It was a tough contest, with so many female kiters doing great things for their communities and our sport. We hope the exposure from this contest will see all the girls get a little more recognition for the good work they are doing.

The final moments of the competition were incredibly tense, and we had no idea who was going to win! In the end, it was Hannah Whiteley who was victorious, only 19 votes ahead of Katie Chandler.

Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer

1st place: Hannah Whiteley

2nd place: Katie Chandler

3rd Place: Sophie Chevalier

iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year

Cynthia Brown (a.k.a. Cynbad)

It’s been a very exciting competition, with the leader-board changing a number of times as the vote’s poured in by the thousands, and it’s amazing that with over 9 000 votes, it would come down to only 19 votes seperating the first and second place.

Prizes

As winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer”, Hannah Whiteley has won herself a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps for two on the beautiful Lac de Serre Poncon courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf, a 6 issue subscription and feature on the cover of KiteGirl Magazine, and a ‘Pray for Wind’ hoodie by KiteGirl and Deadman Kitesurfing.

For her second place, Katie Chandler will receive a Pink KiteGirl ‘Pray for Wind’ T-Shirt, a 6 issue subscription to KiteGirl Magazine, and an Eco friendly Beach Tote from Beach Girl Body Goods.

In third place, Sophie Chevalier also wins a 6 Issue subscription to KiteGirl Magazine and an Eco friendly Beach Tote from Beach Girl Body Goods.

Last, but not least, our “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”, Cynthia Brown will be making her way to Mexico on an exciting 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan.

Final Results

Congratulations to all the finalists:

Our top 10 finalists will also be featured in Kitegirl Magazine in March, so be sure to pick up a copy to read all about them!

Thank You

We couldn’t have run this competition without the support of our generous sponsors.

And a special thanks to everyone who voted and helped spread the word. With a total of 9,135 votes, we are blown away by the response from the kiting community! You have all played an important role in creating awareness and promoting girls in kitesurfing.

We also learned a lot through the running of the competition this year, and have taken the feedback we’ve received from the community, and have already developed a new and improved system for next year’s competition, so watch this space…

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

And the MIGK 2012 Winner is… was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

…and you’re going to love these girls.

We received so many nominations from dedicated fans around the world, for girls all doing such amazing things in kitesurfing and for their communities. So choosing just ten was even more difficult than we could have imagined. They are all winners in our opinion!

But don’t take our word for it… click through to their profiles to see what these awesome ladies are up to, and then vote for the one you think is most deserving of the title! You only get one vote, so make it count. Voting closes on 27 November 2012.

Top 10 Finalists

In Alphabetical Order

• Kristin Boese
• Cynthia Brown
• Katie Chandler
• Sophie Chevalier
• Tatiana Howard
• Gretta Kruesi
• Claire Lutz
• Susi Mai
• Verda Marley
• Hannah Whiteley

Prizes

This year we’ve added a twist, with two first prizes up for grabs. The winner of “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” will walk away with a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps by Tantrum Kitesurf, a 6 issue subscription and feature on the cover of KiteGirl Magazine, and a ‘Pray for Wind’ hoodie by KG and Deadman Kitesurfing. The winner of the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”, chosen by inMotion Kitesurfing, will win a 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico, courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan. We also have fantastic 2^nd and 3^rd place prizes by Beach Girl Body Goods.

So, who’s the most influential girl kitesurfer? Who’s doing the most for her community and our sport? Who has the most passion and talent to encourage more girls to start kitesurfing?

The choice is in YOUR hands. It’s time for you to GET YOUR VOTE ON!

Our Sponsors

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. And thanks, for helping us find these fantastic girls!

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

Get Your Vote On: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012! was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Update
Congratulations to Hannah Whiteley, winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012” and Cynthia Brown, our ”iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”!

There are fantastic prizes up for grabs this year thanks to our generous sponsors. The winner of the “Most Influential girl Kitesurfer” will win a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf at the majestic Lac de Serre Poncon, while the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year” will win a 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico thanks to Kite Beach Yucatan. 1st through to 3rd place will also win awesome prizes provided by Kitegirl Magazine, Deadman Kitesurfing and Beach Girl Body Goods. For more about the prizes, visit the official competition page.

Last year saw ten amazing girls battle it out in a nail biting final, with the leader board changing a number of times throughout the voting period. In the end, it was Kari Schibevaag who was crowned our 2011 winner after racking up 24% of the votes with over 1 000 to her name. Kari has gone on to have a very busy and successful year competing on the KSP World Pro Tour (currently ranking 6th overall), organizing camps for girls like the Dakhla Girls Camp 2012, and she even had time for a visit to South Africa.

Video: Kari Schibevaag in Africa

If you are reading this in an email or RSS feed, watch the video here.

However, Kari isn’t the only one who’s been busy. Michelle Smith, who placed 4th in last year MIGK competition, says she is in the process of signing with a sports agent who is interested in promoting her, plus Mystic SA has approached her for a sponsorship.

“The MIGK comp definitely helped with this. I’ve also set up a website – www.michellesky.com, I moved to Cape Town and I’m in the process of starting my own Pilates studio. I am planning a fundraiser to help a homeless shelter.”

As a result of the MIGK competition, Michelle has also been elected by Sport and Recreation South Africa for their “little green book” which features the top 100 most influential people in sport during the period of January to December 2011. The Little Green Book recognizes and acknowledges the contribution that has been made by sports men and women in the South African sporting fraternity. She also received quite a bit of media coverage on websites and even gave a radio interview.

Another top 10 finalist, Clémentine Bonzom says this year was really important for her kiteboarding career.

“First I joined the North Kiteboarding Team, which I’m really stoked about. Then I decided to take part in the PKRA events, unfortunately I wasn’t able to follow all the stops, but I did Morocco, France, Germany and I will go to China for the next one. I’m currently 6th overall in the freestyle ranking, and very HAPPY! More travels, more competitions, more tricks… I had an awesome year! This week-end I’m taking part to the French championships, then I’m flying to China and the Philippines and then… We’ll see! To be continued!!!!”

Clémentine says she thinks the MIGK competition gave her the motivation to follow her dreams and believe in herself! Well done girl, keep at it!

So if the awesome prizes aren’t enough to get you excited about taking part in this year’s competition, then hopefully the above success stories will do the trick. To enter yourself or someone else, just head over to the competition page and fill in the short entry form. It will take less than 1 minute. Remember, the more inspiring nominations you get, the greater your chances of making the finals so be sure to tell your friends and fans.

How you can Help

Even if you don’t have anyone to nominate, you can still help us make a difference in kitesurfing by spreading the word throughout your network. Share the competition page on Facebook, Twitter, your website / blog, or any other social network you engage in, and help us promote girls in kitesurfing, and kitesurfing to girls…

We appreciate your support.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

Last Call for MIGK 2012 Nominations was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Kari Schibevaag | 2011 MIGK Winner

Update
Congratulations to Hannah Whiteley, winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012” and Cynthia Brown, our ”iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”!

Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural competition, we are pulling out all the stops this year to ensure we reach even deeper into the kiteboarding community and general public.

So what’s different this year? Well for one, our prizes (which we think you’re going to love btw), but more about that later… plus there’s a twist…

But Why?

For those who didn’t follow last year’s MIGK competition, you might be wondering why we are doing this.

Well first and foremost, we designed this competition to promote kitesurfing to woman. We find that far too many woman are under the false impression that kitesurfing or kiteboarding is too difficult, or worse yet, too dangerous for them to try. So by showcasing ladies from all walks of life, size and age excelling at kitesurfing, we hope to inspire more girls to get involved in our sport.

At the same time though, we know there are so many girls out there already doing really awesome things for kitesurfing and/or their community, so we hope to give these girls some well deserved exposure and recognition for all their hard work and achievements.

You can also read Jessica’s inspiring story.

The Twist

To make it fairer, and to ensure anyone has a chance of winning, we’ve got two BIG first prizes! One for the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” and one for a new title we are introducing called the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”. The winner of this title will be chosen from the top ten finalists by the inMotion Kitesurfing team and our partners.

Who Can Enter?

Any female kitesurfers over the age of 16 can enter this competition. You don’t have to be a pro kitesurfer, or even a good kitesurfer for that matter. You just need to be passionate about kiteboarding and doing something extraordinary, such as excelling at competitions, helping your community or the environment, or helping others get into our sport safely.

How to Enter

It’s simple really… just nominate yourself or someone you think deserves recognition for their work by submitting this short entry form.

The ten girls with the most nominations and most inspiring stories will enter into the finals, where the public will vote for the winner.

The nomination round closes on 1 November 2012 at 23:00pm GMT. The top 10 nominees will be announced on 13 November 2012, and voting will run from 13 to 27 November 2012 at 12:00pm GMT. The winners will be announced on 27 November 2012.

Prizes

Now for the exciting bit… and as promised earlier, we’ve got awesome prizes, including two all inclusive kitesurfing holiday packages generously sponsored by Tantrum Kitesurf and Kite Beach Yucatan! And in case that isn’t enough, KiteGirl Magazine has generously provided us with very cool first, second and third place prizes, and Beach Girl Body Goods has very nice beach goodies for second and third place.

1st Place (Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer)

A 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps

6 nights / 7 days total immersion kitesurfing camp, courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf. Set on the Lac de Serre Poncon, nestled in the peaks of the French High Alps, this kitesurfing camp will be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

With glass flat water in the mornings…which of course we take full advantage of, wakeboarding behind one of our Mastercraft ski boats, the wind picks up around 10:30 and by 1 is blowing a prefect force 4/5. Flat, open water and acres of space allow you all the freedom you could possibly want…and just in case that’s not enough for you, we throw in some extra goodies like white water rafting, mountainside BBQ’s and the legendary Via Ferrata as well.

Includes:

• Accommodation (in tents…nice big ones!)
• Breakfast and lunch every day
• 3 days of wakeboarding
• White Water Rafting
• Via Ferrata
• BBQ’s at 2000m
• As much kitesurfing as you can handle

Find out more about this fantastic package by Tantrum Kitesurf here.

Feature on the cover of March 2013 KiteGirl Magazine

Green KiteGirl ‘Pray For Wind‘ Hoodie

6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine

1st Place (iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year)

7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico

Our Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year, chosen from the top 10 finalists by the iMK team, will win a 6 night / 7 day all inclusive kite vacation in the beautiful Yucatan in Mexico, courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan.

You will be staying in an ocean front room in the Kite Beach Yucatan villa where you can kite right off the patio! With wind nearly all year round, you will have the time of your life. Their private New York chef will pamper you with delicious healthy meals to keep you riding all day long.

Find out more about this fantastic package by Kite Beach Yucatan here.

2nd Place

• A Pink KiteGirl ‘Pray For Wind’ T-Shirt
• 6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine
• An Eco friendly Beach Tote courtesy of Beach Girl Body Goods

3rd Place

• 6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine
• An Eco friendly Beach Tote courtesy of Beach Girl Body Goods

Find out more about Beach Girl Body Goods’ stylish, eco friendly beach wear and water sports apparel here.

Not too shabby hey? So what are you waiting for? Head on over to the competition page and nominate yourself!

And remember; only the ten girls with the highest number of inspiring nominations will make it to the finals, so share this with your friends, family and fans and tell them to nominate you.

Sponsors

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, without whom this competition wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for supporting our campaign to promote woman in kiteboarding!

Good luck!

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012 Launch was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

With the influx of women has come new gear developed especially for women. The days of wearing flimsy bathing suits and riding large men’s kiteboards are gone. The companies below are dedicated to creating products for women that are functional and durable without loosing their quality of design.

Sensi Bikini’s

When you wipe out and find yourself body-dragging through the surf, you don’t want to have to make a split decision between rescuing your bikini top or your board. Enter Sensi Bikini’s by professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves. As a professional kiteboarder Graves’ knows how important it is to have a bikini that stays put. Her bikini line features multiple suits with cross backs. Unlike traditional “sport bikini’s,” that were more boxy than fun, Sensi Bikini’s come in bright colors and stylish cuts. These suits give you the confidence of coverage while remaining stylish so you still feel like a girl… even while you’re boosting higher than the guys.

Get it: www.sensibikinis.com

Freug’s Kiteboarding

Freug’s is the first brand of kiteboards that is 100% completely designed and developed for girls. Freug’s has developed a line of kiteboards specifically tailored to the female form. The days of boosting and losing your board mid jump are gone, as Freug’s has developed footpads and straps specifically designed for women’s smaller feet. Their boards feature just the right amount of girly details and colors without losing quality and function. Freug’s currently offers a range of three boards covering freestyle, light wind and freeride.

Get it: www.freugskiteboarding.com

Cabrinha Siren Collection by Susi Mai

Cabrinha has responded to the need for a high-performance top quality women’s kite. The new Siren switchblade designed by Cabrinha and Susi Mai is modeled for a smaller framed body. Finally there is a more feminine kite on the market, with splashy fun colors of turquoise and pink. The Siren features lighter bar pressure and quicker turning speed, but possibly the most exciting aspect of this kite is the extended trim adjusters. Adjusting your kite is now much easier as the bar has been tailored to women’s smaller frame.

Get it: Cabrinha Siren Collection

Seea Rashguards

Sometimes you want a little extra coverage from the sun’s rays or chilly morning water. The majority of rash guards on the market are boxy and covered with logos. Seea’s rash guards are hand crafted in California by designer and surfer Amanda Chinchelli. These rash guards are cut to flatter the female form yet remain comfortable and functional. They are designed longer so they perfectly cover your torso therefore avoiding dreaded harness rash.

Get it: www.theseea.com

Mystic Shadow Bruna Kajiya Waist Harness

Designed by Mystic and Female World Freestyle Champion Bruna Kajiya the Shadow waist harness has a slimmer profile for smaller riders. Super flexible and light, it features a soft inner lining and a softer outline on the back. Modeled perfectly for the female form this harness features additional padding on the inside hip area.

Get it: Mystic Shadow Waist Harness

Kiteable Tees

As a female kiteboarder I noticed a lack of shirts on the market that feature a female rider, thus Kiteable Tees was born.

I have created the first shirt on the market showing a female kiter in action ripping it up among waves and exotic hibiscus flowers. Wearing this tee keeps you feeling more than stoked when you’re off the water.

I choose only the softest materials and use the least toxic inks.

I’ve designed shirts for men and women so that when you’re off the waves and out on the town, kiteboarding is never far from your thoughts.

Get it: www.kiteabletees.com

When you spend your days on the water it’s important to have gear that you feel comfortable wearing and confident using. These companies are dedicated to creating equipment that helps the female perform at her highest. Whether it’s bikini’s that stay put in the surf, kite gear that’s easy to maneuver, or tee’s to rock when you’re off the water, women’s kiting has finally made its mark.

Written by

Gillian Ellis

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Gillian is a kiteboarder from Charleston, SC who works full-time as a wedding and children’s photographer and also runs a line of kiteboarding t-shirts called Kiteable Tee’s. She is most passionate about promoting women in kiteboarding and organizes kiteboarding events with the Air Club for Girls. When not photographing or designing tee’s you can catch her ripping up waves on a SUP or kiting local flat-water spots.

Kite Gear for Girls: The Evolution of Pink was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

We are launching our brand new rider profiles series where we will regularly shine the spotlight on up-and-coming riders and seasoned pros.

Join us as we follow Katie on her way to becoming a kiteboarding star!

Rider Profile: Katie Bowcutt

Date of Birth: 2/13/1997
Nationality: American / Dominican
Residence: Dominican Republic
Disciplines: Race, Freestyle, & Wave
Favourite Moves: Flat Three
Kites: F-One Bandit
Boards: F-One Acid 127
Website: www.Facebook.com/Katie.Kites
Favourite Spots: Kite Beach Cabarete, Playa Blanca, & Playa Riviera Azul
Best Results: 1st Place Overall Women’s – Copa Nacional de Kiteboarding 2012
Hobbies: Dancing, Surfing, Wiping Out, and Longboard Skateboarding
Favourite Music: Indie Alternative – Two Door Cinema Club, MGMT, Foster the People, Midnight City

Katie’s Journey

From day-one Katie was interested in water sports. It started with surfing, and then wakeboarding. When we first moved to Cabarete, Dominican Republic; it was the first time we had ever seen the sport of kiteboarding in action. It was love at first sight for Katie. Gradually, she began taking surfing more seriously and with that, her desire for kiteboarding grew.

Katie Bowcutt | Photography: Lauren Bowcutt

Katie practiced everyday for several months at her beloved Kite Beach in Cabarete. With the pressure of being the smallest on the water (9 years old at the time), the youngest, and on top of that being a girl, she still posed as a great role model for the locals and foreigners learning on the beach. It was definitely a “Mi casa, su casa” vibe.

Over time Katie began competing in local competitions and winning. This was a huge confidence booster for her and it definitely pushed her to practice and compete more. She was one to look out for and still is for up and coming competitions.

Katie Bowcutt | Photography: Lauren Bowcutt

The PKRA 2009 was a huge success and promotion for Katie. She was definitely ready and excited to show off her passion and love for the sport. She ended up placing 7th overall in the women’s category.

Now, at the age of 15, Katie is known around the country as an accomplished surfer, kiteboarder, and overall water woman. She is ready for the big time and is looking forward to seeing where this love will take her. Katie has been all over the country kiteboarding and sharing her love for it, but hopes to soon travel elsewhere to experience a new gust.

Although she hasn’t been kiting for long, independently for 3 years, she has worked hard to get where she is, and has a great group of people behind her, her sponsors. She first started with Lavera Cosmetics, Cosmickites.com, and Airbound Apparel. She was recently added to the “riders” page on F-One’s site and has also joined Tortuga Swimwear. Katie has also been working as an instructor for Pauhana Surf School for a while now, and they have supported her all the way.

Tail Grab | Photography: Lauren Bowcutt

On June 16th, Katie competed in the Cabarete Bay Kite Challenge 2012 as the youngest girl on the water; she took home a 3rd place, but is determined to do better in the next competition. One week later the Copa Neptuno 2012 took place in Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic). This time, while again being the smallest girl on the water, she placed 2nd overall in the women’s category. We were all so proud to see that she really can do anything if she puts her mind to it.

One of Katie’s most prestigious goals include, competing and winning gold at the 2016 Olympics. She has big dreams, but an even bigger drive for success! Just remember this name; this is not the last time you will hear of this determined water woman.

Editor’s Note
Keep an eye out for Katie Bowcutt, she’s looking like a strong contender for our 2012 Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer Competition!

Written by

Lauren Bowcutt

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

A Cabarete Water Women Dreams of the Big Time was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Congratulations to Kari Schibevaag from Stavanger, Norway!

It has been a very exciting competition, with the leader-board changing a number of times as the vote’s poured in.

While we think all the girls are doing remarkable things for kiting and their communities, there can of course only be one winner.

Update: The 2012 MIGK competition is underway. Here’s the new competition page.

Prizes

Kari will receive prizes courtesy of our generous sponsors, Fuel Clothing, Litewave Kiteboards and Hookit.

Kari will also feature as cover girl of the next issue of the fantastic Kitegirl Magazine, available from the end of January 2012. In addition Kari will appear on the Fuel Clothing and Hookit websites.

Kari Schibevaag | Photo by Youri Zoon

Final Competition Results

Of course it was a tough competition, with so many girl kiters doing great things for their communities and the sport. We were very happy to shine a spotlight on them, and hopefully see them get a little more recognition for the good work they are doing.

Congratulations to all the finalists:

Our top 10 finalists will also be featured in Kitegirl Magazine in January and in the Edge Magazine in February. So stay tuned to read more about them!

Kari Schibevaag: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011

Kari Schibevaag | Photo by Youri Zoon

Kari competes in and has won world titles in both kitesurfing and snowkiting. She now spends more and more of her time in the waves, which she says she loves the most.

Kari has had huge success running girls kite camps in and outside of Norway.

“When I am holding camps it’s cool to see how happy people get when they are trying it for the first time. It’s amazing and I see myself in them. I was just the same, full power and really want to learn,” she says.

Read the full interview with Kari here.

Thanks

We couldn’t have run this competition without the support of our wonderful sponsors and supporters.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who voted and helped spread the word. With a final total of 4 298 votes, we are blown away by the response from the kiting community! You have all played an important role in creating awareness and promoting girls in kitesurfing.

We are already looking forward to planning next year’s competition, so watch this space.

Thanks again and Good winds!

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

And the Winner is… was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

We searched! We found… and after deliberating long and hard, we have our top 10 finalists for the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011”!

Update: The 2012 MIGK competition is underway. Here’s the new competition page.

Choosing the final 10 was incredibly difficult. We received so many submissions from dedicated fans around the world, who nominated amazing girls, doing such amazing things! Thank you to all of you for your nominations. And thanks also to everyone who helped us get the word out. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Back to the nominees though! The talent and motivation of these ladies is simply mind-blowing! We were so inspired when we heard what these girls are achieving. So narrowing it down to only 10 was extremely tough. They are all winners in our opinion!

But don’t take our word for it… click through to their profiles to see for yourself what these girls are up to, and pick your favorite among these gifted athletes! You only get one vote, so make sure it counts. Voting closes on November 22nd.

Top 10 Finalists

Angela Peral

In Alphabetical Order

• Clementine Bonzom
• Julia Brown
• Lucila Alexandre Dupey
• Laurel Eastman
• Audrey Meyer
• Kari Schibevaag
• Christine Sleichter
• Michelle Smith
• Davina Stephens
• Sandrine Roussos Werner

So, who is the most influential girl kitesurfer? Who is doing the most for her community and our sport? Who has the most passion and talent to encourage more girls to start kitesurfing?

The choice is in YOUR hands. It’s time for you to GET YOUR VOTE ON!

Click here to Vote Now!

And thanks, for helping us find these fantastic girls!

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Get Your Vote On: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011! was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

For those who don’t know about it yet (where have you been?) we are searching for the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” for 2011.

Update: The 2012 MIGK competition is underway. Here’s the new competition page.

Why are we doing this?… well, not only do we want to do something positive to help grow kitesurfing and make our fantastic sport more accessible, but we want to shine the spotlight on the women who are already doing great things in the industry.

So far the response has been overwhelming! We have received nominations for so many really awesome girls doing really awesome things, and we are delighted to see how many women are pioneering kitesurfing in new areas around the world. This is very inspiring for us, and we are honoured to have you all on board.

Jemma Grobbelaar

We will feature an individual article on each of the top 10 finalists, and we are sure that you will enjoy each of their stories as much as we are enjoying putting them together. We can’t wait to share their stories about how hard they work and how much they are loved by the people around them. They are all winners in our minds!

Julia Brown | Kiteboarding Jamaica

Nominate Today

It isn’t too late to get in on the action though! We still have one week until the nomination round closes. So, if you are doing something extraordinary in kitesurfing, no matter how big or small, or you know someone who is, nominate yourself or a friend today. There are great sponsorships to be won… and who knows, this could be just the boost you need to empower you to achieve even more!

How you can Help

Even if you don’t have anyone to nominate, you can still help us make a difference in kitesurfing by spreading the word throughout your network. Share the competition page on Facebook, Twitter, your website / blog, or any other social network you engage in… We appreciate your support.

Competition Details

Nominations close on 6 October 2011 at 23:00 GMT. The top 10 nominees will be announced on 20 October 2011 and voting will open to the public from 20 October to 22 November 2011.

Click here to Enter Now!

Petra Goeschl

Thanks for Supporting #MIGK

A huge shout out to all our supporters! Thank you to Fuel Clothing, Litewave Kiteboards and Hookit for your generous sponsorships and to Jessica Winkler for all her hard work helping us to organize and promote this competition.

Also, thank you to Global Kiter Foundation, Kitesports, Tantrum kitesurfing, Constantly Kiting and Tropical Paradise for promoting the competition on your websites, and to all the kitesurfers out there who helped spread the word by tweeting and sharing… You guys rock!

As always, we love hearing from you guys, so let us know in the comments below, what you think of our campaign, or who you think deserves recognition for her work or achievements in kitesurfing.

Update: Voting closes on 22 November 2011. Click here to Vote Now!

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer: Last Chance to Nominate was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Nominate yourself or a friend who you think is doing great things in kitesurfing, or who is positively influencing others in your kiteboarding circles, for inMotion Kitesurfing’s “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011”.

Note: Voting closes on 22 November 2011. Click here to Vote Now!

Update: The 2012 MIGK competition is underway. Here’s the new competition page.

Kitesurf Girls Making a Difference

If you are this girl you already know the guy to girl ratio is a single girls dream, but as one of the fastest growing sports in the world we have a responsibility to influence more women to get involved in kitesurfing. For example, at the last spot I kited at in the USA, a girl came up to me on the beach and said she had never seen a girl kitesurf there before. Her boyfriend was trying to convince her to try but she was too scared… until she saw me outride most of the boys… She was really interested in knowing how I got my start and by the end of the conversation she was stoked to get a lesson. Let’s face it, sitting on a windy beach assisting guys launch and land their kites is not relaxing, so why not get out there and enjoy the fun as well?

Influential Kitesurf Girls

For you girls who are trying to make it in the kitesurfing world, and would like a little help getting the exposure you need, nominate yourself. Show the world that you are working hard paving your way. Being an influential kite girl doesn’t mean you have to be a pro. It means that you are stepping out, going your own way, or doing something positive in the industry. It’s a girl who is not afraid to stand out or fail. We are looking for an ordinary girl who is being “extraordinary” in the sport of kiteboarding.

Personal Story

Jessica Winkler

Over the past 9 months i have been pursuing a career in kitesurfing. I’ve managed to get sponsored by various great companies, but I still need to work on the PR myself. I spend countless hours on the internet blogging, tweeting, posting photos and writing articles. A few months ago I decided to write an article for inMotion kitesurfing and the response has been overwhelming. inMotion Kitesurfing has helped me get world wide exposure and recognition that I only could have got with months and months of hard work.

Be the Next Most Influential Girl!

The girl who wins this competition will receive sponsorships from Fuel Clothing and Litewave Kiteboards. The winner will also get a Premium Membership on Hookit.

For more information, and to nominate yourself, or someone else you think is doing extraordinary things in kitesurfing, visit the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” competition page by clicking here.

Written by

Jessica Winkler

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Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011 Launch was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.