How pro kiteboarder Alina Kornelli flies against the current – and why water is her element
The first time you stand on a kiteboard, everything feels wrong. Too fast, too loud, too wet. That never bothered Alina Kornelli. On the contrary: she lives for the crash, the chaos, the raw force of the wind whipping her face, and the water pushing her to her limits – or past them. At 25, Alina is a professional kiteboarder. And a fighter.
From snow star to kite queen
Alina’s drive started early. Snowboard cross. Cold training days. Sharp turns. Big wins. As a teenager, she made it into the Bavarian squad, becoming Bavarian Champion and German Youth Champion. But one day came the pull – out of the tracks, out of the structure, out of the cold. The sea felt like freedom. And with kiting, passion followed.
At 17, she faced the big decision: Go pro. Snowboarding or kiting? She had an invitation to join the German national snowboard team – but Alina chose the water. She switched to kiteboarding – a sport that demands precision, power, and courage. In 2017 and 2018, she took silver at the European Championships in the Youth Olympic discipline of slalom. In 2023, she placed 6th at the Formula Kite Foil European Championships. Her goal is now crystal clear: the Olympics.
The best job in the world – and the toughest
What looks like play is actually elite sport. Two sessions a day. Cardio. Technique. Tactics. Plus: interviews, sponsors, socials. “Kiting is my job,” Alina says plainly. And: “I love it.” Even when the conditions get brutal. Especially then.
Because kiting isn’t just physically demanding – it’s mentally relentless. You’re fighting nature. Fighting yourself. Your doubts. And sometimes, the system.
"I want to show that you can be feminine and still radically strong."
Against the mainstream, for the mission
Alina isn’t just an athlete. She’s a role model. She fights for gender equity in sport, for more visibility for women in kiting – and for herself. While the guys often get the “cool” stamp just for showing up, women have to outperform to be taken seriously.
Alina wants success – without losing herself. That means showing up as she is: long hair, signature style, and the courage to be different. She’s not here to fit in. Not on the board. Not in life.
Kiting as a mindset
Her favorite moment? “When I’m flying across the water and everything aligns: wind, board, body.” For Alina, kiting isn’t just a sport. It’s a mindset. A decision for freedom. For strength. And against convention.
Which is exactly why she’s the perfect fit for Belle&Yell. Because she doesn’t just fly – she inspires. She proves that power doesn’t have to be quiet. And she uses the wind to move in just one direction: forward.
Alina KornelliFacts & Power Profile
Born: May 12, 2000, Munich
Nationality: German-Austrian
Disciplines: Formula Kite (Olympic), Freestyle, Slalom
Home Clubs: SCK Kammersee (Attersee, AUT); WCST Starnberger See (GER)
Her favorite moment
“When I’m flying across the water and everything aligns: wind, board, body.
