Female Focus - Therese Taabbel
Issue 76 / Wed 7th Aug, 2019
Danish shredder Therese Taabbel's positive attitude, compassion, and talent are well worth the spotlight in this issue's Female Focus, and so, Jen Tyler thought it was high time for a catch-up! Check it out here!
Currently ranking fourth in women's Freestyle, Danish shredder Therese Taabbel's positive attitude, compassion, and talent are well worth the spotlight in this issue's Female Focus, and so, Jen Tyler thought it was high time for a catch-up!
Hi Therese! I'm glad we're finally doing this! You've been super busy the last few months (as well as the upcoming few months!) How is the GKA Freestyle tour going so far? What was the most challenging stop so far?
Thank you so much, Jen and IKSURFMAG for making it possible! I'm excited to share my thoughts about my passion, as well as a bit about myself.
Since April, I have been focusing on competing on the GKA Freestyle World Tour, and it has been fun but undoubtedly challenging at times. The women have really been raising the bar this year, but even though we are all competitors, we are also very close friends, which is always encouraging. I am currently ranking 4th, but we're only halfway into the season - there is still a lot more action to come!
The most challenging stop, but far, must have been Leucate in France with the gusty and unstable cross-offshore winds and massive choppy waves. I was on my 5.5m, which I rarely ever have to use. These are the conditions that really put your experience to the test, and you feel a sense of satisfaction and contentment when you finally do land even the most basic tricks! I had to use some strategies and slowly build up my tricks during the heat to get a decent score.
Tell us a bit about your life growing up in Denmark, your hometown, and your siblings? How did you get into kiteboarding?
Denmark offers fantastic kiteboarding conditions during the summertime. I was lucky to grow up close to the beach with my parents and younger sister.
The first time I ever flew a trainer kite was when I ten years old while my dad was on a kiteboarding course, and I instantly fell in love with it. The thought of flying and being in the water drew me to it immediately.
My dad thought I was too small to start kiteboarding, so I started practising daily on a trainer kite at the beach. One day, my dad brought home a 4.5m second-hand kite that had been torn apart by a thorn bush. We spent hours repairing it together, and I think that was one of the most memorable moments for me; I remember thinking "I'm finally going to start kiteboarding!"
It took me a couple of years of blood, sweat and tears to finally be able to ride properly! I am so grateful for my parents for supporting me, they knew how much I wanted this and how much joy kiteboarding brought into my life.
I would check the wind forecast before school, and in the beginning, I would go kiteboarding with my dad. Later on, I got to know other local riders, and I would catch a ride to the beach with them. I was continuously texting them to find out if I could join them; I must have been extremely annoying!
Even when they ignored me, I always found a way to get to the beach by bus, bike, friends or family. I also got special permission from school to go kiteboarding when it was windy!
We know you have a passion for sports, water and the wind, but let's say you had to spend the day in a city, where would you go and what would you do?
I would probably start off at an organic café and order a café latté with almond milk while getting some work done on my laptop. After that, I'd find a gym and then go exploring in the hope to find a botanical garden I could visit in the city.
You often talk about encouraging and motivating others to follow their passions, who taught you always to be so positive?
My mother, she is the most inspirational person I know. She taught me everything I know about positivity, visualization, and having the right mindset. "What you think is what you get", is what she always said.
Positivity and gratitude have become a big part of my daily life's philosophy. Your thoughts are so powerful, and by learning to control them, you can build your dream life. I primarily use visualization as a tool during competitions.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you, mom, for showing me the way.
In 2013, you started competing internationally, what is the hardest challenge you've faced since?
In 2013 I did my first European Championship, and that opened up a whole new world! A world where I was able to test my abilities and push my limits even further.
The hardest challenge I have faced has been truly believing in myself and trusting my journey. The older I get, the more confident I am in myself.
I am grateful for the life I have created, where I can live out my craziest dream as a professional kiteboarder. I am continuously battling through my own pressure within myself. I want to be the best athlete I can be, on and off the water. There is always a voice inside my head that is constantly encouraging me to evolve and push my limits.
How have your sponsors, including Red Bull and Cabrinha, helped you achieve your goals?
Joining the Red Bull team has been one of the biggest moves in my career yet. Personally, it is the ultimate goal as an extreme sports athlete to work with such a professional and creative partner. I have already learned so much from the team at the Red Bull office in Denmark, and I regularly see inspiration in those people.
I also recently started a partnership with a Danish company called FYSIQ sport, with the support from Red Bull Denmark. They have been screening my physical abilities and have designed a specific training program. We are aiming to create a functional training program, with exercises similar to my tricks on the water, as well as building more body strength where I need it.
Combining training on and off the water is vital for me to progress. Working with a professional coach is new to me, and I cannot describe how rewarding it has been already. We have located most of my weaknesses so that I can work on that.
Kiteboarding is an individual sport, and most of us are self-taught. Therefore, it has personally been a big step for me to have a team at Red Bull and my new physical coach to rely on and ask for professional advice.
Cabrinha has been there since ever since my journey started, and I am forever grateful for our partnership and the best equipment for me. It is such a great brand, and I love working with them and our team. They have supported me since day one, and I can't tell how much I have learned.
So, thank you to all my partners, that all have helped me to where I am today!
Where do you see yourself living, and what do you see yourself doing once your professional kiteboarding career is over?
Summer in Denmark is incredible; I love it here but as good as the summer gets, the winter here would be impossible for me to survive! I would like to settle somewhere warmer during the winter, but I am still searching for the perfect destination. Scandinavia does have a special place in my heart, though!
I have always dreamed of having my own company and being my own boss. I am currently studying Business, Service and Innovation at Copenhagen Business School. I believe I will find a way to combine my passion for water and positivity, with my business studies somehow and build my own company. What it is going to be, I have yet to find out!
What advice would you offer to young riders who want to pursue the level that you've achieved?
Train hard, but have fun while you are doing it. Make sure you are still doing it with passion and not continually doubting your abilities. If you genuinely love what you do, in my opinion, you will always succeed… just remember to smile as well!
Who are your favourite riders to train with and why?
Nothing beats a session with the girls on tour, but a session at my local home spot with the home crew is equally special! It's all about finding those people that motivate you, push you and still have fun on the water.
What have been the biggest highs and lows in your kiteboarding career?
A major high has been joining the Red Bull team. They believe in me, and this has contributed to my confidence as a rider. Equally, making it to the final last year in Dakhla, Morocco and waving the Danish flag, knowing I gave it my all was very memorable.
There have been lows for sure, but when I manage to overcome them, I try to see what I have learned from it, and that helps, sometimes.
What other disciplines besides Freestyle do you enjoy?
I would love to foil more, as I enjoy it so much and it feels like a new sport for me. Besides kiteboarding, I love wakeboarding at the cable park in Copenhagen. It is like my second home with the friendliest community. It is the perfect training for no wind days, and I like to go there without having the pressure to perform.
What is your favourite trick and which new tricks are you working on?
My favourite trick is an S-Mobe, and I would love to land an S-Mobe 5; it's a work in progress!
Any plans for 2019-2020 you'd like to share with us?
For the rest of the season, I will be travelling to the remaining stop on the GKA tour, and then I am planning to go somewhere with good training conditions at the beginning of 2020 - let's see where the wind takes me!
There are some exciting projects with Red Bull that are brewing for 2020, so stay tuned!
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us, Therese, and sharing your story with us!
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By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.
