Stefan Permien – Germany

I’ve first seen Kitesurfing in Denmark back in 2000.

I was stoked by the way to ride and perform high jumps even with mild wind, which is impossible when doing windsurfing.

Besides, I’ve frequently been at the beach to hang-glide with a Powermatte and experienced the vast power of a kite.

When I was younger, the beginning was pretty hard. The only chance to get to the sea was during my summer vacations and the gear was not as good as it is today...by far. That’s why I had to find an alternative.

I was living in Schenefeld near Hamburg, Germany. There is a small beach at the river Elbe, where I first started Kite Landboarding.

As I turned 18, I got my drivers license and I was finally able to drive to the sea more often.

I’ve trained in Meldorf, at the Speicherkoog quite often, since it is close to Hamburg (about 60 miles).

Most of the following summers I’ve spent on the isle of Fehmarn. I’ve learned a lot and improved my kitesurf skills more and more.

In 2004, I got my very first sponsor and in 2005, came in second at the Kitesurf-Trophy!

Now I’m three-time German runner-up, tour champion and multi-runner-up tour champion.

I’ve even won a World Cup and achieved several spots on the podium last year.

Hobbies:
If I’m not kitesurfing, I’m usually at the wakeboarding ground. Besides kiting, I’m studying chemistry at the Christian-Albrecht University in Kiel, which claims the rest of my free time.

Lifestyle:
Kitesurfing itself is a lifestyle already. I’m aligning my daily life to the wind. If there is wind, I’m on water, if not, I’m at the wakeboarding ground or at the University.
In search of wind there’s lots of traveling, so I’m always on the road with my Volkswagon T5 bus, to hunt the green bubble at Windfinder (16 knots and more)

Protection:
In some media, Kitesurfing is still characterized as a dangerous extreme sport. I don’t mean to understate the risks, but Kitesurfing could be a mass sport by all means.

There are a few important rules to live by:
1. Go to a Kitesurfing school! No one drives a car without a license, so go to Kitesurfing school!

2. Very important: Everyone should be familiar with his/her protection system.

3. As a rookie with ambition, you need a helmet and a good wake vest.