Kite surfing girl Bianca Grunwald

by Bianca Grunwald
(East Coast, England)

Where are you from?
I live in England.



Your age?
I am 28 year old.



Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Romania.



Any kite sponsors? Who?
My kitesurfing sponsors are Spleene (a German brand who makes boards and now kites too); Protest boardwear international; Dakine and of course I'm also a shop team rider for Oceanside in the UK. I must admit I am very lucky to get all my sponsors support and makes my life very easy knowing I can still afford to look good whilst kiting.



Special achievements...?
My special achievements are many. I am extremely happy to be able to practice kitesurfing and I never expected to be any good at it. Why I say that? Well, because I basically could never swim before I started kitesurfing. So, at the age of 22 when I finally lost fear of water and because I so desperately wanted to do kitesurfing when back in 2002-2003 my husband and his friends were kiting and I was watching them wishing to be out there and do the same, I finaly learned swimming. For me, just being able to swim is the best achievement. But to be very good at kitesurfing very quickly too was a big bonus!!! I hope in the future to have more time and attend competitions so I can prove with titles too how good a kiter I am.



Life occupation besides kite...
My life occupation is keeping and running my own kitesurfing store together with my husband. Check out our website: www.oceanside.co.uk I love being involved in the sport in every way! I also enjoy being in charge with the surf clothes sales side of the business as surf fashion is my passion :) I love everything about it, buying it, selling it and wearing it! And also love being involved in designing the boards and kites for Spleene.



Tell me a little bit about yourself
I am generally a very happy girl. You?ll always see me with a smile on my face when kitesurfing, and sports in general make me feel so happy that I can't stop smiling! Even after a big crash :) or when I'm really high in the air doing a jump and I?m honestly scared how I might land it, yet I keep smiling, that's how happy I am!



Music?
I love Pop-Rock and Raggae



Interested in..?
My interests are water sports: kitesurfing and sailing as well as snowboarding and snowkiting. I couldn't live anymore without these adrenaline sports.



Food?
I love Italian food and German sausages and bread, Hm yummy! :)

Heroes?
My all time hero is Michael Schumaker.



Favorite kitesurfing spots for you?
My favourite kiting spot has to be my home beach, Hunstanton, Brancaster and Old Hunstanton. I also love kiting in Brazil, Egypt, and especially Maldives, Barbados (I love waves) and St. Lucia. These are just a few places I can remember kiting in. Ah it goes without mentioning that I love TARIFA in Spain. But every time I come back home I really appreciate the easiness of kiting on my beaches, especially at Brancaster.



Places you have been kiting at...
I have been kiting in many places in the world throughout the years. But the places which remained embedded in my mind are: Maldives, Barbados, Brazil, St. Lucia, Egypt,Tarifa, etc.

How long have you been kitesurfing?
I started kitesurfing when I was 23. I guess it's been like over 5 years now. But before then as I couldn't swim I spent a whole 18 months doing landboarding and playing with the big kites on the beach. I was so desperate to get on the water as for me, kiting on the water was always a big attraction.




Why kitesurfing?
Why kitesurfing? Well, I guess its because of my boyfriend/now husband and of course his friends. I was watching them on the beach everyday how they enjoyed themselves kiting and in the evenings listening to their exciting stories and kiting chat about what a great session that was etc. Also, running a kitesurfing business, school and shop etc, was too tempting to resist. I wanted to do what all my friends and people close to me did?

What does your family think of this?
My family doesn't know much about kitesurfing but they are very proud of me as they know how much I was scared of water in my childhood...



What does this sport mean to you?
This sport means everything to me!!! Is my hobby as well as my job, is my whole life since almost a decade now!!! Often when there isn't wind for a few days I start hurting, I want to be on the water so badly! And I just love the adrenaline I get from doing jumps and just float in the air.

Favourite tricks?
The favourite tricks are always the ones I can do! :) I guess no trick is better than other as long as you can do them.



What does this sport demand of you?
The demand I get from this sport is to constantly progress. As just because I have no time to attend competitions doesn't mean I can put my guard down. I just love the feeling I get when I am doing good and see people on the beach admiring me. There is no demand, if any then it all comes from me. I want to be the best and do my best every time. I guess I am very competitive without even having ever been competing yet.

Have you ever been in an accident?
I had my fair share of accidents. But luckily none tragic. I am also too cautious to ever get myself hurt. If I don't feel 100% confident one session I tend to just do what I can and try new tricks on a better day. That way I keep almost always safe. But one can?t always control the elements and with kiting wind and water are very strong elements to control. I get caught up sometimes but luckily without much tragedy or serious injury.

Vision...you wishes for the future?
My vision is to be sailing round the world and kite on our way on remote, inaccessible islands. And to progress a lot more and enjoy kitesurfing to the max. I want to show to people that even if you never thought you could even swim to be able and kite, it is possible! I want to be able and inspire a lot of girls out there to start and do kitesurfing and snowboarding. These sports are very easy for girls, as kites got very good nowadays and much safer than how they use to be in the early days.