Duotone DRIVEN Magazine No.04

Interview Bernd Zerelles Photos Toby Bromwich Experiencing a session in sport harmoniously, perfectly coordinated, seemingly effortless, and as if in a flow – that’s what science calls a flow experience. Psychologist Dr. Fabian Pels from the Institute of Psychology of the German Sport University Cologne describes why an individual flow in kiting is enhanced when this experience is shared with others. COMMUNITY INSPIRES FLOW EXPERIENCES Fabian, Kitesurfing is an individual sport, you can have great sessions alone, which are a nice experience. However, when you are on the water together with friends, in a group, it is usually even more enjoyable. Yes, we know that in sports psychology. It’s an individual flow experience that you share with each other. That makes it even more special. As a sport psychologist, how do you actually describe this so-called flow? Flow occurs when we are challenged by extraordinary demands, but at the same time, we have above-average abilities to meet them. In addition to the fit of demands and abilities, there are two other conditions that have been found in flow research: Clear feedback about whether what one is doing is appropriate or not. Means: For example, when riding a wave with a kite, I get feedback on every small partial action I perform: Did I do the movement execution correctly now or not? Do I coordinate my movement appropriately to the environmental conditions that are prevailing at the moment? And finally, there should be clear goals about what needs to be done next. So I’m constantly getting fluid feedback about whether what I’m doing is helpful to the next goal achievement, and the individual subgoals should always be clear. Does the bottom turn fit to reach the wave at the right point where I want to set my top turn? If the skills fit the requirements, there are clear goals and clear feedback on them, then the flow can happen. 66 D R I V E N D R I V E N 67 C O M M U N I T Y