I started surfing when I was 9 years old, then my Dad taught me how to wind surf. When I was 12 I saw my first kite surfer.
I thought it was unreal and I wished I could do it too.

Then my mum and sister started kiting when I was 12
and taught me to kite when I was 13.

Soon after that I was teaching them how to jump and do tricks. I went into my first competition at Woodman Point when I was 14 and came first. After that I was hooked and I would ride my bike to the beach everyday to practice my new tricks.

I was living my dream, going into every contest I could, and having heaps of fun while doing so.

Simon Witcherman Profile

• Where did you grow up and what sort of upbringing did you have, i.e. sports and interests?
• I grew up in Fremantle and started playing soccer when I was in primary school.  When I was 11 I started surfing and shortly after my dad taught me how to windsurf.  I love water and water sports.
• How did you get into kite boarding and what made you want to give it a go?
• I saw a kite surfer the first time when I was in Lancelin at the age of 12 but did not think much of it. However then my mum and sister got into it and it looked awesome.  So when I was 13 my mum thought my the basics of kite surfing.  She was so worried I would hurt myself so I was literally only body dragging for the first year.    
• When was this and how old were you? 2003 I was 13 years old
• How old are you now?  22.
• What appeals to you about kiting? The fact that you are free , the excitement of learning new tricks, and there is so many different riding styles. 
• Why do you love it so much? It is a great sport which is growing year by year.  I was very fortunate to start the sport at a young age.  Also I love the social side of it.  Hanging out with mates after a good session.
• Where are your favourite locations to kite and why is it so good? Augusta because of the flat water and Lancelin because if u get board on the flat water you have sweet wave out the back.   
• How often do you get out on the water? As much as possible. 
• What is your riding style and what and what you like about it? Freestyle .  I like it because there is always another trick or grab you can try and the height you get when you do a massive kite loop.  It gets the blood moving. 
• Do you hit kickers and sliders much and if so can you say something about what you like about it? Yes i hit kickers and sliders a bit.  I like it because it is different and the fact that I don’t get to do it much because it is such a mission to set the sliders and kickers up.
• Do you wave ride at all? Yer i get out in the waves every now and agene it’s good to mix it up.
• What other interests do you have now? Surfing, Wakeboarding
• How long have you been competing?  5 years

• Why do you compete, do you enjoy it? I like competing because it pushes you to learn new tricks and it shows how well you do under pressure.  I love taking part in competitions because i get to travel to new places and meet new people. 
• How do you prepare for a competition? Do you have any physical and mental strategies? I train at the gym, go for runs and make sure i get a healthy diet.  I get regular trager session from my mum to keep my body in great shape.
• What is your strategy during competition? That’s for me to know and you to find out.
• Inspirations, people or anything else?  Anyone who is riding with heaps of power, I admire Youri Zoon as he has blown his knee a few times but did not let that stop him from doing what he loves. 
• Have you travelled much to kite? Yer I have travelled around Australia to compete in the Nationals.  And I went to New Zealand in 2009.  Been to Bali a few times, and New Caledonia. 
• What do you do when you are not kiting? Gym, Surf, wakeboard, 4 wheel driving 
• Do you study or work, if so what do you do? I’m doing a Apprenticeship in Furniture making  finish at the end of this year.
• What gear are you using and why do you like it? I’m riding the Airush Razor kite and the FS team board.  I like the Razor because it is a C kite and it has great power and loops really well. 
• What is your best memory of kiting? probably the Mackay comp in 2007 was so awesome having the NZ boys come over to compete. we had so much fun running amuck waiting for the wind.  I also did my first kiteloop front mob there.
• What are your favourite tricks? kite loop front mob or the new trick I just landed.
• What are you working on? Front blind mob, KGB to blind, Front mob to blind.  
• What do you aspire to? Travelling around Europe and taking part in the European tour and a few of the pkra stops. 
• What do you want to achieve? Travel around Europe and other places in the world to take part in comps and get on the podium.
  
• When you learned what kites where you on? was it 2 line? My first kite was a 5.5 ARX Naish think it was one of the first 4line kites. 
  Did you pick it up easy? yer as soon as I got my hands on a board I got up and riding start away and was trying to jumps the next day.    
  You body dragged for a year. How was that, was it fun still. Well I was not getting out that often in the first year. But yer body dragging was pretty fun considering how light I was at the time I was pretty much flying through the air most the time.

My aim is to finish my apprenticeship and then go traveling around Europe and other places in the world to take part in comps over there.

My favorite move is usually the trick i am working on at the moment, and therefore is always changing. However, the feeling you get when you finally land the move is the same...awesome!!

My best moments are when I am out riding in summer with my mates and we are all amping each other up and having fun.


I love checking out new places, adventure, and trying out new and exciting moves.

Sponsorship

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