Factfile
Name	Kristin Boese
Nation	Germany
Date of Birth	1 June 1977
Place of Birth	Potsdam Germany
Website	http://www.kristinboese.com/ http://www.kb4girls.com/

Kristin Boese only began kitesurfing in 2001, but since then has established herself as the leading name in the business. In 2005 she won her first World title and then followed it up with a stack of awards across the disciplines, winning freestyle, wave-riding, slider and kicker, boarder-cross and course racing titles. In 2009, she claimed the IKA Course Racing title to bring her total to a phenomenal nine world titles. This achievement saw Boese enter the Guinness Book of World Records in November 2009 for the most kiting world championship titles.

In 2010, she continued to make her presence felt competing on the circuit but focussed most of her attention on encouraging others to take up the sport. Boese launched KB4girls in December 2009, a non-profit organization that created a worldwide clinic tour for female kiters. This year alone, she ran eleven clinics on a shoestring budget and coached more than 300 girls. The project is designed attract new girls into the sport, to enhance skills for the more experienced, boost self-confidence and motivate them to compete.

This determined woman is an outstanding athlete and is dedicated to promoting her sport, the environment and women's participation.

2009 IKA Course Racing Champion 2009
Guinness World Record for most Kiting World Championship titles (9)

Freestyle

Waves

Race

Q&A

What inspired you to take up sailing?

To be connected to nature in a way I had never been before, battle the forces of nature and challenge them has really been what got me totally addicted in the first place. To be able to quietly glide over the water and fly into the air as free as a bird was what gave me the inspiration I still have today.

What was the first boat you ever sailed and how old were you?

A Mistral windsurf board when I was 20 - I got into water - and wind - sports quite late since siling was not a very accessible sport in East Germany where I grew up.

Name your first sailing club

SKBUe (Segelclub Bayer Uerdingen)

What was the first event you competed in and in what year?

I competed in some local windsurf races back in 2000 and then started to compete in kitesurfing in 2002. My first event was the first stop of the "Kitesurf Trophy" national series in Germany that year.

What are you personal sailing career highlights?

- Winning my very first World Championship title in 2005
- being awarded in November 2009 with a Guiness World Record for winning the most World Championship titles in kiteboarding
- launching my non-profit tour KB4girls to support female kiteboarders and empower women around the world through kiteboarding

What are your future sailing goals?

To bring kiteboarding to as many people around the world as possible and put a smile on their face, to possibly one day compete in the Olympic Games and to continue to empower and inspire females in sport.

Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing and career and why?

Former kiteboarding World Champion Cindy Mosey (who was World Champion when I started competing) because she has always set great examples and was a person I looked up to in both the sport and private life. She has been a fair and respectful opponent to compete against which has motivated me to the fullest.

Who is your sailing hero?

?That would have to be Cindy Mosey for the reasons mentioned above.

What other sports do you enjoy?

Yoga, road biking, hiking, skiing and whatever other sport I get to do

What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you and how would you feel if you were voted the winner?

I was especially surprised to get nominated because kitesurfing is so new to ISAF but of course that makes it so much more special for me to be a nominee for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award - how amazing!