Kitesurf365 Podcast – Episode 423: "A Guinness World Record"

Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Adrian Kerr (A)
Guest: Aya Eiffel ("Aya Kiteboarding") (C)

Overview – The Episode’s Main Theme

This episode features Aya Eiffel, elite endurance kite surfer and multi-time Woo record-holder, celebrating her recent achievement of a Guinness World Record: the greatest distance kiteboarded in a single month. Aya breaks down the immense journey—physical, mental, and bureaucratic—to achieving this feat, the preparation involved, the technicalities and challenges of such a rigorous attempt, and candid thoughts about the process and what might be next.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Guinness World Record Process

• Aya’s record: 4,296.04 km kiteboarded in 30 days (per Guinness’ official count; debate around the number).
• The distinction between appearing in Guinness’ online database vs. being chosen for the annual book.
  • "When Guinness World Records are broken, they don't automatically go in the book... At the end of the year, editors get together and decide who's the most interesting." (A, 00:56)
• Guinness’ application process for athletes:
  • Must outline the specific record proposal; only upon Guinness’ approval can preparations begin.
  • Lengthy process (nearly a year), requiring precise guideline-setting, documenting, and logistical planning.
  • “Fast track” applications possible but costly (£500).
  • "There’s a lot of hoops... you have to jump through before you can start." (C, 03:01)

2. Genesis and Planning of the Record Attempt

• Idea sparked in late 2023, following earlier Woo record achievements.
• Initial trial to test body limits; realization of physical demands (specifically knee/hip resilience).
  • Trial run: 31 consecutive days, ~3,200 km, led to knee issues.
• December 2023–January 2024: formal application to Guinness.
• Full year required to finalize logistics, guidelines, and prepare supporting documentation.
  • Necessary: Two witnesses per session, video proof (start/mid/end), exhaustive GPS records.

3. Training, Conditioning, and Execution

• Daily regime included strength and conditioning (1 hour pre-water), targeting lower back, core, knees, hips, and shoulders.
  • "Every single piece of chop is going into these knees and these hips." (A, 08:21)
• Importance of core strength for endurance, not only jumping.
• Balancing in-the-gym prep with relentless on-water time—especially salient given Aya’s age (53).
  • "I'm not a spring chicken anymore. And I feel it on my body." (A, 08:21)

4. Logistics and Riding Routine

• Route: Not a downwinder. Back and forth, filling in a tidal lagoon in Northeast Brazil.
  • "I have literally filled in this lagoon. I don't think there's a meter that I have not kited." (A, 10:08)
• Daily rhythm (tide-dependent):
  • Sunrise start, pre-session stretching, 4-5 hour water stints, brief breaks for nutrition, up to 14 hours per day.
  • Constantly juggling gear, GPS monitoring, and kilometer tracking in real time.
• Strategic “banking” of extra kilometers, to account for possible down days due to her chronic health condition ("Tom and Jerry," the tumors she candidly battles).

5. Physical and Mental Hardships

• Numbers discrepancy: Aya’s own GPS logged 4,820.99 km, but after Guinness’ data scrutiny, 525 km were deducted.
  • "There's a disparity between the way that Guinness was reading my GPS data compared to... my viewing platforms." (A, 15:27)
• Preparing for 30 ultra-marathon days, but managing injury risks and pain without masking symptoms:
  • "I didn't take any type of chemical sustenance to, against the pain..." (A, 22:51)
• Sleep, recovery, and nutrition:
  • Early days plagued by excitement-induced insomnia, later replaced by overwhelming fatigue and routine.
  • Hydration focused on cellular level overnight, rather than copious water during sessions.
• Mental challenges: The psychological endurance is often harder than the physical.
  • "You have to be extremely comfortable inside your own head." (A, 18:00)
  • Finding micro-distractions—podcasts, music (“even that irritates”), wildlife, playful tricks—to stave off monotony and focus the mind.
  • Pain management: Distinguishing “good pain” (manageable/temporary) from “bad pain” (potential injury).

6. Gear Choices and Technical Issues

• Six twin tips, seven kites; crucial to pair the right size kite and board for each session.
  • "If you're out there with the wrong size gear... it gets in your head." (A, 28:38)
• Gear failures were rare; occasional mistakes in selection led to downtime but no major breakdowns.
• By the end, Aya had refined the art of quickly selecting the right setup for conditions.

7. Community and Support

• Supportive atmosphere: other kiters cheering her on, local friends (“Ari” at the posada) providing logistical help.
• Aya’s continued role as “mama kiteboarder”—pausing mid-record to retrieve lost boards for others.
  • "I would always stop and rescue kite boards... Mama kiteboarder is more important than any record because I like helping people." (A, 30:03)

8. Kiteboarding Records Landscape

• Discussion of other Guinness kiteboarding records (longest distance in 24 hours, most consecutive 360s, English Channel crossing, etc.).
  • Many records seem beatable—if applicants can endure the bureaucratic application process.
  • "It seems like if you want to get out there... be prepared. You can't just turn up and do it." (C, 32:14)
• Aya’s experience suggests complexity and patience are prerequisites for legitimate, official attempts.

9. What’s Next for Aya?

• Wanting to revisit this record after addressing the Guinness data discrepancy.
  • "If I can get stuff sorted out with this appeal... then I will reconsider if I think it's worth trying to go for another distance record." (A, 34:26)
• Aspirations for bigger challenges: channel crossings, large island circumferences, or epic multi-day team events.
  • Mental test is the motivator: “If it was easy, I wouldn’t want to do it.”
  • "Give me ideas, because maybe somebody out there has this amazing idea for me to go and do something incredible with my endurance kiteboarding." (A, 36:55)

10. The Finish – Aftermath & Emotions

• The end felt surreal and anticlimactic—exhausted and numb.
• Celebratory cake and camaraderie—Aya posed for photos but yearned for rest.
  • "I put the smile up for the camera... And I just want to go to sleep right now." (A, 37:12)
• No wild partying; just the satisfaction (and fatigue) of accomplishing an unprecedented endurance feat.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the bureaucracy:
  "It's crazy. There's a lot of hoops you have to jump through before you can start."
  — Adrian (03:01)

• On the challenge itself:
  "I am 53 years old, so I'm not a spring chicken anymore. I've been a professional athlete most of my life. I'm a five time world champion in different sports. So I know about discipline, I know about training, I know about nutrition... I had to kind of redevelop a training program for myself."
  — Aya (08:21)

• On the psychology of endurance:
  "You have to be extremely comfortable inside your own head... Anybody can train their body up for these kind of things, but you have to be extremely comfortable inside your own head. That is the first bit of advice I can give to anybody that wants to do any type of endurance sports, because you are inside your head all the time."
  — Aya (18:00)

• On the pain and self-monitoring:
  "If your body is in pain and you cannot feel it, how do you analyze it?... So for me, it's very important not to take any type of pain medication and not to mask the way my body is feeling."
  — Aya (22:51)

• On supporting others, even mid-record:
  "Despite the fact that I'm going for a Guinness World Record, I would always stop and rescue kite boards for people... Mama kiteboarder is more important than any record because, you know, I like helping people."
  — Aya (30:03)

Important Timestamps

• 00:42–01:36: Aya explains the Guinness process, difference between online and printed book, and her record’s status.
• 03:01–07:49: The painstaking application process and planning; discussing the challenges and trial run.
• 08:21–09:56: Aya’s training regime and physical preparations.
• 10:08–15:15: Description of the daily grind, physical disability management, and banking extra kilometers.
• 15:27–17:01: Accuracy dispute: GPS data and Guinness deduction, process of appeal.
• 18:00–22:29: In-depth analysis of mental fortitude required for endurance sports; managing "good" and "bad" pain.
• 22:51–24:14: Pain management philosophy; refusal to use painkillers to stay in tune with her body.
• 24:14–26:29: Sleep, fueling, and especially pre-hydration strategy.
• 26:39–28:38: Technical talk: gear choices, no catastrophic gear failures, lessons learned.
• 29:11–30:03: Community support, being “mama kiteboarder,” helping fellow kiters even during record chase.
• 30:49–32:15: Guinness record landscape in kiteboarding; the application process as a barrier.
• 34:26–36:55: Aya’s perspective on her record, disappointment over lost kilometers, future ambitions.
• 37:12–38:18: The end—emotional contrast between celebration and exhaustion.

Flow, Energy & Tone

Adrian is enthusiastic and supportive, drawing out Aya’s full story and technical insights. Aya is candid, passionate, and methodical—she shares both the emotional and the gritty, unglamorous realities of endurance record attempts. Humor and warmth lighten the technical talk, especially as they discuss setbacks, “Tom and Jerry” (the tumors), and Aya’s insistence on helping other kiters, record or not.

Conclusion

Aya’s story is a testament to both physical endurance and the underappreciated difficulties of pioneering new sporting records, from bureaucratic battles to psychological resilience. The episode demystifies the process for anyone inspired to follow in her footsteps, while also hinting at even bigger challenges yet to come—from channel crossings to other mind-bending feats in kiteboarding endurance.