Gisela Pulido Kiteboarding on Punta Chame

Photo by: Frank Corbett of Starfire Photography 
Summer has started on the pacific coast of Panama and with the complete halt of rain the warm winds are starting to pick up. This means one thing for those who follow the winds... time to head to Punta Chame.

Each year at the start of December, the pristine point becomes a haven for kiteboarders. Punta Chame is a special place, perfect for learning and advancing in the sport of kiting. With miles of empty shoreline and consistent side- on shore winds blowing 15 – 30 plus knots daily, it is no wonder why even pros end up here.

There are a couple of places to learn how to kiteboard on Punta Chame. Machete kites, a growing community of kiters and teachers, and Nitro City an extreme sports resort located at the tip of Punta Chame, which has recently become home to Gisela Pulido´s international Kitesurfing school. With a growing community of avid kiters in Punta Chame each year, kite boarding in Panama is earning it’s place in the action sports world.

This year photographer Frank Corbett met up with Gisela Pulido, a 21 year old professional kiteboarder from  Tarifa Spain. Gisela placed first as World Champion in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (two times freestyle and in waves), 2011, 2013 and 2015. The pro kiteborader making waves in the sport was at Nitro City in early December training and opening her new kite school. While she has returned home to Spain to rest, enjoy some quite time with her family and get ready for the 2016 kite season, she will be back on Punta Chame next year in Jaunary.

Gisela started kite surfing under her father’s instruction at the age of 8. Her list of wins and championship titles  is very impressive. Gisela competes in the Freestyle category, professionals in the industry say she is a very technical and smooth rider.

Her newest project, the recently opened kite school inside Nitro City, is a joint project with fellow boarders Sebastian and Mercedes. Gisela is currently sponsored by Red Bull, Best Kiteboarding, Tag Heuer and Movistar. Not only is she is the youngest world champion in the history of kite surfing, she just secured her 10th world championship title!