By JULIE ASH
Aucklander Cindy Mosey has captured the women's world kitesurfing championship with an event to spare.
The 28-year-old won the first four events on the professional tour and, because competitors' best four results determine final placings, she is the new champ regardless of where she finishes in the final event
in Brazil in November.
The tour is made up of competitions in Austria, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands and Brazil, and each carries a prize pool of US$30,000 ($63,800).
A former national gymnastics and windsurfing champion, Mosey competed in three of the world kitesurfing tour events last year.
She finished with two fourths and a first, results which inspired her to devote this year to trying to become world champion.
"It was something I really wanted to do and set out to do."
Competitors in the world championship events are judged on technical difficulty, height, landing, style and variety.
"You just have to go out there and do as many tricks as you can," Mosey said.
The championship fields are limited to 16 women and 32 men.
A ranking system means the top eight women and top 16 men automatically qualify; the other places are decided by trials.
"In the last event 90 people tried to get into the men's event and 25 in the women's. It is just getting bigger," Mosey said.
Kitesurfing (sometimes known as kiteboarding) was introduced in New Zealand five years ago.
She said hundreds of kitesurfers were involved with the sport now, aiming for top spots at the annual national championships.
Mosey started in the sport three years ago after seven years in windsurfing.
She said a lot of her spirit and dedication to succeed came after she survived a Tory Channel aircraft crash in 1985. The accident claimed the lives of her parents, two sisters and four other people.
She moved from Nelson to set up Auckland's first kitesurfing school and has introduced more than 300 people to the sport.
"When you first start off you do get dragged around a bit," Mosey said.
"But you are normally jumping within a month."
She made it sound easy, but added: "You do need to be fit, strong and athletic."
However, when it comes to learning new moves: "Unfortunately I have to say we get a lot of ideas from the boys.
"But as your skills develop you think of things you can do."
Now that she has conquered the world she is determined to hold on to her crown.
"I want to win it again next year. I love the sport, it's great fun."
By JULIE ASH
Aucklander Cindy Mosey has captured the women's world kitesurfing championship with an event to spare.
The 28-year-old won the first four events on the professional tour and, because competitors' best four results determine final placings, she is the new champ regardless of where she finishes in the final event
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