Kites are increasingly more visible in Lithuanian skies: an extreme sport that even people with disabilities can engage in.
Power kites – becoming increasingly common in Lithuania’s skies and along the coastlines of the Curonian Spit or the Baltic Sea – no longer surprise anyone during the summer, except for arousing admiration and curiosity to try it out. Every year, more and more Lithuanians engage in this sport, exchanging passive relaxation on the coast for active activities in the fresh air, which provide not only new experiences and adrenaline but also help maintain a healthy body and mind. Unfortunately, the understanding and promotion of a healthy lifestyle still remain a significant challenge not only for children but also for adults, which could be solved by discovering a new active hobby.
Aims to change the attitude
Edgaras Martinėlis, founder and certified instructor at WindTrain’s traveling kite school, notes that most myths or self-limitations hindering the discovery of new experiences stem from a simple lack of understanding of a healthy lifestyle and deeply rooted stereotypes.
“I have been involved in kiteboarding and its popularization for more than 10 years in Lithuania. I still feel that it is often seen more as a leisure activity but people forget that it is a prospective Olympic sport. Kiteboarding is also surrounded by numerous myths, such as the belief that it requires special physical fitness, is not suitable for people with disabilities or older individuals, is more of a masculine sport, and so on. I am very pleased to see these myths gradually fading away, and more and more people discovering the benefits that kiteboarding and sports in general can provide. They are choosing an active and quality time spent in the great outdoors,” explained E. Martinėlis.
It is important, according to him, not only to change attitudes in general but also to improve accessibility to health-oriented activities so that people can try and discover what they like for themselves.
“Kiteboarding is quite an expensive sport that requires special equipment, the assistance of certified instructors. Therefore, as ambassadors of this sport in Lithuania, we started a project aimed at nurturing and popularizing kiteboarding as a new Olympic sport worldwide and in Lithuania. The goal is to provide an opportunity for people of all ages and social groups to learn wind sports and spend time together, promoting social and sports activity, wellness, active leisure time outdoors, and reducing barriers between healthy and people with disabilities in actively and healthily spending their leisure time,” says E. Martinėlis.
Sports can become a lifestyle
Simas Kučas, a well-known tennis coach and enthusiast of an active lifestyle, recognizes the unquestionable benefits of sports and active leisure. He developed a passion for sports when he was just four years old, and since then, it became a habit for a lifetime.
“An active lifestyle is ingrained in me as my brain finds its best rest while exercising. I’ve been engaging in sports in one way or another my whole life, and I can’t imagine my day any other way,” says S. Kučas.
A few years ago, when S. Kučas first took hold of a power kite, he reveals that he instantly fell in love with the sport due to the opportunity it offered to be in nature here and now, encompassing a complete sense of relaxation.
“Wind and water are the elements of nature that blend perfectly together. Moreover, it’s an absolute relaxation for the mind since you don’t have your phone or sense of time with you. You just detach from everything, ride, and enjoy the moment. Additionally, this sport can be well-combined with other activities. For instance, when there’s no wind, you can play tennis. Movement is crucial for a healthy body, and all forms of it are suitable for that,” assures S. Kučas.
The control of a kite, according to him, is even easier to learn and requires less time than tennis, making it suitable for people of various ages, physical abilities, or even skills:
“Most importantly, don’t limit yourself and discover what truly brings joy and engages you. If you have the opportunity to try something new – do it.”
Invites you to try it for free
WindTrain is currently working on a project aimed at fostering and popularizing the sport of kiteboarding as a new Olympic discipline worldwide and in Lithuania. The goal is to provide opportunities for people of all ages and social groups to learn kiteboarding, spend time together, promote social and sports activity, encourage a healthy lifestyle, engage in active leisure activities outdoors, and reduce barriers between the capabilities of healthy individuals and those with disabilities in spending their leisure time actively and healthily.
The project is aimed at children from 10 years old to adults (18–64 years old), including individuals with disabilities, to demonstrate that kiteboarding is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or physical fitness. All necessary equipment, theoretical and practical training, and the attention of instructors with international IKO certification will be provided to them completely free of charge.
During individual or group activities, the participants will familiarize themselves with the discipline of kiteboarding, learn how to set up the equipment, undergo safety briefings, engage in simulated activities on the shore, etc. Practical lessons will involve the use of radios to ensure constant communication between the instructor and the learner, facilitating rapid improvement, and enabling the learners to feel safe and confident in the water.
The project is funded through the Sports Support Fund, administered by the National Sports Agency under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania.