Reviewer Wheldon Curzon-Hobson is a New Zealand writer. His second novel Near A Canal was described as “… easy to read, evocative of its setting and the characters are beautifully drawn … " His reviews are written in a similar vein, selecting books with inspiring characters and history. He is married with two young children who continually encourage him to 'open his eyes a little wider' to the wonders of the world.
Author: Wendy Kinney-Kendall
ISBN13:
9781869790431
Publisher: Random House NZ.
Barbara Kendell is an extraordinary woman. She
has not only won windsurfing medals at three Olympics, she is a
mother, an IOC representative, public speaker and mentor. This
biography, written by her sister, tells the inspiring story of an
extraordinary woman who overcame her personal challenges and remains
at the top of her sport after twenty years of competition.
Back
in 1986 the weather forecast predicted severe gale force winds to
thrash the Auckland coast. Yacht owners battened down their boats,
praying theirs wouldn't be one of the unfortunate vessels that broke
free from their moorings and smashed against the rocks. The ferries
continued to grind against the wind as they battled across to
Waiheke, knowing they might not return that afternoon if the sea
became too fierce, inducing varying shades of green on the faces of
their passengers. The pilots approached the airport as warily as they
might land at Wellington on a relatively mild day, and the
motorcycles were soon to be banned from crossing the Harbour
Bridge.
Meanwhile down at Eastern Beach, in the Eastern
Suburbs, there was a flurry of activity. Cars raced to the beach,
their drivers quickly unlashing their windsurfers from the roofs and
attaching hurricane masts. The students at Macleans College raised
their weary heads from their textbooks and the sight of the first
windsurfers flying across the waves instantly dispelled the numbness
of studying algebra. Even the teacher came across the window and
expressed his amazement at their speed and skill.
Children
living around Eastern and Bucklands Beaches grew up either on or in
the sea. Backyards and garages were filled with sailing dinghies,
Optimists and P-class boats. Then came the windsurfers, and they
rapidly became the choice of many, especially as the Kendells lived
in the area. They were legends in yachting and windsurfing years
before they won Olympic medals.
Barbara joined her gold
medallist brother, Bruce, by winning the gold in Barcelona in 1992,
making her the first New Zealand woman to win a gold medal for 40
years. She won silver at Atlanta in 1996, bronze at Sydney in 2000
and was New Zealand's best in Athens in 2004 with a fifth placing.
She won New Zealand Sportswoman of the year in 1996, 1998 and 1999;
Yachtsperson of the year in 1992 and 1998; and has been awarded an
MBE in 1992 for services to windsurfing.
Wind Driven is
written by Barbara's sister Wendy. It is an intimate portrayal of
this remarkable woman. It portrays not only her remarkable strengths,
but also her weaknesses, and how she triumped over them. It shows how
important friends and family are in the success of such an individual
sport. There are times of depression and isolation, of extraordinary
happiness and triumph, of anger and frustration with various
administrators. To even be a single woman on the international
circuit, lugging 300kg of equipment from one country to another, let
alone competing at the very top for over 20 years, is an
extraordinary achievement. This is a book to inspire, to challenge
and, ultimately, a book that will leave you in admiration of a
singularly impressive New Zealand woman.