At 19, Kaya Lehmann is making her mark in kiteboarding. From mastering Copenhagen’s flat waters to podium finishes on the GKA Freestyle World Tour, she’s a force to be reckoned with! Kaya shares her journey, love for Big Air and freestyle, and what’s next for her on the world stage.

Kaya, it’s great to meet you! Can you please tell us about yourself? What was it like growing up in Copenhagen? What were your favourite local spots to kite?

My name is Kaya Lehmann, and I am 19 years old. I was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Denmark, so I hold German and Danish citizenship. After living in Norway for a while, I settled in Copenhagen when I started school. 

My parents are passionate about sailing, so I grew up immersed in watersports. Living in Copenhagen was ideal for this, as the sea and great kiteboarding spots are nearby. My favourite locations back home are Amager Strandpark and Farø. These offshore spots have flat water, perfect for freestyle and big-air kiteboarding.

Who initially interested you in kiteboarding, and when did you realise it was more than a hobby?

I grew up around water sports and began sailing with my family at age five. This experience gave me my first taste of competition, even internationally. When I was 12, my parents introduced me to windsurfing, which I enjoyed until I discovered kitesurfing at 13. I was instantly hooked. Shortly thereafter, I started competing in the Danish Nationals. In 2021, I decided to test my skills internationally at the GKA Youth competition. It was my first time on an international stage, and I secured podium finishes in strapless and twintip freestyle categories. Since then, I’ve focused on competing nationally and internationally.

You love the variety of kiteboarding disciplines. Do you have a favourite, or does it depend on the conditions?

I love the variety of disciplines kiteboarding provides, each offering unique aspects of the sport. My favourite disciplines are Freestyle and Big Air, which complement each other perfectly. Freestyle works best in lighter winds, while Big Air excels in stronger winds.

How has learning multiple disciplines helped you develop your overall style?

The variety of disciplines allows me to blend different tricks from each one. I often spend hours practising hooked tricks to fully understand the movements before transferring them to unhooked freestyle. This practice makes it much easier to land unhooked tricks since I’m already familiar with the movements. Each discipline supports the others; the movements are similar and enhance my awareness and understanding of the tricks, ultimately improving my kiting skills.

Congratulations on placing 3rd on the GKA Freestyle World Tour, especially as it’s your first-ever tour!  What was the most memorable moment of the tour?

Thank you! My most memorable moment was the first GKA competition in Dunkerque in August. It was my first competition, and I had no expectations—I just wanted to see how it went. To my surprise, I achieved the best possible outcome: third place! It was unbelievable and something I hadn’t anticipated. Additionally, finishing third place overall when the titles were awarded in Qatar was a dream come true, especially considering it was my first year on tour!

What strategies or techniques have been most effective for managing pre-comp stress, and how do you stay focused during high-pressure heats?

I spend a lot of time focusing on the consistency of my tricks and experimenting with new variations, such as blind and toeside. Not many other girls put effort into all these trick variations, which gives me the potential to score higher since I’m doing things that others aren’t.

Before competitions, I felt stressed, but I got into the zone and concentrated on what I could do. However, when the pressure is high, I sometimes don’t perform as well as I’d like. For example, in the finals in Brazil, despite winning all my prior heats, I became overwhelmed and ended up in 4th place, missing tricks that I knew I could have landed.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from competing at such a high level?

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from competing at a high level is to remain mentally strong and focused under pressure. Additionally, I’ve realised that everything is possible, even if it doesn’t seem that way at first.

How did transitioning from youth champion to competing in the main freestyle division feel?

The transition from youth competitions to the main division was huge! The level of competition in the main division is much higher, requiring consistency in performing tricks and a focus on innovation to stay competitive. At times, I still find it hard to believe that I’m competing against the athletes I have admired for years, and occasionally, I can even win against them.

Let’s talk about the Park division! What did winning the KitePark League Team Battle in Brazil mean to you and your team?

The Kite Park League was an incredibly fun video contest. We were divided into groups and given a week to film a video that met specific criteria. I was part of an amazing team composed of some of the best kiters and videographers in the kiteboarding world. Together, we created some really impressive footage that showcased a variety of freestyle manoeuvres blended with park elements.

Winning the contest felt fantastic; our hard work and dedication throughout the week truly paid off. Overall, it was an exciting experience to try new obstacles, explore a different discipline of kiting film, and spend quality time with my teammates. 

How’s it going down under? What’s your current training routine while solo at the Pond?

Australia is a lot of fun! I usually wake up in the morning, have breakfast, and spend time on my laptop until the wind starts blowing around noon. The wind is consistently strong and perfect for freestyle and Big Air, with smooth, flat water that makes progression easier.

Travelling here solo was a new experience since I hadn’t been far from home before. However, I didn’t feel completely alone since I already knew some people who were going. I’ve also met amazing people here and enjoy my time!

How do you stay motivated when training alone for long periods?

I stay motivated by remembering to have fun and do what I enjoy. This means mixing freestyle and Big Air, doing tricks I enjoy, and not pushing myself too hard so I don’t get unmotivated if something is not working. 

What are your main goals for the upcoming season?

My goal for the upcoming season is to progress in kiting, learn new tricks, and compete in as many finals as possible. To achieve this goal, I spend as many hours on the water as possible to improve while working on my off-water activities. 

What role does Eleveight play in your progression? And what is your set-up of choice?

I am very happy that Eleveight is my sponsor. Their equipment allows me to push my limits, perform at my best, and try new tricks. 

My freestyle setup is the FS in sizes 8, 10, and 12 combined with the AG Pro board in size 137. For big air, I’m riding the RS Pro in sizes 7 and 8 combined with the Master S 132. 

If you could go back and give 13-year-old Kaya one piece of advice about kiteboarding, what would it be?

Keep on kiting, do it how you want, enjoy the progress, and have fun!

Best of luck, Kaya! We can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings!

By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.

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