Kirsty Jones: Planet’s Newest Ambassador!

Find Inspiration for your next kitesurf trip

Search our latest articles & news and get inspired! If you need more information or would like to book a holiday you can call and speak to a kitesurf travel expert on +44 (0)1273 921 001.

kirsty-featured

Kirsty Jones: Planet’s Newest Ambassador!

We’re really proud to announce that Kirsty Jones has come onboard as our latest Planet Ambassador. Kirsty is a x3 Kitesurf World Wave Champion and KPWT World Cup Wave Masters Champion. Growing up in West Wales Kirsty has been kitesurfing since the beginning, in 2002 she became the first person to kitesurf from Ireland to Wales setting a precedent for large sea crossings that have been completed since.

Kirsty is now based in Dakhla and runs her boutique KJ Experience clinics. Dakhla, situated on the edge of the Saharan Desert is one of our favourite and most awe-inspiring kitesurf destinations. It also makes the perfect destination for Kirsty’s clinics which encompass a mix of Kitesurfing, Surfing, SUPing and yoga. Kirsty’s clinics will be offered EXCLUSIVELY through Planet Kitesurf in the UK. 

We recently caught up with Kirsty to ask her a few questions!

Hey Kirsty! We’re really excited to have you onboard at Planet, can you tell us a little about the ‘KJ Experience’

My KJ Experience courses have been running for about 8 years now. I started running them in Wales, then Dakhla, Mauritius, and Lanzarote, in between competing on the World Tour, trips, photoshoots, and stuff you do as a pro with sponsors!

The KJ experience is a 5 day kitesurf progression course and experience, with daily yoga, designed especially to suit and benefit kitesurfing and surfing, body and mind. I run the courses at some of my favourite locations for consistent wind, waves and flat water, nature, good food & good people, and most importantly locations that are ideal for any level of kitesurfer to enjoy their riding, push their limits, and progress safely.

It´s more than just a kitesurf progression ´clinic´. My aim is to share, teach, guide, empower, and unite good people in their passions, pleasures, pursuits, goals, challenges, fears and dreams!

Courses are limited with just 6 places per KJ course, to maximise individual bespoke & personalised coaching & training. As well as an emphasise on group training, fun and excursions Most kitesurfers are repeat participants on the KJ courses, coming back with friends, partners, friends of friends, or individually, and there is usually a perfect balance of male and female energies!

The courses are designed using my years of experience and wisdom from the ocean, elements, teaching experience in kitesurfing, yoga and surfing, and competition strategy, training and mindset.

I introduce my own training methods, mindset and mindfulness of movement, that enabled me to reach my goals as a rider, competitor and to remain calm, healthy and balanced through life’s storms and challenges on and off the water.

My main motivation is a deep passion to share, teach, and guide others to reach their full potential enjoying their own individual rides, and finding freedom, energy, and peace in the mind & body, wind & waves!

When you’re not running the courses for guests what do you get up to?

I´m based here in Dakhla where I run daily yoga classes, and one to one kitesurf lessons and coaching at Ocean Vagabond / ION CLUB. That´s when I´m not running a KJ experience group week course.

Dakhla is one of my favourite places to kitesurf, surf, teach and live. The waves can be amazing and empty, and the nature, feeling and culture here is pure, peaceful and simple. We live and work in tune with the wind, waves, tides, and nature. I feel so blessed to be loving what I do and where I am.

Yoga is clearly a big part of your life these days, how would you sum up the benefits for kitesurfers?

I´m sure many professional athletes and sports people will agree with me, that yoga is a precious and highly beneficial compliment to most sports for many reasons. A regular, simple yoga practice, brings our bodies and minds back into balance, increases our strength flexibility and balance, helps us to listen and connect to our bodies, breath, intuition and the elements. To push our limits, performance and enjoyment on the water, and reduce our chances of injury and stress, we need all of these elements united.

Yoga means union. As kitesurfers, surfers, and watermen/women, we should practise this unity of body, mind, breath, through a yoga practice which will help us feel a unity and deep connection with the wind, waves, kite, board, body and mind!

In the lat 15 years, yoga helped me in so many ways and situations on and off the water, so I love to share yoga to help others on and off the water too!

You are well known for doing the Ireland to Wales kitesurf crossing. Do you have any more crossings planned?

After the kitesurf crossing I did from Ireland to Wales, I knew I wanted to do more long distance adventures and crossings for good causes. I then kitesurfed from Lanzarote, (where I have a home) over to a little town in the Sahara called Tarfaya. I raised money and equipment for a charity that supports disabled people in this remote Saharan area. The crossing was a great experience but it took much longer as the wind changed direction half way, so I did 185 miles, which took me 9 hours non stop riding to arrive at the beach of Tarfaya.

I would like to kitesurf it in reverse now, especially as I´m always flying back and for between Dakhla and the Canaries! Whenever I´m riding in the open sea, I always have this desire to just keep riding into the horizon until there is no land in sight, and to feel absolutely tiny and humble in the wild sea! (But of course with a back up safety plan!)

What are your thoughts on kitesurf hydrofoiling, have you tried it yet?

I was reluctant to try something new again, but I´m so glad I tried it as the feeling is amazing and surreal! It´s a very exciting new dimension to the sport. From April 2017 I will be giving foil lessons at ION CLUB Dakhla.

When was the last time you rode a Twintip?

Since I´ve been living and working in Dakhla I often ride a twin tip during the week when I´m giving advanced lessons, or doing a downwinder to a flat water spot. I enjoy riding a twin tip when there is space all around me, so Dakhla is perfect for that! However, I usually save my time and energy for the waves!

So other than Dakhla of course, what are your top 3 kitesurf spots and why?

If´s its for kiting, nature and wildlife I would choose Madagascar Rodrigues or Kenya…If its for kiting, yoga and culture I would choose Sri Lanka, or for Kiting and surfing, Indonesia.

If you we’re stuck on a desert island (with wind and waves) and could only take one bit of kit what would it be?!

My Fanatic Styler SUP so then I could ride waves in all conditions, go fishing, explore, and maybe paddle to another island!

You have quite a list of competitive achievements in the sport, are you still competing?

Whenever the GKA or PKRA come to Dakhla, which is once a year, I compete. But I don´t have the time or desire to travel for competition any more, especially as I love riding in Dakhla and Lanzarote, and have all the equipment I need there. I travel to run my KJ Experience courses, to see my family and friends, or to do yoga courses. However, If I see that a competition is in a country where I really want to go, or where I am already, I will of course compete!

Thanks for your time Kirsty, once again, welcome onboard from everyone at Planet. We all really excited about working together in 2017.

————-

For more information on Kirsty’s ‘KJ Experience’ courses in Dakhla give our team a call on 01273 921 001 or visit www.planetkitesurfholidays.com/guided-trips and search for ‘Dakhla’ and you will find a full list of courses and upcoming dates.