Karolina Winkowska needs no introduction! After being on the World Tour podium 62 times with 23 wins, she is a force to be reckoned with! Karolina shares the ups and downs she has experienced along the way in this issue's 'Female Focus'.

Karolina Winkowska needs no introduction! After being on the World Tour podium 62 times with 23 wins, she is a force to be reckoned with! Karolina grew up in Warsaw, Poland where the summers were short, and the winters were challenging. In 2004, she started kiteboarding, and three years later, she started travelling the world to pursue her goal to become freestyle kiteboarding World Champion. Karolina shares the ups and downs she has experienced along the way in this issue's 'Female Focus'.

Karolina, it's great to catch up with you! Can you tell us what it was like growing up in Warsaw? What was your family like, and how did you get into kiteboarding?

As a professional athlete, it was pretty tough growing up in Warsaw. There aren't many places to go kiteboarding, and I never got the support I needed from my country, to be honest. The only people that truly helped my career were my parents, and the support from small private sponsors.

I started kiteboarding in 2004 with my father, who was previously a professional windsurfer. He was always supportive and helping me through the challenges I encountered during my career. He has always been my biggest fan, following every event and cheered for me every single step of the way. My mother, on the other hand, was hesitant and wasn't sure whether this was the right path for me, but never the less, she always trusted and encouraged my choices.

I never wanted to get stuck in the 'system' after high school, the way everyone else around me did. So, at the age of 15, I figured out a way to live my life, without revolving it around a 9-5 job, and this was my greatest accomplishment!

Life is different in Poland today; it has become a lot more open-minded to the world and encourages the younger generation to spread their wings, regardless of what path they choose in life.

Describe your experience as a professional female kiteboarder, what is the best part of it, and what are the biggest challenges you face?

For me, kiteboarding was always about progressing my riding, doing more complicated tricks, and pushing my limits. In between training and competitions, I never had time to get all dressed up and look 'pretty'!

Luckily, when I joined the World Tour, I met other female riders, who like me, aspired to ride better than most men on this planet! When I was in high school, I didn't have many friends that I could relate to, nor share my passion with; everyone was more concerned with fashion, makeup and going out. Today, I have many female friends who travel the world, run kiteboarding businesses, and are incredible kiteboarders!

You were 3x Kiteboarding World Champion, what led you to decide that you would like to focus your attention mainly on park riding instead of freestyle?

I had been competing on the Freestyle World Tour for ten years. I was exhausted from travelling, unfair judging, and overall the competition format I've been following for so long. 2015 was a turbulent year, and this made it easier for me to stop and do something different for a change. The Kite Park League was an excellent opportunity for me to compete, and travel the world, but with a much less intense schedule, and less stress!

You smashed it and claimed 1st at the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational last year, congratulations! How are you mentally and physically preparing yourself for this year's event?

Thank you, I am 100x better prepared for it this year! Last year, I had recently come out of shoulder surgery, and I had barely ridden before the event. Nevertheless, as much as everyone asks me if I am going to win, I am more concentrated on having a good time during the event!

The Kite Park League is a community of talented riders that genuinely enjoys hanging out together! I never experienced this during the Freestyle Tour; most riders would never even talk to you as they were so focused.

The KPL is not a 'World Tour', and the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational is not about winning. When you read the instructions for the wild card videos, it says 'we're looking for riders that like to have a good time'!

You've been riding for Slingshot for many years, and even have your signature model board. What is your go-to set up, and what is the story behind the Karolina Pro board?

As a professional athlete, I have travelled to numerous challenging locations, and I need a board that works for me in a variety of conditions; from strong winds to light winds, from wavy to choppy water. This is how the Karolina PRO was created.

The Karolina Pro is on its 4th season now, and we changed it more towards freeride, amateur rider. As I have changed my discipline of riding, and spend more time leisure riding, I realised I needed more diverse equipment. I can do all my more challenging tricks on this board, but in general, this board is the smoothest and easiest-going board I've ever ridden.

How have your sponsors helped you achieve your goals as a professional kiteboarder?

A lot, riding for the best kiteboarding brand (Slingshot), has helped my riding and progression. Riding proper quality gear is essential when it comes to fast progress and peace of mind. My equipment has never failed me during severe conditions (touch wood!), nor in the most remote destinations. Many riders struggle with their gear instead of focusing on their riding. Thankfully, I've never been in that situation since I joined the Slingshot team!

Can you tell us about "The Queen of HEL" event, and how the idea was born?

Yes! It's a female-specific kiteboarding event dedicated to all women kiteboarders. The idea came about when Kasia Lange and I, we were travelling together during the world cup events. We wanted to share kiteboarding knowledge with other female kiteboarders in Poland, and connect as many female riders as possible in the area. Our first event was held in 2016, and since then, it has become our tradition to organise a special female event every year.

Over 50 girls get involved during the event, and they get to demo the latest Slingshot gear, get help with their riding as well as take their first kiteboarding lesson for free. It's an excellent opportunity to meet other female riders, talk about travelling and kite gear!

The event takes a lot of work and organisation, but it is incredibly gratifying when you meet so many badass women who share the same passion with you!

You have travelled all over the world to go kiteboarding! Where is your favourite place to ride, and where's the next location on the map you want to explore?

I love riding in Australia, the variety of different conditions and empty spots are unbeatable! I enjoy wave riding and flat water spots, and Australia has one of the best spots for both.  I usually go to the East as well as the West coast of Australia, as they both offer incredible spots for kiteboarding, surfing and wakeboarding.

My next trip will be to Cape Hatteras for the Triple S Invitational, and then I'll be spending the summer in Hood River; I can't wait! It's windy every day, all day long, the vibe at the beach is fantastic, and there are so many fun things going on!

Who are your favourite riders to train with and who inspires you?

I love riding with KPL girls; Colleen, Annelous, Sensi, Katie, Julia, Issy, Lindsey, and whoever else is joining us! As much as I spend a lot of time riding with the boys, there is nothing better than shredding with the ladies!

Any tips you'd like to share with the up and coming young professional shredders?

Yes, keep shredding, keep inspiring, and have hell a lot of fun when doing it!

Have you ever been in trouble while you were kiteboarding? What happened, and how did you manage the situation? Any advice you'd like to give our readers to prevent them from being in that situation?

Respect the weather, respect your gear, and always release the safety first! I had a few close calls in the past that I'd rather not relive!

I recorded a YouTube video about dangerous kiteboarding situations and how to avoid them. If you have any more questions about safety, head to my YouTube channel and check it out.

If you weren't a professional kiteboarder, what would you be doing instead?

I'm actually not sure, that thought never even crossed my mind!

What are your plans for 2019, do you have any projects, kite camps or trips you'd like to share with us?

I'm mainly focusing on the KPL this summer and then later this year, I will be running the 4th Queen of Hel event in Poland, as well as park specific event FLYN Bay Bash. I am also working on growing my YouTube channel, where I am sharing helpful tips for kiteboarders and sharing my previous experiences - If you have time, check it out!

Thanks for taking the time Karolina and best of luck for the coming season!

Thank you for having me, Jen. ☺

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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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