Camille on training for different Kite-Surf disciplines

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE THE LAST COMPETITION IN BRAZIL IN NOVEMBER? HOW HAS YOUR WINTER TRAINING BEEN GOING?

After the last competition of the year I needed a little break from kiting to get myself back into a 100% condition for 2024, mentally and physically. I placed 3rd in the 2023 Kite-Surf world rankings, and 1st in Strapless Big Air, of which I'm very proud. 

I was in Switzerland for a while and spent some quality time with my family and friends and practised some other sports like snowboarding. At the beginning of January, I headed to Cape Town for several photoshoots for ION and Chiemsee. Starting the year training in and discovering a new country felt really good. 

Right after that trip, I went to Cape Verde to get ready for the first competition in 2024. We haven’t had the best conditions so far, but I’ve definitely been making the most of the wind and small waves we’ve had.

AFTER WINNING YOUR FIRST WORLD TITLE IN THE STRAPLESS BIG AIR DISCIPLINE IN 2023, WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS FOR 2024 CONSIDERING THE GKA CALENDAR AND FORMAT THIS YEAR?

I’m certainly going to do my best to back up my Strapless Big Air World title from 2023 in 2024, it’s the discipline I love the most and in which I feel the most adrenaline. It won’t be easy, but I’m training even harder than last year and if it’s meant to be, it will be.

As the GKA stops are more wave-oriented, I’m really keen to improve my riding in the waves as I enjoy that a lot too. I think it's very, very important to be a good rider overall and in different disciplines. And training for waves as well as strapless freestyle and Big Air, you get to discover different countries, people and cultures. That's what makes my kitesurfing journey so enriching.

DO YOU FEEL MORE PRESSURE THIS SEASON?

I would say yes. But I try not to think about it too much because, at the end of the day, I’m here to compete fuelled only by a pure feeling of passion. The most essential and important thing for me is to enjoy what I do and have fun on the water.

I don’t want to think too much about podiums and results, but of course, they’re in the back of my mind as I want to do my best to be at the top. But I'm certainly not going to allow stress or pressure to control me.

WHICH STRAPLESS DISCIPLINE DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST AND WHICH DISCIPLINE DO YOU CONSIDER THE HARDEST TO TRAIN FOR?

You probably already know my answer… well, it’s definitely strapless freestyle and Big Air, those two I enjoy the most. Growing up in Switzerland, I used to spend my afternoons and weekends kiting on various lakes when the wind was blowing. As there were no waves, jumping was the natural skill I began to develop. 

So I’d say that training and improving in waves is a little more difficult for me as I’m not as used to this discipline.The good news is, after I’ve been competing last year at all the stops on the wave tour, I can say that wave riding is starting to feel more and more natural, even though I still have a lot to learn and improve in my wave knowledge and skills.

DO YOU ENJOY TRAINING FOR VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OR WOULD YOU PREFER THE FORMAT TO BE DIFFERENT?

I really enjoy training for different disciplines and that’s what makes kitesurfing so special to me. 

But ideally, I would like the GKA format to be 50% / 50% wave and freestyle. In my opinion, that way more and more riders, especially women, would push the boundaries of the sport even further ensuring kitesurfing continues to evolve over the years.

HOW DO YOU APPROACH LEARNING NEW MOVES? WHAT IS YOUR KITESURFING TRAINING ROUTINE AND DO YOU ALSO DO OFF-THE-WATER TRAINING?

I approach my training in a pretty spontaneous fashion. I kind of decide when I hit the water which move(s) I will work on. Often I already have a trick in mind that I want to improve or I simply let my intuition guide me as to which trick I should try in that session for the first time.

When I’m in Tarifa or Switzerland, I have a weekly training program off-the-water with a fitness coach. On a typical training day, I usually do my land-based workout in the morning but as soon as the wind kicks in, you’ll find me on the water.

HOW DO YOU MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF FOR AN EVENT?

I try to surround myself with a lot of positivity. And it's really important for me to visualise all my tricks before I go on the water, that helps me a huge deal.

My coach Fabio Ingrosso is a massive help as well, though he’s not always around, I love his guidance and input when he is. And my family is without a doubt the biggest support I could ask for.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE GEAR SETUP FOR EACH DISCIPLINE?

For Big Air / Freestyle: 7m2 Rebel SLS, Click bar size M and the Whip SLS 4’11.

For waves: 8m2 Neo SLS, Click bar size M and the Whip SLS 4’11 or the Wam SLS 5’5.

WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND ANYONE TO USE THE APP TO PROGRESS IN THEIR CHOSEN DISCIPLINE?

If you want to improve your skills or try a new trick, there’s nothing better than the Duotone Academy App. It helps you to understand the correct kite position as well as the relative body movements and weight distribution that you will need to do and the specific timing. Plus there are always more tips and tricks by the best riders in the team, which is priceless.

I still find the App really, really helpful, even now.