|  About
Denise Janson::
 Age: 41- Where I live: Seattle, Washington
- Where I’m from: I grew up in Florida and Kansas, but I’ve lived in the northwest for the last 18 years.
Sport interests: Kitesurfing, hiking, backpacking, running, and mountain biking. How I got started kitesurfing: When I first saw people kitesurfing, I thought it looked crazy. I was sitting on the hood of a car at a beach in Maui when an instructor offered to let me try my first body drag. I loved it. Later, in 2001, I sold my house, quit my job, and moved from Seattle to Maui to learn to kite. Thinking back, it wasn’t the best place to learn, but at that time, Maui was at the center of the kitesurfing world.
Regardless, I will never forget that rush of excitement I felt the first time I body dragged through the water, or the first time I got up on a board, or rode my first wave. The most incredible thing about this sport is the rush you get with every water session. Kitesurfing has given me a sense of fulfillment. Kitesurfing is power, adrenaline, and grace, all brought together in perfect unison.
Athletic goals: Encourage and support a community of women out on the water.
Inspiration: My four-year-old daughter's unconquerable spirit. Sadie is a special needs child with low muscle tone and delayed development. Learning to walk was a tremendous challenge for her because of the lack of strength in her legs and the lack of strength in her arms to catch herself when she fell. But despite all the cuts and bruises that came along the way, Sadie remained stubborn, determined, and happy through it all. She's the happiest child I know because she lives entirely in the moment.
Philosophy: Live in the moment—the value of which I've learned from my daughter. Having fun and enjoying life are also important.
Favorite spot to kiteboard: In the wind and the sun! Cape Hatteras and Maui are close to my heart. Local riding spots include Puget Sound, the Gorge, and Squamish.
Favorite Girls4Sport wear: Neoprene jacket—it's warmer than a big fleece and more wind-resistant.
What I do when I'm not in the water: I work, I'm a mother and a wife, and I spend time with my girlfriends. I strive to live my life with as much balance as possible. It's easy to get caught up in work or motherhood, or in being a wife, but it's important for me to also maintain and develop my friendships with women. Some of us get together for monthly kiter girl birthday parties where we eat and drink and talk about kiting. Sometimes we go on backpacking trips. I believe in celebrating how awesome we are and honoring our inner wildness.
My job: I work as a critical care nurse. It's a job that gives as much as it takes. I'm drawn to it for the same reasons I'm drawn to kiteboarding: for the intensity of it. I primarily work in ICU, but when I need a break, I work in the ER, where I thrive on the adrenaline and the constant chaos.
Education: I have a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Interesting/unusual facts about me: A true daughter of a kitesurfing parents, Sadie's first words were 'wind' and 'kite'.
More in my own words: I really am proud to be a part of Girls4Sport. I love the clothes, the quality, and the philosophy of Girls4Sport. It's great to see a company encourage more women to find harmony with themselves, sport, and community.
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