Fremantle sailor hitting the water in a new way

by Janine Pittaway on 5 Dec 2012 Western Australian sailor and Fremantle boy Torvar Mirsky is swapping sails for a kite as he prepares to tackle the Gage Roads crossing in the Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton kite surfing race on Saturday 15 December.

Named WA’s Sailor of the Year in 2010, Mirsky said he was looking forward to competing in Australia’s longest kite surfing race for a bit of fun.

'I’ve been kiting in my spare time for about four years. A lot of sailors travel with kiting gear and do it in their spare time.

'I’ve been interested in competing for a while and really wanted to do it. I’d heard about the race over the past few years and always paid attention.'

Recently Mirsky has been training in course racing, but being amongst friends who are some of the world’s fastest kite surfers convinced him to give competitive kite surfing a go.

'Kiting is beating all other water disciplines, including sailing, as the fastest across water.

'I haven’t competed in kite surfing before so I’m not sure what to expect. Hopefully I come off the beach alright, I think it’s going to be an endurance race more than anything.'

With a professional sailing background Mirsky is sure to pose a threat to some of the local entrants, admitting some past competitors are acting quite coy about giving away too much information on the race.

Mirsky is one of 110 competitors challenging the 19km Gage Roads crossing, which has approval from Fremantle Ports. Competitors will take off from Phillip Point at Rottnest Island mid afternoon, and race across to the finish line at Leighton Beach in Fremantle.

Spectators can come along and witness all the action from the sand at Leighton, plus there will be DJs and kite surfing demos at the beach from midday.

For more information visit the website www.lighthouse2leighton.com.au.