Age: 40
Lives in Hood River, Oregon (a.ka. The Gorge). Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota.
How did you get into kiteboarding?
I have been kiteboarding for about five years, and it has been an amazing five years. I am considered a pioneer in the sport, partly because I have been kiteboarding almost since the sport’s inception. I learned to kiteboard in Baja Mexico. I had been a windsurfer, and when I saw kiteboarding for the first time, I knew it was a whole new deal. I went back to Minnesota that year and started kiting on the snow and frozen lakes. I was the first female snowkiter in the country.
Where has your passion for the sport led you?
I ride for a company named Slingshot. They are located here in the Gorge, but have really built an international market. They have a strong support for snowkiting as well, and some of the same people that I started with are still riding, designing, and pioneering this sport. It’s pretty cool to be a part of this group of pioneers, helping to grow the sport.
I first connected with Slingshot through a shop owner. I started to see what the other pro girls were doing, I knew I was not far behind, so I started to train and compete. I did a few snow contests, but concentrated more on water, which kept me out of Minnesota more than I was there, so I knew it was time to make a move. I had been a hair stylist for many years in Minnesota, so the move financially was really hard.
I moved to South Padre Island, Texas, where I helped friends open a kiteboard shop. It was a great place to train and ride; the water is warm all year around, the wind steady. I began teaching in Texas, which was a good experience as well, but I knew I wanted to be in the Gorge.
The pulse of the industry is here, so I moved again and have settled here. I am an Aveda-trained hairdresser, so I started in a new shop in Hood River. Slingshot is close by, and they have completely supported all sorts of ideas I have in growing the sport. We did a women’s clinic last summer with another slingshot female rider that was a huge success. We filled 40 spots in 48 hours, and we had to turn another 40 women away. A women’s kiteboarding association came out of that clinic. Women love to learn from other women. It was great to see the potential. I have more clinics planned for the coming year.
I’m mostly finished with the competition side of the sport. I will still compete in some boardercross events, but I am more into promoting the sport by doing demos, clinics, and basically doing a whole lot of innovative riding. Because I live here and travel with Slingshot, I get to be part of some R and D, which I love as well. As fast as this sport is growing, the gear changing and evolves as well.
The surf side of this sport--kiting in waves--is really growing and I want to ride as much of it as possible. I think a goal for the next couple years will be how to promote that to surfing women who want to learn to kite in waves and teach beginners safe ways to get in there. I also am doing a kids’ clinic this summer. I enjoy working with kids as well, but my focus is more on teaching women.
Inspiration:
My inspiration comes from the innovators of this sport, the designers, the riders, the industry people, and of course the young talent. They are pushing the level of riding so fast. I am always working on new tricks, getting as much water time as I can.
My mother has also been an inspiration to me. When I told her I wanted to get into this sport she basically said, “Sell everything and go for it.” Most parents would not have given that advice.
Lives in Hood River, Oregon (a.ka. The Gorge). Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota.
How did you get into kiteboarding?
I have been kiteboarding for about five years, and it has been an amazing five years. I am considered a pioneer in the sport, partly because I have been kiteboarding almost since the sport’s inception. I learned to kiteboard in Baja Mexico. I had been a windsurfer, and when I saw kiteboarding for the first time, I knew it was a whole new deal. I went back to Minnesota that year and started kiting on the snow and frozen lakes. I was the first female snowkiter in the country.
Where has your passion for the sport led you?
I ride for a company named Slingshot. They are located here in the Gorge, but have really built an international market. They have a strong support for snowkiting as well, and some of the same people that I started with are still riding, designing, and pioneering this sport. It’s pretty cool to be a part of this group of pioneers, helping to grow the sport.
I first connected with Slingshot through a shop owner. I started to see what the other pro girls were doing, I knew I was not far behind, so I started to train and compete. I did a few snow contests, but concentrated more on water, which kept me out of Minnesota more than I was there, so I knew it was time to make a move. I had been a hair stylist for many years in Minnesota, so the move financially was really hard.
I moved to South Padre Island, Texas, where I helped friends open a kiteboard shop. It was a great place to train and ride; the water is warm all year around, the wind steady. I began teaching in Texas, which was a good experience as well, but I knew I wanted to be in the Gorge.
The pulse of the industry is here, so I moved again and have settled here. I am an Aveda-trained hairdresser, so I started in a new shop in Hood River. Slingshot is close by, and they have completely supported all sorts of ideas I have in growing the sport. We did a women’s clinic last summer with another slingshot female rider that was a huge success. We filled 40 spots in 48 hours, and we had to turn another 40 women away. A women’s kiteboarding association came out of that clinic. Women love to learn from other women. It was great to see the potential. I have more clinics planned for the coming year.
I’m mostly finished with the competition side of the sport. I will still compete in some boardercross events, but I am more into promoting the sport by doing demos, clinics, and basically doing a whole lot of innovative riding. Because I live here and travel with Slingshot, I get to be part of some R and D, which I love as well. As fast as this sport is growing, the gear changing and evolves as well.
The surf side of this sport--kiting in waves--is really growing and I want to ride as much of it as possible. I think a goal for the next couple years will be how to promote that to surfing women who want to learn to kite in waves and teach beginners safe ways to get in there. I also am doing a kids’ clinic this summer. I enjoy working with kids as well, but my focus is more on teaching women.
Inspiration:
My inspiration comes from the innovators of this sport, the designers, the riders, the industry people, and of course the young talent. They are pushing the level of riding so fast. I am always working on new tricks, getting as much water time as I can.
My mother has also been an inspiration to me. When I told her I wanted to get into this sport she basically said, “Sell everything and go for it.” Most parents would not have given that advice.
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