically for women? Why or why not?

I think it is important to ride on gear that is suited the best for you and you feel most comfortable riding. For many girls, specially designed equipment can make the kiting experience so much easier. The gear is made for lighter weight riders, can be more appealing for women, and will positively influence the adventure on the water. Some women may feel better on classic gear, which is also perfectly fine and not a bad choice. I ride on standard equipment for freestyle and women’s gear for chill sessions because it’s more comfortable. 

How have your sponsors helped you achieve your goals?

My sponsors give me the security and additional support that I need to practice kitesurfing on a professional level. It’s different to get support from somebody outside of your circle of family and friends because you get motivated by the fact that people see your potential and are willing to invest in you. My sponsors have helped me along the bumpy road to becoming a professional athlete. Through the ups and downs, their support is what matters most to me, and it’s also what gives me a sense of belonging in the community.

How would you like to see the sport of kiteboarding change over the next ten years?

First of all, I would like to see a real freestyle world tour because it has been very confusing over the last few years. I believe the lack of a tour has discouraged many riders from competing.  I think the key to that could be the Olympic Games. The Olympics could make people more aware of this fantastic sport and even if it would be only racing the popularity of the sport as a whole could grow tremendously.

This could lead to more investors to offer to support tours and professional riders. The Olympics are not the only way; I think introducing kitesurfing to a broader audience can also be done through videos of professional surfers and kitesurfers. These videos would spread to the massive amount of surfing fans around the world. I would also like to see kitesurfing become more affordable and become an opportunity for everyone to enjoy life’s moments.

Outside of kiteboarding, what are you passionate about?

Before kiting, my biggest passion was horseback riding. Horseback riding was a major part of my life. I used to have two horses and ride six times per week.  I also really enjoy skiing, and I competed when I was younger. I recently rediscovered my passion for skiing after I travelled to the Alps three times this year and also visited the mountains in Poland. I also love other water sports like wakeboarding, surfing, and windsurfing.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and how have you applied it?

The best piece of advice I have received was from my Dad. He told me to kite with boys instead of girls because they are more willing to help me improve.

What are your goals for the second half of 2018?

The second half of 2018 is going to exciting and entirely different from the first half of the year. To begin, I will fly to Fiji in June to volunteer at a local school and also to kite as much as possible. Fiji has always been a dream destination for me, so I am looking forward to that trip. Then, I would like to train somewhere with flatwater for the rest of the summer. I am still not sure on the exact place yet. I will use the time I spend at home to practice wakeboarding a little bit more and then in August I will move to London and start university. Then, I’ll have to take a small studying break to head back to Brazil!

How did you enjoy your gap year experience?

My gap year was terrific, and the number of countries I managed to explore was unbelievable. I loved to see how they all differ from each other and how each culture is unique in its own way. Meeting locals and exploring secret spots is something I will never forget because it made kiting exciting and adventurous. It was also interesting to see how the wind and water conditions influenced the feeling of kiting-- for example kiting in fresh or salt water always made a big difference to me.

However, the most incredible thing about this year was not only the kiting but also the fact that I had time to see other cultural events, museums, cities and so many other things that helped me develop into a wider range of subjects. These experiences shaped me as a person. I had time to read many interesting books, and this allowed me to take a stand on many topics, which enabled me to lead discussions with individuals from all around the world and listen to their opinions and perspectives.

Therefore, I can say that every day during my gap year I learned something new and that’s the reason I would never exchange this time for anything.

How did you manage school with kiting when you were younger?

It was always harder for me to succeed in both kitesurfing and academics as I was living in a big city nowhere close to kite spots. But surprisingly, I managed it pretty well. I think the main reason for that was that my dad always tried to lead me indirectly in a specific direction. He gave me a lot of freedom.

He told me I didn't have to study, but if I wanted to kite I needed to have good grades, so I had the best possible motivation. In the end, it turned out that I was kiting one week every month and this allowed me to improve quickly. So this is how it went until the end of high school, and although I missed many classes, I still ended up with the best final results in my school.

Thanks, Hannah for taking the time to sit down with us and keep us posted on your next adventures!

Videos

NOBILE KITEBOARDING: Women Games
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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