Sheryl Confue

Background

I started kiting with a stunt kite down on west shore in Llandudno.  I loved it from the start and soon replaced my stunt kite with a 1.5 felxifoil bullet which didn’t seem to break nearly as much as my stunt kite did when i flew it into the ground at great speed ;-).  Added a buggy to my arsenal and was soon travelling up and down the beach (oh and occasionally into the beach, but we all have to start somewhere don’t we :-)). 

A holiday to fuerteventura gave me my first taste of kite surfing, after that i was really hooked, and spent lots of money on my first water kite (perter llyn, venom) board and harness.   Though i was mad keen i didn’t really get out too much the first winter partly because i didn’t want to get in people’s way and partly because it was bloody cold. Being a beginner you spend a lot of time in the icy water rather than on it, but after the first angels weekend in 2006 i really got stuck in.  I met a load of other girls, some much better than me, and others just learning, but this gave me a bunch of people i could get out with who didn’t mind me getting in the way (as long as i didn’t do it too often) and would happily bring my board back to me on the odd occasion that i lost it ;-).  I spent the summer of 06 getting out as often as i could, before and after work (and sometimes during but don’t tell the boss!) and really getting involved. 

I love kiting, and the buzz you get when you first get up on your board, when you first stay up wind, when you land your first jump, well i can’t really describe it.  But more than that, when you get involved with the rest of the rabble down the beach, when you become involved in the kiting community, the buzz you get when someone else masters something for the very first time, well that is second to none too. 

So what am I up to now? I’ve just competed in the BKSA 2007 (and came 4^th) and really enjoyed it.  I’m flying Flexifoil Ion2’s and riding Jimmy Lewis Boards, I’m generally down the beach every spare moment and constantly pray for wind.  There were a lot of fantastic people out there looking after me while i was learning, and it’s nice to pass that on. So, forever chatting to anyone that’ll talk to me, always happy to launch or catch a kite, can just about manage to rescue a board too ;-).  Mad keen to see lots of new guys and girls out riding cause it’s the best thing on the planet!  See you down the beach :-).