Interview : Gisela Pulido

Name: Gisela Pulido
Nickname: Gigi
Age: 11
Height: 1,43
Weight: 36
Years Kiting: 2 and half
Current Residence: Tarifa (Spain)
Favourite Kite Spot: New Caledonia
Other Sports: Snow, Skate, Surf
Sponsors: Airush kites, Rip Curl, Dakine, Shapes
Website: www.giselapulido.com

Let us start at the beginning.  Your dad got you into kiteboarding.  When was the first time you actually got onto the water?
The first time I got onto the water was in San Sere Pescador (Girona) about 2 years ago, when I was 9 years old.

How long did it take for you to start jumping and doing tricks?
Oh, it took me about one week to start jumping and doing things, very soon after that I managed to do my first front and back loops.

Did you feel very nervous doing your first competition?  Tell us about this day.
No not really.  I don’t get nervous because of my experience in other competition of the past.  I also compete in swimming.  Doing my first competition for kiteboarding felt a bit strange to me, but I was not nervous.

Who are your most favourite kiteboarders and why?
My most favourite on the surfing side will most definitely be Felix Pivec, of Australia and for the free style I like Beltrand Fleury of France.

What does a day in the life of Gisela look like? 
Well, after breakfast I head out to school, and then I have to first watch my most favourite movie is The Simpson’s.  Then I go kiting, swimming, stretching watch some more TV and if there is really nothing else to do, I enjoy going and playing with my friends or a PlayStation game.

How often do you kite?
When there is wind, I will kite for about 1 hour and then relax after that.

Where do you live, and is it close to a good place for you to train?
I live here in Tarifa (Spain) and it’s a very good place to train.  The wind is strong and solid.

What move do you enjoy doing the most?
Now, the back kiteloop handle pass on the surface is my most favourite move to do.

What move are you working on at the moment?
I hope to complete the handle pass in the air soon!

What is your best move?
The 360 handle pass is very easy and looks good too

Do you enjoy wave riding? If so, where is your best place to ride waves?
Yes I love wave riding!  New Caledonia is fun for me when I want to ride waves.

Have you ever been scared of kiting?
One day I got dragged over the grass.

What’s the worst that has happened to you when kiting?
I injured my neck once.

Who are your most favourite people in the world?
I wish that I could meet a music group called Mana, they're very cool!

I see you want to become a veterinarian? What made you decide this?
Yes, I would like to be a vet when I grow up, but for now, Im happy kiting and focussing on this sport.

Do you have any animals of your own?
No, I don’t have an animal right now, maybe some day soon I would like to get one.

At which events in the future can we look forward to seeing you at? 
Are you competing this year in the 2005 KPWT in Cape Town?
Yes I look forward to my trips around the world, and you will see me in South Africa.  I will be going to Australia, New Caledonia, Brazil, then South Africa and Turkey...

Where is your most favourite kite spot that you've been at and why?
I like New Caledonia the most because is hot, the water is warm and it’s always windy there.

What products do you use the most from your sponsors?
My kites are from Airush
Rip Curl give me cool clothes
Dakine sponsor my Harness and Foot Straps
And, Custom Boards come from Shapes.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I now also have a few questions for your dad...

You must be extremely proud of your daughter! Congratulations and well done.
I would like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind:

Gisela is not only the best female kiteboarder in the world, but also one of the youngest kiteboarders.  How did her success affect your life?
Our life has not changed much, other than the fact that we decided to relocate to Tarifa (Spain), where she could train as much as she wanted.   We know Gisela is very young and it is therefore that we would like to provide her with the best conditions to practice in, to become the best she would ever like to be.

How do you and Gisela choose which competitions she should compete in?  What are the important factors?
Gisela is only allowed to compete if the competitions do not interfere with her schoolwork.

When Gisela competes, who is most pressurised, you or her?
Oh, she only rides for fun, and she is always happy when she is riding.  Competing is no pressure for her or us, and for Gisela it’s all about having as much fun as she can have, during her school holidays.

This is a very expensive sport and demands allot of travelling.  Are you both enjoying the travelling and do you get help from sponsors?
Yes, travelling and competing will not be possible for Gisela, if we did not receive sponsorship from all her sponsors.

What are your plans for Gisela for the future?
We live for the present moment.  The most important right now is for Gisela to go to school and then to make all her dreams come true.