Free as a bird
Being a spokeswoman for one of the world's newest sports has its advantages, Helen Harvey finds.
Taranaki Daily News www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/feat...35229/Free-as-a-bird


Bliss: Gabi Steindl stayed an extra week in Taranaki because the waves are so good.

Austrian Gabi Steindl, 33, is living the dream. She travels around the world kite-surfing and writes about it.

For the past two months, her job has been to travel through New Zealand, the last two weeks in Taranaki, where she parked her campervan at Wavehaven in Oakura.

The newest trend is wave kite- surfing, which is why she is in Taranaki.

"Because Taranaki is known for its waves," she says.

Kite-surfing started in Hawaii and France in the mid-1990s, but the sport has really taken off in the 21st century, she says.

"They call it a revolution on the water. It is the fastest growing water sport."

It is also taking off in New Zealand, especially around Auckland, Raglan, Mt Maunganui and down on the southern lakes. It is huge in Christchurch, not so much in Taranaki.

There are different disciplines in kite-surfing, including freestyle, where the surfer does tricks and various kinds of manoeuvres. And it can be done just as well on a lake.

"You don't need waves, just need water and wind. On lakes, in totally flat water, you can jump up to about 15 metres high. You just use your kite like a catapult and you generate pressure against the water and then catapult yourself out of the water. So on flat lakes, you can jump very high. Oh my god, it's like, the most fun."

It's the perfect combination of many sports, like snowboarding and surfing, she says. It's like flying.

"Jumping is definitely one of the best things."

Second is the new trend of wave kite-surfing.

"It's pretty much like surfing: you stay on the wave and do your manoeuvres. Just like surfers, you ride the wave. You use your kite to pull yourself into the wave. Instead of paddling or using a jetski, you use your kite."

Since wave kite-surfing became a trend, numbers involved in the sport have increased. It's a great alternative to surfing, she says.

"Surfers hate wind, but when you learn to kite, it doesn't bother you anymore. It's the same the other way around. If you are only kiting, a couple of days without wind, then you go crazy."

It's amazing, she says.

"It's an addiction, beautiful freedom. You don't need any machine, just the wind. And you go out there and you cruise around and the flying thing - you don't have that in any other water sport."

Kite-surfing is pretty easy to learn, she says. Anyone who has had experience in any of the board sports - snow or surfing or skateboarding - or if they are sporty, will be up on the board in three days. But, like any sport, it takes time to get good at it. And it is an expensive hobby - comparable to wind-surfing. Quite a lot of equipment is needed, such as a harness, board, kite . . .

And surfers need more than one kite and one board. But Ms Steindl says prices are coming down and kites are getting better, so surfers don't need as many sizes.

The size of the kite one uses depends on how strong the wind is; for stronger wind, you need a smaller kite. Lighter wind requires a bigger kite to generate enough power, she says.

Ad Feedback Kite-surfing is a good, full- body workout. Kite surfers are hooked into a harness, so it looks heavier on the upper body than it actually is, she says.

"You steer the kite, you don't hang on to it, so it takes pressure off the upper body."

Ms Steindl is what is called a free rider. She doesn't enter competitions anymore, but in the past had some international success.

Now she travels around doing media projects. She writes articles in English, German and French and her stories are translated into other languages, such as Italian and Russian. The photos and filming are done by professionals.

"I travel the world and find new spots or find new regions. New Zealand kite-surfing is not that big yet, so I am going to do articles on it for many international kite surf magazines."

Ms Steindl has been in New Zealand for almost two months. Taranaki is her last stop and she doesn't want to leave. She was due to fly out last week, but put it off for a week.

"I would very much like to come back for the summer. It was one of my best trips ever. I'm so amazed at the beautiful country and beautiful people."

She travelled in a campervan and a photographer accompanied her for two weeks.

"Oh my god, this is the best place," she says of Taranaki. "It's been such a dream of mine to come, because I've heard of Taranaki for so many years. Finally I'm here. I love the waves, I love the people, I love the black beaches."

In one way, hers is the dream job, but even dream jobs have their downside. Ms Steindl is a one-woman show. She is her own trainer, coach, web master. And she has to do all the organising herself on the little budget she has.

"There is very little money in kiting."

And she doesn't have a home. She comes from landlocked Austria, but is addicted to the ocean. Ms Steindl has been travelling for eight years. Next stop is Papua New Guinea, then Western Australia.

Sometimes it is a lonely life. And it's not very safe kite- surfing on her own, which she has had to do in Taranaki, due to the lack of kite-surfers in the region.

Then there is trying to check 80 kilos of equipment on to a plane.

"But I live my own dream. And I gave up a really good career for that. Anything you wish for you can really make happen if you don't take no for an answer."

* For more information on Gabi Steindl, check out her website, www.kitegabi.com.