Wauv! It’s really been a while since I’ve updated you guys, and I apologize for
that! A lot, a lot has happened, and I really wanna tell you about it! So, I
hope I can get started blogging again! :) For now I will just take through the
last couple of months... a bit speeded up, of course ! ;)
My training trip this winter went to Isla Margarita,
Venezuela. I was excited to see something new, though it was hard to give up
Bonaire this season, as it is one of the places I love the most. It’s sunny,
windy, shallow, freestyle-flat and is home of many of my good friends! It still
feels like another home, and I’ve spended a lot of time there! BUT new
adventures was also tempting, and I decided to go somewhere completely new and
unknown for me. And really, this trip was an adventure!
Bonaire as I know it - warm, windy and crystal clear water! :)
All you need there is your freestyle kit! :)
I arrived in Caracas airport, Venezuela after a long trip.
As a lot of times I was travelling alone. It felt a bit different here
though... It was muuuch bigger than many of the little islands where I usually
travel with my surf gear, and very few was speaking english... oh, there was
one guy with glasses working in the airport, who was speaking english a
friendly woman communicated to me. ...A guy with glasses? I should be lucky to
find this one guy. But I found him, and he guided me to the right place so I
could escape the chaotic city airport and get on a tiny plane to the
pizza-island.
My first days in Isla Margarita were tough. The peole were
friendly, and especially Yoli and Tom I still wanna thank a lot because they
helped me so much through my stay!
My gear did not arrive, and was stuck in Caracas for 4 days! Yoli and Tom was
helping me everyday calling, negotiating and they set me on the plane and
picked me up again so I could flew back to Caracas to get the gear myself. One
day wasn’t enough and I had to return the island empty handed, and the next day
I had to fly back to Caracas once again to get my gear. But then afterwards –
windsurf was up and I had an amazing time training in the waters of El Yaque!
For me El Yaque has always been a big freestyle destination!
Some of the best windsurfers come out of El Yaque and I remember reading travel
stories from the island in magazines when I was dreaming about freestyling
around the world. It was super nice finally to try it myself! I might do a blog
or little article about it sometime :)
Back home in Denmark studies was getting heavier this year.
I’ve been studying journalism at Syddansk Universitet through Syddansk Elite
since 2010, and this was the year for my internship! We’ve therefore had some
really important periodes at uni this season which caused that I had to stay
home from the photoshoot in Hawaii with JP Australia this season. Too bad, BUT
then I got my internship, which I am super super happy about! It’s really tough
and a long proces to get an Internship in this industry so I felt super lucky
and happy to get a place! It is really exciting!
(foto - after)
The Internship caused that I had to move. I now live in
Copenhagen, which is actually a really nice place! I was a bit sceptic, as it
is far from where I come from, and to me it is a big city. It is the capital
city of Denmark, and you can really feel it when you arrive here. Anyway, I
really like living in Copenhagen! I live with my boyfriend really close to a
good freestyle spot called Amager Beach Park, which has like a flat lake thingy
and the ocean on the other side! I was windsurfing this spot in the summer, and
it is cool that there is so much life around you when you surf. People can
actually stand and watch, roll by on blades or skateboard or lay on the beach
while you are windsurfing etc. A lot of times windsurf spots are somewhere
quiert or far away, hidden or so, but this is so different, and I like it as a
contrast! I’ve also been surfing on the north coast of this big island, which
offers waveconditions as well as flat all round spots, and then, close to work
is a nice freestyle spot as well, where I hope I can have some nice winter
sessions! There is a lot of different spots!
What I REALLY like about living here, is that I am back with
some of my best windsurf girl friends! Julie and Stephanie and me has been
surfing together since forever, and now we are finally united! I hope to get a
lot of nice sessions with these girls!
A photo I took of Julie and Steph the other day when hanging out with them at the beach, woods and a cozy home in the north of Sealand!
And actually I have already been surfing with a lot of girls
here. Alisa has been great at poking me on the shoulder whenever windy and
invite me out on the water! This means a lot to me, as I still do not know all
the spots, wind directions and so on, and it is also so much more fun surfing
with others and pushing each others! And Alisa is a good windsurf mate as she
is really pushing! Keep it up girl! :)
Alisa in action! :-)
About two weeks ago I had a really nice session as well
together with my good friend Nikolaj and his girlfriend. They picked me up from
work and took me up to a spot I’ve heard a lot about: Lynæs! It was a very nice
spot, and there was a lot of people. I actually got really surprised, as it
felt like I was on the west coast of Denmark where windsurfers from all over
Europe is gathered on the water. But this was sealand... And it was a normal
windy day, and full of people. We had a great session and was surfing untill
sunset! Amazing!
It is not always easy to get photos from all the sessions – especially
not now when you get cold hands from standing on the beach with a camera. I
really don’t like to ask my friend that favour, so most of the times I do not
get photos :/ Sometimes it keeps me from blogging, as I know pics is the most
exciting , buuut in the future I will keep trying snapping some shots but
unfortunately it is not always possible. Here is a few DK shots though –
(billeder)
Apart from windsurf my new home has more fun to offer! Been
trying out the Cable Park, where you can go wakeboarding after a cable. It is
great fun, and I love these kinds of challenges! Stephanie has been so kind to
let me borrow all her kit, so I can go whenever I want! It is super nice! And
Philip, her brother, is patient giving me advice on the cable! I really hope I can
get out there again soon as well!
(Billede fra cableparken....)
Today was a bit rainy and dark already when I was done
working. But luckily sun was shining somewhere in town, as I was visiting my
good ol’ sponsor Skullcandy. They have their headquarter here in Copenhagen
which makes it a lot easier just to swip by and say hi. I left from there with
the coolest gear, and totally loaded – not just with gear, but also motivation
for some more action. I’m really happy about the support from my sponsors. It
means a lot to me, not just that they provide me with gear, but also share the
stoke for the sports and the things that I do. I haven’t been as active
event/competition wise as usually this year, but they are still hanging on, and
I am really appreciating that!
(foto skull)
While we are at the gear talk –
JP is about to launch their new SUP site, and it will be
online very soon! Check out the site here: http://jp-australia-sup.com/ Both NP
and JP are also now presenting their completely new gear! I haven’t got to try
and test it this year, but I believe it is amazing as usually! Check it out on
the webs as well! http://jp-australia.com/2013/
Roxy is ready with their new winter collection – check out
the new outfits on www.roxy.com
My former sponsor Sorobon Beach Resort in Bonaire has been
through a total rebuild and is now an amazingly beautiful resort in one of my
favourite places. Take a look at it here: http://www.sorobonbeachresort.com/en/
Well.. This was a bit of a catch up :) I would like to thank
you guys very much for following me, and for those who have been patient while
I haven’t been writing a lot.
So... Things are busy, but very nice! I get to windsurf, and
also doing all sorts of other things that makes me happy – wakeboarding,
basketball, seeing my friends and family, be with my boyfriend, working hard in
an exciting job and so on. I think things aren’t too bad :) I’m happy! :)
(There is a few problems with uploading the photos at the moment, but I will keep trying, so check back later if you want :)
TravelPosted by Xenia Wed, January 18, 2012 11:45:01
After a heavy start of the new year with a lot of examns, I've now handed in the last one, and have finished another semester on the education.. Feels pretty good!!! :) Especially because what's up next - loads of windsurf! I leave for training in a few days, and I cannot wait to be back on the water! I'm heading to a new place, where I haven't been before which is pretty exciting too! Soo, just a few more days, and I hope to be able to throw up some warm and windy photos here on the blog! :) Stay tuned!
I've made a facebook site to gather all photos, films, posts etc. from my windsurfing. Check it out, and like it - if you like ;) I will be posting on the site regulary but I will keep posting as usual here on kessler.dk .
Lately I've had some portraits in some of the main Danish News Papers - one of them is available online, and the other one is still running - check them out if you want :)
SessionsPosted by Xenia Tue, December 20, 2011 12:40:41
Denmark has gone cold! But together with the temperature drop the wind has picked up - at least a few days! We've had some good storms, and I have been out enjoying the conditions which Fyn has to offer! :) One day I was all the way down south on an island called Langeland. I was curious to go when I was picked up early in the morning by local Fyn windsurfer Nikolaj! A lot of the bridges in Denmark were already closed due to the storm, but luckily we managed to get to Langeland without any problems. A lot of surfers had found their way to this nice wave spot of Bagenkop. I think we were like 15 windsurfers - pretty well done for a cold december day I think. Everyone had picked out their smallest sails - the big guys with the 3.3-3.7. The wind was crazy! I was on my waveboard and a tight 3.6. Brr - I really got worked, but I had some super good waves as well!
The next storm arrived like 1-2 weeks after. I had decided to go freestyling this day - a pretty optimistic decision I think! My arms where sore after just a few runs, and when I crashed the wind carried my up from the water and swang me to the other side of the board - it wasn't easy to hold on! It was great to be out on the freestyle equipment again though! Even though the temperatures was a bit too low and the wind was making the experience even colder... A few shots from the day, thanks to Sofus for standing on the wind blown beach making video!:
SessionsPosted by Xenia Fri, November 11, 2011 21:54:09
There is quite a while between each updates at the moment, I know, but here it goes anyway :)
October... Well, that was when it still wasn't too cold here. Though I remember changing to wetsuit in the climate of Northern Denmark wasn't really a pleasure anymore - and that was even in the middle of October. But anyway, we (all the danish competitive windsurfers) did it quite a lot this October as we had epic conditions for this years Danish Championships! The Danish Championships were going on from the .... till .... october (4 days event). From the first day of four we had super good conditions, and we were able to complete the wave championships for the mens A, B and Junior class as well as the Womens! Siick! :)
I was on my new, and suuuuper nice JP Twinser Quad and the 4.2 Fly. Perfect setup for me this day. I had some good heats with some good waves - I had at least one in each heat that I was happy with, and then some frontloops and normal jumps. I would like to spend some more times in the waves, and a day like we had it here in Klitmøller only made me want it more. It was so much fun! :) I managed to beat some of the girls that I find very talented, which I was really happy with. I haven't got to sail a lot in the waves this year, but those times I had were really nice. After the comp I went out untill dark. It was really nice conditions, waves weren't too big, but good for practising both jumps and riding (I think like 2,5meters).
The following days we were doing my favourite thing: Freestyle! :) We were having the competition at Krik Vig - somewhere south of Klitmøller. I like the spot. I've been sailing there quite a lot when I've been in Klitmøller, as it work pretty much in any direction. I was sailing with the Mens A-class. It is a bounch of pretty tough guys so I was quite curious how far I would get. It was cold, but the wind was actually good, and I was on my brand-new 4.5. Fell in love with that sail immediately - for me it is the perfect size! I managed to pass first round, but then I was knocked out by then danish champ: Kenneth Danielsen. I ended up fifth in total, and was quite pleased with that result. There is a ssuper high level in the mens fleet, so to be able to mix with them is for me already pretty good :)
After the Danish championships I was back to the books and the local waters :) I had a few good sessions afterwards, but I have to admit that it has turned quite cold here. Im still hoping to get some more sessions before the snow kicks in, but the wind has been pretty dead the last weeks, and except of continually decreasing temperature there doesn't seem to be much change in the forecast. I cross my fingers though, aaand so far we still have 5 degress in the day so I am optimistic :)
SessionsPosted by Xenia Sun, October 02, 2011 14:20:34
Let's start this blog off with a warm and sunny picture :)
It's been way too long since my last blog-post, and more times I have been writing a new post, but all the time I've been interupted by something else. It's been busy (but good :) ) days since I got home from Fuerteventura.
I've been around in the whole country teaching a lot! I teach both normal windsurfers, who wants to improve their skills, and instructors who wish to bring something new and inspiring to their windsurf students, and girls only clinics :) I've been visiting Kolding Windsurf Club, Aarhus Windsurf Club, Ishøj Windsurf Club, Nivå Windsurf Club, Sydhavns Windsurf Club, Helgoland Windsurfers, Furresøen windsurfing Club and latest Middelfart Windsurf Club where SkarbækWindsurfKlub and Vejle Windsurf Club was represented as well. Super cool. It is super inspirering to see all the windsurfing clubs, and to meet all the enthusiastic people. I think, if all those clubs, all the ideas and all the energy was put toghether you would have the worlds best windsurfing club - I've really seen a lot of good projects out there. I've also been doing some television - TV2 (sport, see below) and DR1 (Aftenshowet - The Evening Show) together with my sister Julie - I will see if I can put up the link from the full television programme :) , and also in University TV is the main focus at the moment, so it is quite a packed program again. No surprises here :)
A few photos from some of the visits:
Also the Newspaper went by, and created an article, which can be read here :
Some have asked about my arm - thanks for caring :) It was already good again after like 1-2 weeks. I think thanks to the daily 2 litres of Milk I drank when I was younger! Hah :) (don't worry, I don't drink too much anymore... cut it down to 1 liter a daý now.)
WaterZ 2011 video: Cozy atmosphere!
In the middle of the month it was time for WaterZ - a huge watersports event in Denmark, which had its debut last year. The cool thing about this event, in my opinion, is that it is for all kinds of watersports, which means there will always be something going on for spectators and participants. Fx - there are free surf lessons, night wakeboard show with DJs, Movie premieres, Downwind race for windsurfers and kitesurfers, freestyle for kite and windsurfers, wakeboard competition, SUP races and Yoga and much more! There wasn't quite enough wind for the freestyle competition to take place, so instead we made a tow-in session. It was difficult, but fun to be a part of and try :) I would like to practise a bit more of that though, as it is much different than what I am used to. We had good fun though, and one who could really put up a show was showman Tonky from Bonaire. He showed reaally really awesome skills on the water, and it was great to have him there. Right after three full days of waters I jumped in the little Van, to continue the surf trip, because.......
September was also the month of the PWA Worldcup coming to Denmark! Unfortunately still only for the guys in waves. Too bad, as I know there would be a bounch of Danish girls entering the competition here. Hopefully the girls will be welcome soon :) I was there the whole week though, to be a volounteer worker there. Together with a crew of 4 other people I was handeling the press of the event, and also introducing the full new concept to the windsurfing world: Live Scoresheets. It was a very busy, some days from 7 till 23, but some really good daýs with some new experiences. I also had a morning of windsurf there - soo nice to be in the waves again. I had some good swims, :), but it was a lot of fun with some great company out there at Middels, Hanstholm.
It was a bit windy in Klitmøller these days..... And one of the days I actually didn't mind that I was busy on the beach and not on the water. :-) Photo by PWA!
The waves were also quite gnarly on this day! Photo: John Carter /PWA
After work I enjoyed hanging out with the rest of the Press Team at the Coldhawaii party. Here Kirstine.
And here the full press team smiling :) Photos by Markus Adrian
If you haven't seen it yet, you should check out the new JP Pictures and videos! A special JP-Girls video has been created together with a JP Girls site on facebook :) Check it out if you want!
Also check out all the other JP movies and pictures online on www.jp-australia.com
Also Check out the newly updated NeilPryde site:
Next up is a beautiful forecast for the coming week, hopefully with some nice days on the water. :) Soon is also DM, which I am looking forward to :)
It's about time to update from the last competition: PWA Worldcup in Fuerteventura. Currently I'm doing one-handed-blog-writing, which makes it a bit slow, and difficult, but I will come back to that later.
I went to Fuerte about 5 days prior to competition start. Arrianne picked me up in the airport, and straight hereafter we were on the water. Some flat, offshore spot a bit down of the usual centers in Fuerte. I was surprisingly on my 4.2 (surprisingly because Fuerte is normally associated with a tight 3.7 or a 3.3 for those that are lucky to have that). Arrianne borrowed a 4.7 and actually the wind was really light. We both had a good session though, and managed to pull off some tricks. It was fun to surf together again!
After those 5 days the parents of Arrianne arrived, so we both moved. I moved into the big hotel there, which is located right on the beach (Melia Gorriones). I must say, that I really really enjoyed that the usual sleeping spot on the sofa, in the board bag or a fold-out bed, was for once replaced with a nice hotelroom, a big bed, delicious food and walking distance to my gear. It just did not get any better. The first hours there I was really just enjoying and appreciating being there, and I just opened the door to the balcony, let in the fresh air and summer sounds while relaxing on my bed. Perfect warm up to the session that was to come a few hours later.
Finally the comp was to start. I sailed my worst heat ever there, and I knew when Arrianne said that she'd had an okay heat, that I was out. I was just angry with myself, that I sailed such a bad heat, - it is so frustrating, when you know, what you can really do. Luckily I got to show more in the double elimination...
PWAworldtour.com:
"Day three: Lighter winds and super flat water saw the style master Tonky Frans and rising star Xenia Kessler storm through the double elimination."
I had a good comeback in the double elimination. I was super nervous, but so that I could handle it, and use it for something good. I had to meet Sveta first. She is new on tour, but I know she sails really well, so I knew I had to kick ass from the beginning. Luckily I managed, and passed onto the next round. I faught my way up to meet Arrianne again, who I also won from and I was now placed in 4th position. Really nice. I'd taken a big sail, because I'd rather be overpowered than underpowed, so my arms where super painfull already. I had one heat where I was on 4.9 and the other one was on 4.0, still planing. Those that I've been sailing with knows that I normally get going with a quite small sail, buuut I was just not up for any chances, as I knew this would be the chance, if I wanted to improve my result from my really bad day of sailing in the single. Luckily it worked, and by the end of the day I was in the semifinal against Yoli de Brendt who I'd beated in Aruba.
PWA:
"The lighter winds and a flat sailing ground provided the perfect conditions for the women to unleash their most daring maneuvers. Mio Anayama (NeilPryde) launched into forward loops in both directions, and Xenia Kessler (JP / NeilPryde) spun around a set of super smooth spocks and a flaka to defeat their opponents Svetlana Martynova and Brit Danielle Lucas (Severne).
Kessler and Anayama moved on to face each other. Anayama fought hard landing her forward loops and a spock in the closing seconds; however she was unable to match the consistency of Kessler.
Arch rivals, Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Dakine / AL360) and Kessler then took to the water for their seventh showdown this season. With five wins to one Aukes was confident as she entered the heat, pulling a super-fast spock on the way out, however it was Kessler’s day and she flew through her tricks without fault ensuring the judges awarded her the most points, knocking Aukes down into fifth place."
The day after, the battle against Yoli was about to go down. I felt ready for it, and I was really really hoping, that the wind would pick up, so we could continue. Luckily it did, and Yoli and me went on the water. I sailed pretty well again, and the result was really tight. At one judge it was one point, that made the difference, and that was inspite of, that I had missed one move on the outside. I was super happy about the heat. Yoli won the heat this time, but it felt great that it was so close, and that I could really push her. This meant I got in 4th position at the PWA Worldcup Fuerteventura 2011. Im really happy about this result! I think Fuerte is a tough place, and to be able to perform well here, means a lot to me.
Girls girls girls :) ! Aaand super skilled PWA photographer John Carter in the middle!
This position places me in an overall 4th position on the PWA World ranking, and I am really really happy about this too! :) I did not dare to expect anything like this because of the school and a generally busy year, but I was hoping, and knew I wanted to fight for it! :)
On the last day my body was super tired. I just felt the whole week of competing (both a bit of stress and the physical action).. Buuut... I still wanted to go on the water. I went with my big sail again, because I had become so familiar and happy with it. It was a bit too big though, and in the middle of a photoshoot I span with much more power than I expected in a trick, and crashed into some iron photographer tower in the water. My board was really broke, and I'd hurt my arm, which has hit an iron pillar across, really hard. I went off the water and to the Red Cross people on the beach... My arm was swallown, red, and had a blue stripe where the iron pillar had hit. I was super scared that my arm was broken. It was really painfull, but also the thought of not being able to be on the water - or do any other sports - for some weeks was really really scary I thought. Arrianne went with me to the hospital, really sweet, and Remko got us a car and some tshirt to slip over the wet surf clothes. And luckily it did not seem to be broken. I still could not really use it, and they said I had to re-check as soon as I got home, but man it was such a relief to hear this.
The board....
and the arm... well, normally it really isnt that thick!!
a little bit worried.. Me and Arrianne was left alone in the room on the hospital for half an hour before we could get an answer
But luckily the little bones were fine :) Guess I had a lot of milk in my life to make the bones strong :)))
I'm now at home since three days. My body is still recovering, and I've been on the sofa with fever since I got back. Really unusual for me, but I am happy it only happened when I came back to Denmark :) I look super much forward till I can get back on the water. The weather is nice here, and there are loads of spots here in DK I have been missing to windsurf. Soo... A few more days of sleeping and recovering and I hope to be back out there :)
A photo I took of Julie and Steph the other day when hanging out with them at the beach, woods and a cozy home in the north of Sealand!
