You are a 4X Kitesurf World Champion and dominated the field for many years. Tell us about your transition to wing foiling? What is similar and/or different about it to kitesurfing? What were your greatest challenges? Where do you find your greatest assets in performance?
I’ve been kiting for 15 years and started wing foiling only about 4 years ago. It was actually a frustrating start getting into winging because it took me a while to become proficient at getting up on a small board. At home, where I was learning, the wind is a bit gusty and on the lighter side, so it took me a while. People who are in the learning stage tell me about how hard it is and I say “I was right there too, don’t give up!” Also, I did have a background of foiling and kiting which helped a lot, like knowing the wind direction and knowing how to pump on the foil, but I would say it’s completely different from kiting. Being on a foil, the balance is almost the opposite, and then holding the wing in your hands vs having a bar and lines is all new. But once you figure it out it becomes like riding a bike. It’s also more accessible than kiting because there are more places you can wing, so it’s opened up some new spots and I’ve had a lot of fun with it when the waves aren’t very good for anything else.
Tell us about your relationship to the water: What caused you to become a competitive water athlete?
I grew up on the beach so I’ve always been comfortable in the water. And everyone in Hawaii learns to surf at a young age. I knew how to do it but I actually wasn’t that into surfing and water sports until my dad decided to teach me how to kite when I was 14. We had a great spot with waves that I would kite at everyday after school, and I became obsessed with it. There were also some pro kiters at my home spot who I saw doing photoshoots and going to competitions. When I was 18 there was a world tour event stop in Hawaii that I entered which was my stepping stone into the competitive world. I ended up winning that event, got hooked, and set out to do the tour after that.
What do you enjoy doing when not out on the water?
I studied graphic design in college and have always loved all types of art, so I enjoy doing that in some of my spare time. I’m also getting into gardening and farming. I’m starting a small permaculture fruit forest with my family right now.
What are the top 5 songs currently on your playlist?
I’ve been listening almost exclusively to a playlist my friend made for me of Brazilian songs that I can learn Portuguese from. I can probably still only understand 10% of it but it’s the funnest way to learn a new language yet! These are some of my favorites-
Boa Sorte by Vanessa de Mata
Cabide by Martnalia
Bixinho by duda beat
Nao va Embora by silva
E osso by Jovem Dionisio
As a woman, what are your thoughts about how women are being represented in the watersports industry today? Is it accurate? Are there any unwritten rules you've had to navigate?
I think it varies between sports, and with kiting and winging there are not many women who do it in general. But I think we have so much potential in the sport, especially with wave riding since it is more about technique and experience rather than strength. We’re seeing a great example of that in strapless freestyle with Capucine Delannoy and Camille Losserand. So I have a lot of hope for the future, especially seeing the young women coming up on tour. And I think the tour itself is doing a good job of representing the women in the media, and we have equal prize money (depending on the number of competitors). So on paper it’s getting better, but in the water women still usually won’t receive the same level of respect as the men. It’s tricky because some women on the kite tour don’t have a lot of experience in waves yet. In winging, I won and I still consider myself to be a novice! But I think it’s getting better every year and everyone I compete with is motivated to improve and push our side of the sport so it’s going in the right direction.
In 2023 you became the wingfoil wave world champion. Tell us about that day. How did it feel to achieve this goal after switching disciplines? Who were some challenging competitors? What are you grateful for?
That day was totally unexpected. I did well in the first event of the year, but not so great in the second event, and I was struggling to find my feet a little bit at the last event in Morocco. I lost in the first round to Bowien Vanderlinden, which meant the world title would be decided in the semifinals with Nia Suardiaz. Nia was ripping there and even trying 360 airs on the wave. So I had to really do my best and I still didn’t think I did enough by the end of the heat. When they announced my name I was so surprised! It was crazy because I didn’t even know I was going to compete in winging at the beginning of the year. I’m just so grateful that I got to do it for the first time with some amazing women who really pushed me the whole season.
If you could title your memoir or biography right now, what would you call it?
Going With the Flow.
What is something you need to do, but haven't yet, because it scares you a little?
Using my platform more to speak out on important issues.
What motivates you the most right now?
Seeing people living their most authentic lives.
If you could leave some words of wisdom for the next generation of water athletes who wish they could be where you are today, what would you tell them?
Life is short, chase your dreams and don’t forget to have fun while doing it. It’s a tough industry to make it in but worth it if you love what you do. And try as many different water sports as you can, it keeps things exciting and your new skills will translate into everything else you do.
