Clem Bonzom is a professional kitesurfer.

CLEM BONZOM is a professional kitesurfer who combines her passion for the sport with her love of writing. She is the editor of Stance Magazine which is dedicated to kitesurfing and allows her to work while still competing and training. She talked to us about her biggest accomplishments in the sport as well as her career as a journalist.

For more information on Clem and for videos and stories from her trips visit www.clembonzom.com or find her on Facebook: Clémentine Bonzom or Instagram: clembonzom.

When did you start kitesurfing and what was it about the sport that made you catch the kitesurfing bug?

I started kitesurfing in 2007, my best friend taught me how to do it, and after a few hours I was totally addicted. Since I was a child, I’ve always been in love with water sports, and kitesurfing was definitely my best love sport story!

Clem’s job as the editor of a kitesurfing magazine allows her to work while out pursuing the sport.

What have been some of your biggest accomplishments in the sport to date and what exciting challenges do you have lined up for the future?

My first competition on the world tour was one of the sickest moments of my career. It was in Brazil, in 2011, I was there for my first real training trip (before this, kitesurfing was just a hobby). My friends convinced me to take part in the competition (PKRA), but actually I was absolutely terrified. My level wasn’t really good and I never had a reel competitor’s mental. But, I did it, and I finished on the podium, with Bruna and Asia.

After that my motivation was limitless and I started to think that maybe one day I could become pro rider. Then it was all about training, crashing and trying again, until your body feels super tired.

About my next accomplishments? Keep on working on new tricks and I really want to progress in wavering…

Butter slides tries.

Could you tell us about your work as a journalist and how you’ve managed to combine that with your love of kitesurfing?

At the beginning it was not so easy, Stance Magazine gave me a great opportunity to work with them and I was really excited. But I wanted to keep going with training trips and competitions. So I managed to do both, luckily I can do my job with Stance from everywhere, I just need a good internet connection. The nit’s all about organisation: working 2 hours, kiting two hours, then working again, then kiting again. No time to get bored – I like it!

Sharing and living the pro rider life is probably one of the best way to can talk and write about this sport. I’ve been the editor of the magazine for one year and I have had more and more work. Slowly I stopped competing, the level was so high and I didn’t have enough time any more to train… Now I’m more focused on videos, photos and enjoying every session!

Clem is also passionate about the sport of surfing.

Could you tell us about any other interests you have outside the world of kitesurfing and are there any other sports you’re passionate about?

Yes, I totally fell in love with another water sport, surfing. It’s just you, the board and the wave. The feeling is insane even it’s really hard to improve. For me this is the number one sport of all the riding sports.

Where there is no wind – there is surfing!