People who adventure in sports that involve water often become our stewards of the sea. With being around the ocean and other bodies of water comes an awareness about the need to promote conservation. Hot-button marine conservation topics have been brought to light by ocean adventurers all over the world.
Michelle Sky believes that by sharing the wonders of the ocean and marine life, people will be inspired to protect it. The South African kitesurfing champion knows the importance of raising awareness for the bodies of water that give her life.
By Kevin Majoros
Growing up on the East Cape of South Africa
Sky grew up in a rural setting but was only a short distance from the seaside town of Cannons Rock. Her interests in surfing and motorcycling were a prelude to the adrenaline rush she would soon experience through kitesurfing.
“The conditions at Cannons Rock are not ideal for kitesurfing but I was fascinated immediately when I saw someone doing it,” says Sky. “I had never even flown a kite before, but I knew I was going to try it.”
After several years of immersing herself in the sport, she was ready to head to the area of South Africa where the pros train every summer – Cape Town.
The kitesurfing experience in Cape Town
Boasting over 30 kite spots, Cape Town is the place to be for kitesurfing from October to March. The area offers a variety of riding from flat water to six-meter waves.
Sky was working as a Pilates instructor before the move and opened her own studio after arriving in Cape Town. Two years ago, she shut the studio down and began kitesurfing full-time. She rides on the South African tour and has been the South African champion for the past two years.
“Since I have been riding full-time, I have been enjoying the sport a lot more,” Sky says. “It is my passion and I am finding new ways to raise my comfort levels in the water.”
Along with working on her swimming skills, Sky is surfing, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding and wakeboarding. Anything related to water is fair game and she hopes to try freediving soon.
She says that Langebaan in South Africa is her favorite site for kitesurfing, but she has also been traveling, looking for that perfect spot.
Traveling the world with a kiteboard
Looking for things to sustain herself in the long term, Sky is modeling for Maaji swimwear, blogging and writing, and doing social media work for hotels. It has allowed her to travel more and she has worked her kiteboard in places such as Egypt and Greece.
A trip to Lake Malawi, which has shorelines on Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi, offered an unusual kitesurfing experience.
“Even though it isn’t a kite surfing site, I had my gear with me and decided to give it a go,” says Sky. “There are hippos and crocodiles in the lake, so it was a little scary but still an amazing experience.”
Locally, she recently did media coverage at Red Bull Kota 2018: King of the Air. The event is a men’s big-air kiteboarding contest in Cape Town and Sky did social media work for multiple publications.
Horse boarding in Cannons Rock in South Africa
Sky’s father is a part-time kite surfing instructor who lives close to Cannons Rock. He had long thought it would be a clever idea for a horse to tow a kiteboarder. They set up on Boknes Lagoon and gave the experiment a try.
“We weren’t sure if the horse would be able to keep a steady course,” Sky says. “It worked out incredibly well and my little sister Kayleigh was able to get up as well at the same time.”
With the kitesurfing season over in Cape Town, Sky will be spending some time in Cannons Rock before she leaves for trips to Egypt and Germany.
Along the way she hopes to raise awareness for ocean conservation. Plastic pollution, coral reef conservation and marine life conservation are just a few of the things that are important to her. The water is her playground and she feels protective about the place where she pursues her passion.
“Soaring across the water using my kite to jump is pure adrenaline,” says Sky. “At the same time, I find it very relaxing.”
Kitesurfing adventure video in Paros, Greece with Michelle Sky and husband, Neil Hayward
Kevin Majoros shares stories on sports, ocean adventuring and conservation. He is based in Baltimore/Washington and travels the world as a competitive swimmer.
We love the work we do, and we hope you love the content we share. A donation in support of SEVENSEAS Media will help us carry our mission forward.
- Running community building projects in 174 countries
- Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
- Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
- Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
- Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
- Providing free scientific resources for educators
- Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
- Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
- We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future
Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.
Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.