Mario Rodwald is probably the best German kitesurfer for the time being. He became German champion and also scored a 5th place in the freestyle tournament at the PKRA world cup in St. Peter-Ording in August. With his 17 years of age, he will have a bright future in his kiteboarding career. He is riding North Kiteboarding Gear and is part of the SKBUe Kitesurfing Team. You can read about his career and his life on his homepage www.mariorodwald.com. We had the chance to talk to him before last christmas.
Mario, it seems you travelled a lot this year. Where are you right now and what are you doing?
Hey Jonas, yeah if you consider that I am doing my highschool right now I travelled really much! Since this year I am in the international North Team -so they helped me a lot with my journeys and also have been sending me around the world... I just came back from Fuerteventura where we did the new EVO pics and now I have to the last exams for this year.
Which spot was the best one this year? Where did you have the most fun?
Well the best for kiting were Coche / Venezuela and Cauipe / Brazil, but I have seen these places already three times and it is more interesting to test some new stuff. So I had a lot of fun in Greece and also Fuerte has been sick!
Speaking of travelling: what are your plans for this winter? Do you escape the freezing cold in Germany?
Sure!!! I went out at 4 degrees three weeks ago and it´s definitley too cold! Next week I will fly to Perth / Australia - so exited and happy!
You won the German championships as well as scoring constant Top 10 standings in the PKRA freestyle tour. How did you get to this level - is it constant hard training or talent?
Don´t know if I have talent...think so :-P Probably it´s the fun that brings kiteboarding to me. Every time I am on the water I just want to try the new stuff and see what I can do next.
How do you approach new tricks?
Yeah. Sometimes, in the plane or on a party, I just think about what comes next. Then on the water I just do it. Step by step until I did it how I had imagined it. Once in a while you just need ten minutes for a trick but it can also happen that I need weeks.....that´s what it makes interesting.
You are a member of the international North Kiteboarding Team, together with many young riders ripping at a very high level. How often do you get to ride together? How do you push each other during a session?
Of course we get to see each other on every PKRA stop, but also on all the foto shoots. This year we did about five and everytime we have so much fun trying to get the most stylish picture or to do some other sick things. So every time we have better pics and videos. For example Reno jumped from a hundred meter high dune to show the Rhino´s hangtime....
How do you think kiting will develop in the next season?
Probably it will grow and lot´s of people will get into this wicked sport as also in the past. In the freestyle and contest thing there will be even more wakestyle and the tricks will be faster and stylisher. For sure there will come some very sick grabs - also in the handlepasses.
What are your plans for the next season?
It´s my last year in school so I will ride the same contest as this year - around five PKRA´s and the German tour. I am also looking forward to the video and foto shoots with my sponsors North Kiteboarding, Quiksilver and ION. Hope we can push it together!
Mario, thank you for your time and good luck in 2009!
