TEAM NEWS: INTERVIEW WITH YUCEL PARALIK, NEW GONG TEAM RIDER!
Meet the young talent from Cyprus who will be throwing loops with our Pro Team Series kites!
Welcome to the Team! How would you introduce yourself to our readers?
Original. Obsessed. Relentless. On a mission to break boundaries with kite angles.
When and how did you get into board sports?
I started at 9 years old thanks to my mother. She introduced me to the sport and supported me with everything she had, and is the reason I’m here today. Forever grateful to her.
What place do you call your home spot? How are the conditions over there?
I’m from Cyprus. Ironically, as someone who rides in extreme 35+ knot conditions, my home spot is usually calm and rarely even windy. Honestly, I’m still surprised how far I’ve come from a place with so little wind. One time in a year we get 60 knots storms though, but only one time in a whole year.
How does a perfect day on the water look like for you?
50+ knots. Massive kickers. 9 meter lines. Full energy. Full chaos. That’s perfection to me.
Kitesurfer: Yucel, GONG Team Rider, on his Steez Carbon Pro twin tip and Ayto Aramid DP kite.
What's the gnarliest session you ever had?
Once I had 60+ knots storm at my home spot, I was 14 years old. No one went on the water that day, I pushed my mom to drive me to the spot. Then she left as the car was shaking and she got scared. I was alone by myself at a beach with 60 knots and only my kite gear. I self launched a 7m in that wind. I got dragged downwind over 100m. To crawl back upwind to the sea it took me 30+ minutes. I wasn’t scared at all though. It all felt under control. Alone, 60+ knots, self launched a 7m, 14 years old, 60kg. That day shaped something in me. Thank you mom for trusting me.
Not something we’d recommend anyone obviously.
Yeah, it was kind of nuts in retrospect. Things can quickly go wrong even in lesser winds. I was so driven though, nothing could stop me. But yeah, I definitely do not recommend it.
Who's your biggest influence in the sport? Present and past?
Ruben lenten. Past and present. He is basically the person I grew up watching all the time. He is the only person in the kite world that I looked up to and still looking up to.
When was your first competition and how did it go?
My first comp was in 2018 at Saint-Pierre-La-Mer, for the Junior World cup. It was 30 knots offshore freestyle. It was my first introduction to the international kite world. The people I met there have taught me how things work in the kite world. Which I had no idea before.
What was your strongest result so far?
Red Bull Megaloop 2025, my first major competition. I made it to round 3 and lost against Andrea. But I am very happy with my performance. Next year the goal is another step further.
What’s your goal in competition?
Win the Red Bull Megaloop.
What tricks you're working on?
Everything I do now is about kite angle. Basically if the kite is not going below you or at least absolute level with you there is not much meaning to loop a kite for me. You can follow my journey on instagram @yucel_paralik to see what tricks I am onto next.
Kitesurfer: Yucel, GONG Team Rider, on his Steez Carbon Pro twin tip and Ayto Aramid DP kite.
Do you workout or crosstrain?
If I haven't kited for a week, I start running, cycling or training to stay in peak form. Sometimes you get a call and learn that you need to be at Cape Town under 24 hours and the next day you need to do the biggest shoot of your life. I need to be in shape ready to perform my 100% all the time.
Any big injuries?
I never had an injury that had caused a pause on my kiting so far thankfully.
What motivated you to join the GONG team?
A team that is extremely passionate, smart, visionary and dedicated combining with the innovations on the gear. It’s not so hard to see where this is going 🚀
Which GONG gear are you most excited about?
Ayto Aramid DP 2026. Best kite I’ve ever used and I am dead serious.
What’s your next trip or competition?
I am currently at Cape town for the next couple months. My favorite place on earth and my next competition will probably be a Red Bull King Of The Air qualifier somewhere in Europe.
Kite Ayto Aramid DP
Steez Carbon Pro Twin Tip
