Daniela Moroz is a kitesurfer, the current Women’s Formula Kite World Champion, a U.S. Yachtswoman of the Year, and a junior at Campolindo High School in Lafayette, CA.
Her first race was in August 2000, windsurfing in the San Francisco Classic, though she wasn’t even born yet! Daniela’s mom competed pregnant with her, and was one of the very few who finished the monster race that day. Hosted annually by the St. Francis Yacht Club, the SF Classic is a long-distance race that takes racers on an epic tour around the San Francisco Bay. That year about 40 windsurfers started, but only 8 finished, including Daniela’s mom Linda. Fifteen years later, Daniela finished on her own, this time place fifth out of 25 on a kite and foil.
Growing up with two parents who were long-time windsurfers, Daniela has always been drawn to the water. She started taking kiting lessons at 11 years old, and experienced her first race out of San Francisco’s Crissy Field at age 13, when she raced in the annual Thursday Night Race series. Not long after, she learned how to foil and raced the entire 2014 season on a Sword. Just two years later, she won the Women’s Formula Kite World Championship and went on to receive the title of 2016 U.S. Yachtswoman of the Year, the highest honor bestowed by US Sailing.
Now a junior in high school, Daniela is balancing with time for school, homework, swimming and tennis with international travel for kite races and public speaking.