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 Name: Núria Gomà
Age: 31
Home spot: St. Pere Pescador (Spain) Taiba (Brasil)
Sponsors / partners: Liquid Force, Oakley, SkullCandy, Teva, Charko,
Things you like: (in general): cats, good food, jogging, sunsets, music
Things you hate: spiders, cucarachas, wearing wet wetsuits from the day before ;)
When did you start kitesurfing and what inspired you to do such a “different" sport?
I took the course in 2004 but I didn’t really start kiting until 2007. By that time I was working in a bank 6 days a week and from 8am till 7pm, so not a lot of free time for kitesurfing. My boyfriend started one year before I did, so I used to be on the beach, watching him, with the unpleasant wind hitting me all time, until I got bored of that and I decided I wanted to try too!! I’ve done loads of sports ever since I was a child (gymnastics, athletics, triathlon…) but never thought of kitesurf as I am from Sabadell, an inland city 20 km from Barcelona. So I’m glad he discovered it!
A few time ago you made a video named Just One Life. Where is it inspired from? Is it from your personal life? What made you create this video?
Yes, It is based in my own old and present life and how I decided to drop my job in the bank and do what I truly adore: Kiteboarding. I guess when you turn 30 you start thinking of what you’ve done so far. What I wanted to tell people with that video is do whatever you really like, fight for it and don’t wait until you turn 70 to realize you have missed lots of things. I just say change whatever you don’t like of your life before it’s too late. Just one life!!
Just ONE life from Nuria Goma on Vimeo.
Your main sport is course racing. Which is your secret of success in this? Is it the equipment? Your physical condition? Your technique?
I would say is a mix of everything. Of course the equipment has a lot to do with it, but also technique and strategy can make you win or loose one race. It can turn into a very physical sport, specially for your legs that suffer a lot, that’s why it is important do complementary sports such as montanbike or running. I used to do triathlon before kitesurfing and I can tell you that sometimes it is as hard as Course Racing! Another very important thing is your mental streght, to keep you fighting no matter the hard conditions. I remember in Dakhla, in one competition of the KPWT were I finished 3rd, we did 5 races in one day, and each race lasted around 40 minutes…so, I used a lot of “mental power” in that contest! ;)
Do you believe that it will be an Olympic sport at 2016? And if yes, what kind of repercussions this will have to our favorite sport?
Everybody is talking about that and there are a few campaigns supporting kiteboard to be Olympic so yes, I think it’s almost sure kiteboarding’s gonna be Olympic or at leas pre-olympic in 2016. I really can’t wait for it.
Lately we see more and more women dealing with the sport and they also succeed high level records. How easy is that for a woman ? What would you advise the girls that want to deal with the sport?
In all sports there are always less women than men involved in sports in high level (competitions) but I think it is slowly changing. Girls are taking incredible high levels in freestyle for example, but it’s true it is more difficult for us to reach the same level as men, for physical strength basically; but in course racing for example I’ve seen many girls wining men, and that’s awesome!
I would just invite all the girls to try it!! Kitesurfing it is not a physical sport at all (unless you’re competing at high levels of course), it is more technical, and we, girls, are usually quite good at that!! And about course racing, everybody that can go upwind can do it, it’s super fun I promise!!
How many days a week do you enjoy kitesurfing and for how many hours each time?
It always depends on where I am and the wind conditions. When I am in Brazil for example I usually train around 3 – 4 hours a day in different sessions, like 2h in the morning in the lagoon and then a couple in the afternoon in the wave spot. I never train more because your body would not resist that much work during 3 months non stop, some times you need to rest a couple of days out of the water. And now that I am in Barcelona, I haven’t been kiting since I got here, almost 20 days. There’s hardly no wind and it is definitely too cold right now!!
Do you do any other sports that help you be physically fit for Kiteboard?
Yes, I try do go jogging at least 3 days per week. It also depends on where I am but if I am at home in Spain I try to go to my gym Q-Wellness at least 4-5 days a week, were I can do spinning and follow a special training program to keep me fit. Now for example that I’m in the mountains I like go jogging and climb a mountain; it is always good training for your legs!
 Describe your best and your worst moment in kitesurfing.
I think I’m very lucky I cannot think of a bad moment in kitesurfing. Well, maybe the day I saw a shark while I was kitting in the ocean, I remember getting to the shore, crying like a baby! But now I remember it as a “funny” thing and some friends still call me “sharky” since then!!
And good moments, I don’t know, I had such good moments on this 2010! Like when I won the Spanish Championship or the podiums in the European Championship. But I think the best moment ever and I keep telling people about it was the first time I was able to ride the board by myself and I manage to do a few meters (50m) on the board. I was so happy I was waving to everybody!!
Have you ever visit any Greek spot? If yes, what was your impression? Are you going to visit us soon?
No, I have never been to Greece , not yet!! But many of my friends have and they always talk about the great conditions you guys have, specially in summer time! So I’m sure I’ll come to visit you somewhen soon!!
Finally, give an advice for the rest of us (the Kiteclub.gr community)!
I would just say be happy and do what ever you like, live your dream! No matter what other people tell you, If you really believe in something, it will come true. Life is too short to let it go without fighting for it! As I always say: It is better to regret what you did than regret what you didn’t do!!
Thank you and you’re doing a great job on your web!!
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