Kite’arsis – How Kitesurfing Heals Our Soul

Kite’arsis (neologism) – from English “kite” /kaɪt/ – “kite, kitesurfing” + Greek κάθαρσις (kátharsis) /ˈka.θar.sis/ – “cleansing, purification”

We often mention the beneficial impact of kitesurfing on our overall physical condition. Outdoor activity, full-body engagement, deep muscle activation, overall motor coordination – all these elements have a clear positive effect on our bodies.

Today, however, I’d like to focus on how kitesurfing heals our soul, balances our senses, and teaches us harmony and calmness in daily life.

Kite Truth #1: We don’t control everything in life

You show up at the spot, expecting an awesome session – but the wind doesn’t show up. I often see surprise, helplessness, disappointment, even sadness in students facing this. It can take several minutes or even days to understand: this is something beyond our control. The weather. I can’t blow harder, even if I wanted to. So we accept it, shift to something else, and wait for the wind.

How many times do we hit such “walls” in life? My flight got rerouted, the office closed early, my favorite pastries were sold out (ugh!). How often can these seemingly minor things ruin our mood?

With kitesurfing, you learn that even if you feel in control of your fate, there are things you can’t change – and you have to accept that. You learn to nurture calm and protect your energy instead of wasting it on what’s out of your hands.

Kite Truth #2: When you lose control – let go

“Let go of the bar!” How many times have you heard this during your kitesurfing lessons? Probably the most repeated phrase on any spot.

Our instincts tell us to hold on tight when things go wrong. We clench, we fixate, we struggle, and life drags us across the power zone like rocks – with no improvement. But sometimes all you have to do is LET GO. Things naturally realign, tension eases, you breathe again, and life resets – just like the kite returning to 12.

It takes time to build the habit of letting go, but it’s worth it. Without it, you won’t get far – and even if you do, the first stronger gust of life might land you face-first in the water.

Kite Truth #3: Don’t force – feel it: searching for life’s sweet spot

A kite is the medium between you and the wind. You hook into the safety line, clip the chicken loop in – and suddenly you become one system. You feel the wind through your harness, and you use the bar to communicate with the kite and channel the energy.

The sweet spot is a constantly shifting point where the bar position allows ideal communication with the kite. Pull too little – the lines slacken and you lose connection. Pull too hard – the kite takes over, yanks you, or stalls. Finding the sweet spot is an ongoing conversation with the wind. You read its signals and respond with your body so the wind works in your favor. Balance comes not from force, but from feel and feedback.

In life, we also shouldn’t muscle through things – we should steer smartly, communicate clearly, and channel our energy purposefully, whether it’s for a calm cruise or a 30-meter jump.

Kite Truth #4: Sometimes above water, sometimes below – crashing leads to growth

You learn to steer, master your first body drags, get on the board, ride your first tacks – and finally go upwind, becoming an independent kitesurfer. Countless crashes behind you. You think: now I can just cruise without swallowing more seawater. Sure. But soon you think: that was fun – what about learning that backroll?

And you do: backroll, frontroll, onefoot, darkslide – and crash again, rinse your sinuses, and bodydrag back to your board. Kiting is a never-ending story. You learn one thing, and you want more. And progress – whether it’s a new trick or a life challenge – comes with falls, fails, and setbacks. Without them, there’s no growth.

So let’s not get discouraged by difficulties when we take on new challenges: a new job, relationship, home. It won’t be easy. But remember: regression precedes progression, and every crash is part of growth.

As you can see, kitesurfing is not just a way to boost your physical fitness – it’s also a path to inner peace. The more time I spend with a kite, the more life lessons I uncover that help me through tricky situations.

So let’s keep riding – and don’t stop being a kitesurfer once we step off the water. Let’s embrace and nurture this mindset – for better and for worse. 🙂

Kite’arsis (neologism: from English “kite” + Greek “katharsis” – purification) – a term describing the emotional and spiritual cleansing process that occurs during kitesurfing. It refers to a state of inner balance, calm, and surrender to uncontrollable external conditions (like wind). Kite’arsis combines physical activity with deep psychological experience – teaching patience, awareness, and the art of letting go in stressful moments. It is a metaphor for life, where balance, flexibility, and trust in the process matter more than strength or control.