Formula kitesurfer Breiana Whitehead has been tapping into the full breadth of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) expertise as she prepares for her upcoming racing season in Europe.
Making regular visits to the Canberra campus, Whitehead worked closely with AIS performance support services as part of an integrated approach to refine her movement and build strength.
"We started off with biomechanics, physio, and strength and conditioning all together and built a plan from there," Whitehead said.
"A big part of my sport is our legs and being able to convert the power from the kite to the board, so I've been working on leg strength and being as solid as I can on the water."
Through multidisciplinary assessments, AIS teams gained a clearer picture of the demands of kitesurfing and where targeted improvements could make the biggest impact.
Among the areas identified was Whitehead's harness, which connects the athlete to the kite and board.
"Basically, the harnesses we have aren't designed for women so finding a better solution to race and transfer force was a key focus," Whitehead said.
"It's so important to be comfortable in that harness because you're in it for the entirety of the races."
The AIS Engineering team made a series of adjustments to reduce discomfort and fatigue caused by the original harness and developed a custom testing environment that allowed Whitehead to replicate her usual racing positions.
"We've set up a sort of simulator with a board, and I can try the harness at the same angles as I would on the water," Whitehead said.
"It's really cool to be able to work with people with so much knowledge and a lot of technology and approach something that's been quite challenging for me for a while."
With the work complete on land, Whitehead is now taking to the water to continue testing the harness and fine-tune her performance ahead of competition.
