Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: May 31, 2005
Article Type: Journal

Tomoko Okazaki is a veteran professional kiteboarder and wind surfer and it shows. She has surgical scars on both knees and on one shoulder to repair crash damage and has twice scraped her heels completely raw on coral. She has another “kitemare” story, which she defines as a time “when the kite gains control over you.”

“I scratched my butt really badly when I was dragged across a coral reef by the kite. But I had to go out again, because the wind was so good. So I taped myself up with duct tape, and out I went.”

Maui-based Tomoko, a water sports devotee for some 15 years after taking up the sport passionately while at university in her native Japan, is widely considered to be the strongest of the pro women around the world. “I’m not necessarily strong, strong,” she says, “but I am determined. Especially when the wind is up.”

PDF Link: Journal Issue