Alessa Sophia Mensch Interview
Join us as we catch up with female Big Air rider, Alessa, after her podium finish at Full Power Tarifa in winds of 45+ knots.
Alessa, I would first like to congratulate you on your podium finish at Full Power Tarifa 2024. How are you feeling after this incredible result?
Thank you so much! Being on that podium means the world to me!
For the past two years, I’ve always ended in fourth place, just missing out on the podium. Then, at the end of last year, I wasn’t even sure if I could compete due to my back injury. I missed four months of training and had a lot to catch up on.
Standing on that podium shows me that with hard work and belief, I can overcome anything. That is the answer to all the doubts in my head during this time. It means personal growth and new motivations to me. I feel like I am exactly where I have to be right now.
The wind was absolutely nuking, what was it like competing in 45+ knots?
It was insane! I wish there was a better way to explain it to you, but everyone at the beach that day knows what I mean.
I only realized what I had got myself into when I got to the beach to pump up my kites. The sand was flying over my head. I pumped up my 6sqm, just to be thrown off balance with every gust that came in. That was when I knew there was no need to pump a bigger kite. The next one was my 5sqm as a backup, but I’ve only had one session with it before in a storm.
In my first heat, the wind was gusting 50+ knots. I had no chance to hold down my 6sqm, so I used my 5sqm kite. Before I got into the water, I was scared and nervous as it was my first time using it in a competition. But when I got in, I got into my competition mindset and started to have fun.
In this mindset, all I could think about was what I could do and what I had to do. I don’t care about the risks, although I am very well aware of them. Every step is calculated. I don´t look at what my competitors do, I just stick to the game plan and do what I can. Before I even realized it, the heat was over, and I finished first with 10.72 points. Lana placed second with 8.77, and Alice was third with 6.76 points.
This mindset is truly fascinating to me. I feel like my brain bundles all the stress, nerves, and adrenaline into a survival mode. Full focus! It feels like entering Zen mode. I wish I could enter this mode in every training session, but I am working on it. Fear is the biggest factor that stops us from performing at our best.
The women were really pushing it at the event, does that motivate you to push the limits even further?
Of course! The fact that I am where I am is thanks to the men who had started and the women who followed. To me, every single girl who does Big Air has earned my respect. Whether it is on a higher level than me or not, I know how much guts it takes to progress in this discipline! I also know how hard it is to survive in the industry and how little reward there is for all the hard work compared to other sports.
I would say everyone who competes and progresses in Big Air does it for themselves. Out of passion and love for the sport. That truly inspires me. The fact that we women are in a position right now to push female Big Air to a higher level is very unique. Every step further is a world’s first. The hype we are creating defines the future of the sport, and this is the biggest motivation from an athlete’s point of view. Kiteboarding changes your life. I’ve experienced that with every student I had while I taught for four years. But imagine you can change the sport. That’s the next level!
So the answer is YES! I know how much everyone is willing to push, and I am willing to work even harder.
Where do you see female Big Air in 5 years?
I do have a very clear vision of that. We are stepping into the footprints of the men who have shown that nothing is impossible. To see what they have achieved over the years is truly inspiring. A perfect example to me is to compare KOTA 2019 vs KOTA 2023! The level of riding has improved exponentially and so fast that there is almost no comparison!
If I think back to my very first Big Air contest, the BAKL in Cape Town 2021, it was just me and Francesca Mani entering the comp as female riders. Of course, we couldn’t fill up our own female division, so we ended up competing with the men. Compare this to where we are now. 12 female riders compete, but the waiting list is so long that we could already fill up an 18 -24 heat ladder. The level has gone up so fast that within 3 years, we’re already doing double loops, board off rotations, etc. In five years, I will see a professional league with decent prize money, big international sponsors, and endless opportunities. That’s what I fight and compete for!
What’s the next event on your calendar, and how are you feeling about it?
Hehe, my next destination is kind of a secret, but it has to do with the next event, the GKA in Gran Canaria. I am currently ranked fifth after Lords of Tram, but I want to improve that. All I can say is that it’s going to be a windy month filled with pure focus and hard training. I have lots to catch up on, especially the board offs, as I was very restricted with my injury. This is only the beginning!
Are there any other exciting plans that we can look forward to?
It is safe to say that every moment and step I take in my life is exciting and full of adventure. I do have some exciting projects lined up, but I am also a big fan of keeping it to myself until it happens. But I will tell you a little bit. Currently, I am working on a new partnership with Team Germany, and you will soon hear a lot more about it. I am looking very much forward to the GKA stop in Gran Canaria. I’ve never been there, and I love to explore new places. I am also planning to do a shoot for the new Urban Outdoor collection from Brunotti, and it would be super cool to combine it with another video project, such as “Antidote to Chaos”. Another training trip to Oman is also still on my mind this year.
My overall goal is to train and progress as much as possible. Big Air is my main focus, but my secret recipe is to switch it up. I love to do everything that revolves around board sports, whether it is skateboarding, surfing, wave riding, foiling, winging, old school, or freestyle of course.
One thing that I want to set my focus on more than ever is to let you take part in my adventures! I’ve been inspired by so many great people in the sport and the amazing content they put out, and I would love to share my story with you. Everything is possible if you believe in yourself and take action, even when you grew up in the south of Germany, far away from any ocean and kitesurfing!
