31/08/2020
KITE GIRLS MONDAY IS ON 💥Michelle Sky Hayward, 2x South African Freestyle Champion, is enjoying the freedom from the newly-eased lockdown. Luminous presence, she shares graciously with me her successes from Cape Town, making it sound like it was no big deal. But let me tell you, this lady has been working really hard.
About 12 years ago, Michelle was walking with her father on the beach near Alexandria, South Africa, where she grew up. That's when she saw a kitesurfer for the first time and felt the rush of trying the sport, at only 17 years old.
"I really couldn't afford to buy the gear. My kites were old and full of repairs, and I was wearing a men wetsuit, that's what was available at the time. But I pushed through because I loved it too much".
But it wasn't always only about kitesurfing. She had opened a Pilates studio and was working round the clock giving classes and running her business (which is already pretty impressive), but she soon realized she didn't have enough time to dedicate to her dream: work and live from kitesurfing. So, she did was she does best in kiting as well: jump!
"I knew I had to leave everything behind and push into my next project in order to succeed. I kept only a few private clients, and closed the studio. I know some people need to ease into their new reality, but I needed a clean cut. It took me a long time to make this dream job my reality, it's a very uncomfortable feeling, especially at the beginning when all you have is an idea. But it was worth all the while".
Michelle started competing and won for two years in a row the freestyle championship in South Africa, and that's when sponsorships arrived. She is currently working as a content creator and kitesurfer for , , and has an entrepreneurial role with .
And for the girls who are just approaching the sport, she says: "Go for it. It's not easy, but go for it. The first time you manage to get up on the board and feel the wind in your hair, you'll realise how much it was worth all the effort. Nothing else will matter anymore, only that you succeeded and now you're riding".
