Mojacar schoolgirl wins Spanish Kitesurf Championship

MOJACAR has a new champion in the world of water sports. Osaia Reding, aged 12, won the children’s category of the Spanish Freestyle Kitesurf Championships, held in La Manga last week.

This is the second achievement in as many months as the Mojacar schoolgirl came fifth in the world championships, held in France in April. The most recent achievement was extra special, as Reding was the youngest out of 85 competitors in the event. The youngster has continued to excel over the years, having taken the bronze medal in last year’s competition.

Reding began kitesurfing aged seven under the guidance of her father Sebastien, who is also her coach. She grew up in the world of watersports as her parents run a centre on Mojacar beach.

A pupil at school in Mojacar, Reding has to combine her studies and homework with training but says travelling for the sport is her “university of life.” Proud to be a ‘Mojaquero,’ the young schoolgirl’s kite is decorated with a picture of the ‘Indalo man,’ a symbol of the area, as well as Mojacar’s coat of arms.

Although mostly self-funded, Reding is grateful to her sponsors which include F1-Spain, Kitaddict and Barraca Do Spain. Mojacar Council also supports the young champion and sent its congratulations.

The junior Reding wasn’t the only one to take the podium at the event; her father also brought back a medal to add to the family collection. He finished runner-up in the senior category having beaten dozens of competitors all younger than his 41 years.

The young kite surfer had no time to relax after her big win as she set off for the Netherlands to compete in yet another international competition this week.

Mojacar has become increasingly popular with kitesurfers and other watersports enthusiasts, with its temperate climates and kilometres of beaches providing excellent conditions for ‘thrill-seekers.’