Kitesurfing Magazine:What motivates you on the water?
Janek Grzegorzewski: I started kitesurfing because I always wanted to fly. Freedom to fly is what I always loved about kitesurfing and I never have to find motivations to push myself on the water.
KM: What is your off-the-watertraining like?
JG: Not that long ago I started frequently going to the gym, but before that I didn’t really have any consistent training. My sister is an ice skater and I remember her coach gave me a few tips on how to spin more efficiently. This helped me a lot as I have discovered the right way of starting and stopping the rotation which made me progress on the water really fast.
KM: Recommendationsfor learning new tricks?
JG: Start with not a lot of power, feel safe and good on the water. With any trick you try, first jump low and later on, once you feel comfortable with the new rotation or the manoeuvre you are practising, add some more power. Take a bigger kite or practice it in stronger winds. But to be safe, start with a small kite, be underpowered, and don’t jump high. If you make a mistake, it won’t hurt that bad.
KM: What would you say to anyone wanting to learn how to kite?
JG: Beginnings aren’t easy. When I started I didn’t like kitesurfing. I was struggling. There are a lot of things to synchronize at the same time and it isn’t easy or comfortable at the start. But I promise you that once you start riding left and right and do your first jump, you will fall in love with the sport.
KM: What inspires you?
JG: My parents were always my role models. I always admired them for their work and how organized they are in life. They are the ones who have been motivating me to push myself in every discipline I try. They are my inspiration.
KM: What do you like about big air?
JG: Simple; going big and flying high. I always wanted to fly and big air allows me to do that.
KM: What do you like aboutbig air competition?
JG: I always struggled with competitions. On the day of the comp I’m always stressed and don’t feel good. It has always been a challenge for me to compete but this is what I like about it. I like challenges as I know they make me a better person. Competing doesn’t only make me a better kitesurfer, it also makes me be a better person in life.
KM: How did you get towhere you are today?
JG: I have been very lucky with my kitesurfing journey. My family has always supported my passion and allowed me to explore the world and travel to the best kite locations. I have also attended a high school for kiteboarders which is called World Class Kiteboard Academy. It’s a school that has around 20 students and each one of them kites. We have normal classes in the morning but pretty much kite every single afternoon if the wind allows. I have been in this school for two years and this is where I have made my biggest progression.
Other than that, I always loved kiting and I always wanted to be on the water to practice new tricks and moves. If you love something enough and have the opportunity to train everyday you will become good at it.
