Siblings

In our new series, we will be delving deeper into the siblings, who compete on the PWA World Tour. First up are two of the most gifted youths on the PWA Wave World Tour - Carlos Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone) and Alexia Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone). In 2019, they both were both crowned Youth World Champion in their respective age categories and look set for a bright future within the wave sailing world. Read on more to find out more about Carlos & Alexia.

Introduce yourself! Who are you, how old are you and who is your sibling?

Carlos: I am Carlos Kiefer, 13-years-old, I’m the brother of Alexia. 

Alexia: My name is Alexia Kiefer I am 15-years-old and Carlos is my brother.

At what age did you start windsurfing? 

Carlos: I started windsurfing at 9 years of age.

Alexia: I started windsurfing when I was 10 years old.

Were your parents also windsurfing? 

Our father was windsurfing already, our mother learned windsurfing together with us.

Did you both work towards competing at a high level in windsurfing? 

No, we were just windsurfing for fun. In 2017 we saw the juniors competing in Pozo and we had already more or less the same level. Next year we started competing too.

How is it to travel to events all over the world? 

Carlos: I love to travel even though I don't like to fly. I like to see new places and try other food. I also like to meet the people I met on tour again on different spots around the world.

Alexia: I really like to travel and get to know new spots, meet new people, visit new places ...etc.but I hate to fly.

Are you helping each other during an event or are you focusing on your own event only? 

We help and support each other in all events where necessary, but our father is always there to help us.

What’s a weird habit of your sibling?

Carlos: We always fight whose turn it is to hang up the wetsuits from all of us when we get home.

Alexia: When we eat eggs my brother always eats all the egg white first and leaves the yolk for last.

What do you both have in common?

Carlos: We both love and practice the same sports and both love wave windsurfing the most. Last year on Sylt when I was 12-years-old, I was not competing but I took the lycra from my sister and went windsurfing in these heavy conditions, I was very small and many people wondered about me. I ended up in the hospital because I cut my feet on a shell.  

Alexia: We are good at all types of water sports. The first time we competed in GPS Speed Challenge, I was 12 and Carlos 10, on the first day there was a huge shore break and the head Judge who didn't know us thought we are not able to manage the situation. He wanted us out of the water and to not compete anymore. I was crying a lot, but luckily Björn Dunkerbeck saw me and he talked to the judge. We could go back and prove that we had everything under control and were fast too.
 
Carlos, only one word answer possible, your siblings' name or the word ‘me’.

Who is faster? Alexia, in slalom conditions
Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? Me
Who has more windsurfing gear? Alexia
Who has won more windsurfing medals? Alexia
Whose room is a mess? Alexia

Alexia, and now the same for you…

Who is faster? Me
Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? Carlos
Who has more windsurfing gear? Me
Who has won more windsurfing medals? Me
Whose room is a mess? Mine

Thanks, Carlos & Alexia.