Graduate Profile - Johara Sykes-Davies
Surf's up 
An early passion for sailing or skiing left such an impact on Johara Sykes-Davies, it changed the course of her life.
For the thrill-seeking Johara, the slopes and the waves were as vital as food and water. And although it was difficult, throughout her childhood she found time to juggle both.
Now the BA (Hons) Maritime Leisure Management alumnus has found the perfect life balance – through the incredible sport of kitesurfing.
"Throughout my school years I made time for ski racing and dinghy racing and by the time I got to higher education, doing a BA in Maritime Leisure Management was an obvious choice. The outdoors was my passion and the course content was an excellent balance of everything I needed to know for my sporting life ahead," said Johara.
While studying for her degree, Johara taught sailing and raced dinghies – and she had her first taste of flying kites at nearby Calshot.
A season in Canada and a job managing a windsports site gave Johara the chance to learn the sport.
"The day I managed to stay up wind and turn around I was hooked. Kitsurfing had everything I wanted in a sport – adrenaline, excitement, freedom, a massive scope for travel and a wide variety of people with a common passion."
Kiting has taken Johara all over the world. She took the BKSA Professional Ladies' Championship title in 2007 and is ranked seventh in the world.
And now, with her two friends Zoe Burgess and Sheryl Conshue, Johara runs Turbulence Angels kiting team, which mixes competing with teaching. "It didn't feel like we were starting a business – we just wanted to get more girls out kiting," she said.
More information is available at www.turbulenceangels.com |