Everyday life can present us with countless challenges, but even so, there are some who go beyond that and seek out dangerous situations. This is exactly what Roland Misuta does, who is a lover of an unusual extreme sport, kitesurfing.
Roland came to Hankook five years ago from near Debrecen with a friend. The friend has now gone back, but Roland has been working at the company as an Extruding operator ever since. As he says, he has everything here: a good job, a great team and a family – by now Nagyvenyim-Mélykút is his first home and Hankook his second.
You’ve chosen a hobby that’s not at all ordinary. Where did the idea of kite surfing come from?
I am unable to sit put at home. When I first came to Dunaújváros, I tried to pass the time by going on excursions and playing sports after working hours. I’ve always loved the water, but the bad weather and stormy winds are not really conducive to kayaking or wakeboarding; so, I was looking for something I could do in inclement weather as well. That’s when I found kite surfing, took a few lessons and it’s been an integral part of my life for 3 years now.
How often do you take to the water and how should we imagine a workout?
I keep a constant eye on the expected wind strength, and, if I can, I go off to the Lake Velence, or Lake Balaton. Sometimes I can spend just an hour on the water, but it’s not unusual to spend 6-8 hours a day training, which requires the support of my wife, who knows that for me it’s the ultimate relaxation. Last year I took to the water 62 times, a pretty high number even in kite surfing circles. Everyone trains individually, but I’m almost sure to meet someone from our team of 15 on the beach. We help each other with the moves and keep one eye on our partner at all times, as it’s quite a dangerous sport. When you’re climbing up to 12 meters @ 80km/h winds and your movements are not precise, you can get hurt.
Is there a goal you would like to achieve in the sport in the near future?
I want to complete the “Yellow Ribbon” challenge. This is an 80km long track along the entire length of Lake Balaton, which you have to complete without stopping. So far, only a few people in the country can claim this title, and I hope to be one of them soon. I would also like to gain enough experience to become an instructor, and I hope to do that soon. In the meantime, I am happy to help any of my colleagues who want to try this great sport.
We all wish Roland good luck and good wind!
