Growing up on the Kapalady Lagoon in Sri Lanka, Mawfeer lived in a
palm leaf hut, his father a fisherman, his family very poor. That all
changed when kiteboarding entered his life.
Due to the civil war,
there was no tourism in the region — until a couple of foreign kiters
began sessioning the lagoon. Given the incredible conditions, they
returned regularly. Fascinated, Mawfeer would always watch from afar.
Something ignited within him. One day he built his own kite out of a broken
umbrella and fishing line, along with a board he made out of cardboard.
Disheartened after the rig didn’t work, Mawfeer threw it all away in
frustration.
Even though he
couldn’t speak English, soon after Mawfeer courageously approached the
kiters. They ended up showing him how to assist in launching, landing,
and rigging —eventually teaching him how to kite. Before long, the group
started the first kiteboarding camp in Sri Lanka, where Mawfeer began
working in the kitchen. Since then Mawfeer has built his family a house,
pays for his little brother to go to school in Colombo (Sri Lanka’s
capital city), and he is a certified IKO instructor at Kitesurfing Lanka
in Kalpitya.
While Mawfeer has a big heart, also absolutely kills
it on the water. Having ridden and tested ZIAN kites since the
beginning, he has developed a unique, high-energy style. Influenced and
inspired by the countless kiters that flock to Sri Lanka for long
seasons of 24-hour wind, Mawfeer’s riding is raw, fearless and creative,
combining and adapting tricks into a seamless dance that regularly
leaves bystanders speechless.
Text from Zian Kiteboarding Australia.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
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2 comments:
my summer vacation can't be fulfill without the touches of the big sea waves. basically I love my board and like to drive on the wave.
A great Longboards resource for a longboard rider & getting more information from Backfire Longboard .
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