Rita’s Travel Diary
Issue 89 / Tue 5th Oct, 2021
After a tumultuous 2020, things had to get better in 2021, right?! For Rita Arnaus, this year has not gone as planned... With new challenges coming at every angle, Rita’s Travel Diary is an exciting read!
The book of life is written as we live it, and this past year’s story has been full of twists and turns. Still, each day is an opportunity to learn a new lesson and write a new chapter. With so much happening, good and bad, I’d hate to forget any little detail. It’s time to put pen to paper to keep these memories alive!
2021: Starting Strong
I started 2021 with some lofty goals; Ride in as many competitions as possible, improve my riding level, share great content on my media channels, and level up my training game with new sports to improve my physical and mental condition. But, most of all, I wanted to achieve my longtime dream of becoming Freestyle World Champion.
Training was at the forefront of my mind as I planned my year, optimistic that things would work out. I had planned to go to North Carolina, Greece, and competitions in the Dominican Republic, Fuerteventura, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Madagascar, to name a few! But, unfortunately, reality had other things in mind for me. Events were getting cancelled as quickly as they were being planned, and we hadn’t even started yet!
2021/March: Off to Morocco
Taking advantage of borders reopening again, I boarded my first flight of the year to Morocco. Dakhla delivers conditions for every kind of kiter. The everyday routine is “eat, kite, sleep, repeat!” What better place than this to start training for the upcoming kite competition in Tarifa?!
We shot the new Brunotti collection in Dakhla, and I finally got to give the new Slingshot RPX a proper try. It’s always a relief when a new piece of gear arrives that not only satisfies but exceeds expectations. It was smooth, fast, comfortable, and versatile and had me stoked both while freestyling and out in the waves.
Off the water, I spent time with the locals on quiet beaches and at Dakhla Evasion for endless laughs in what felt like a private paradise. It was a perfect trip... until it wasn’t. While practising big air, I had a rough landing on a kite loop, resulting in bone marrow oedema and a trip home.
2021/April-May: Stepping Back
It’s hard to keep your head up when you have any setbacks. It’s not that I put a lot of pressure on myself; it’s part of my lifestyle, and I enjoy the hard work it takes to achieve my goals. I did my best to stay positive, even with a two month recovery period ahead. In between sessions with my trainer, I spent a lot of time reading books and learning about nutrition and mental health. I knew I needed to have a clear mind and strong body for the GKA event in Tarifa!
2021/June: Back in Action!
As the Freestyle event approached, it looked like we’d have perfect Poniente winds. Naturally, because nothing goes to plan, we ended up with super-strong Levante winds instead, which meant a 100% Big Air event! It was the right call in gusts over 50 knots, and the GKA did a great job adapting. But, I wasn’t mentally prepared for it.
I love Big Air and had been training kite loops, but this was way beyond what I’d prepared for. But I knew the conditions and accepted the challenge of going for it and doing my best. I gave it all I could on my 6m and made it to the final. I was surprised to see so many of us freestylers throwing huge megaloops and proud to be in the final with girls that I admire so much. It was a massive challenge that motivated me to improve my big air even more.
Off the water, I was pleased to be reunited with all the riders, especially my close friends Therese and Annabel, who I hadn’t seen in ages. Unfortunately, neither were competing; Therese was still recovering from a knee injury, and Annabel left the competition scene a few years ago. Still, it was great to be together, get some kite sessions in, and enjoy the best food in Tarifa!
2021/July: Sticking around Spain
Next, I travelled to Valencia for a stop on the Spanish Kiteboarding League. It was good to see the Spanish kiting community together, and I was happy to finish 1st in the Freestyle event even without much wind.
The light wind trend continued, so I headed home for a few days to visit my family. Nothing beats summer at home! My mum and dad both kitesurf, so a regular day at home means a lot of time at the beach. My family has taught me so much about wind, the ocean, and watersports in general and have been the greatest supporters in my kiting career; they believed in me from the beginning. It was lovely to have a few sessions at home with the family before heading back to Tarifa for the next project.
2021/July: Start Your Engines!
As kiteboarders, we spend a lot of time on the road, looking for the best conditions. I’ve always dreamed of partnering with a car brand and couldn’t be more stoked when Porsche came with an opportunity for me. Becoming part of their family and seeing them so excited to support kiteboarding is incredible! My old friend Liam Whaley also partnered with Porsche, so we met up in Tarifa to shoot the announcement video together.
Things are a little different on a commercial shoot when it comes to tricks. A handle pass doesn’t have quite the same pizazz for a general viewer as an old school rotation or hand drag, so we got on the water and had as much fun as possible for this shoot!
2021/August: Foiled Again
When I got home after the Porsche project, I was on a major life high, which meant it was time for another reminder that luck was not on my side. I was stepping off a boat, and the gap to the pier was quite big. When I slipped, I instantly knew that I was in for another round of rest and recovery. This time, I injured my hamstring and strained a tendon. It will be October before I’m back at full power, but a little bit of foiling is good for the soul!
My dad is the craziest and most experienced kiter in the bay; a session with him always puts a smile on my face! We decided to go on a long downwind foil together, but I probably should have told him about my string of bad luck before we got on the water because the wind dropped about halfway to our destination! It was a bit scary being so far out at sea, but my dad looked completely relaxed. I tried to follow his lead and stay calm, but the bay was full of jellyfish, making it difficult! While we made it back alive and unstung, it’s important to remember that even with a lot of experience, things can always go wrong!
It wasn’t long before the craving for another adventure set in, but I couldn’t go on a typical kite trip because of my injury. My friend Ranny had been trying to convince me to join her in Iceland, and it sounded like just the sort of trip that would make this year special, so I booked the flight!
2021/September: New Frontiers in Iceland
While it wasn’t meant to be a kiting trip, I don’t go anywhere without kite gear! I’d never been to Iceland, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I already knew it would be colder than what I’m used to! I piled into the car with Ranny and Elizabeth, and we set off on the road. I had no idea where we were going! Luckily, Ranny had the itinerary mapped out to visit all the must-see spots in Iceland during our short trip.
Surprisingly, we encountered wind on the very first day! It was quite strong with a lot of current, and I was extremely overpowered on my 8m RPX in the big ocean waves, but it was so fun to be back on a twin tip for the first time in Iceland. The gloves, booties, hood, and seals sharing the waves made the experience that much more authentic!
We continued the road trip for the next six days, staying in a different hotel every night and enjoying delicious Icelandic food, from road trip snacks to amazing restaurants. Everything about the trip left me speechless. Getting to know more about Viking history and Icelandic culture had me in awe of this strong community. I got to see nature in so many different ways, and the glacier and waterfalls were mind-blowing. This was nature at its purest.
2021: Looking Forward
Now that I’m back in Barcelona and reflecting on the year so far, it’s been a whirlwind. Life is always teaching you something, and you can never stop learning. With all the unexpected events of the year, learning to welcome what happens with peace and understanding is the biggest life lesson. Without the downs, we wouldn’t appreciate the ups! I’m ready for the challenge and excited to keep pushing forward. It’s all part of the game!
Next stop? It’s time to put the wetsuits away and get ready for a trip to paradise to shred lagoons, surf waves, and catch up with a kite community that has become like family. Brazil, here I come!
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