As Team SIngapore's Maximilian Maeder makes waves in the world of kitefoiling with his winning streak in 2024 and successful world championship title defense, we take a look at one of the key members of the team behind his achievements.
For a kitefoiler, having the right equipment plays an important role in winning. Daniel Leow, the Technical Support, is the man who takes care of the hardware for Max.
In the 2022 Formula Kite World Championships in Italy, Max finished second, as Daniel recalled. “On the last turn he actually snapped the line… so it was that moment that he got second.” The following year, the team was better prepared, and Max delivered what Daniel shared as the most memorable moment for him as the technical support behind Max. “I was just making sure the equipment was well prepared and everything was safe. I was very happy because it was all set for him.”
DaDaniel was one of the early adopters in kitefoiling (Photo credit: Danei Leow Instagram)
A former multiple winner in the Asian kitesurfing circuits and a pioneer in kitefoiling, Daniel was one of Max’s first coaches in this relatively new sport. He saw Max's potential at a very young age when he was coaching him in Wakatobi, Sulawesi, Indonesia. “He has the ability to analyse his own sailing technique. A lot of sailors depend on their coach or peers to tell them what is wrong. But the difference with Max is that he has the ability to dissect his problem and then solve it.”
Daniel training with 11-year-old Max Maeder in Wakatobi (Video Credit: Valentin Maeder/Daniel)
“For example, when I was coaching him in Wakatobi, he explored how to harness the wave to go more up on his foilboard. I didn't teach him; he figured it out himself, and I believe he was only 10 years old.”
Back then, Daniel taught Max the basics, like tuning, taking care of the kites, and changing lines. Now, he is in charge of the kit so that Max can focus on the race itself. To prepare for training or a race, he assembles the different parts of the kitefoil, including the board, fuselage, bar, and lines.
“My role is to look after his equipment to make sure that it is fit for racing. I will look after any lines that need to be changed because Max has to focus on so many things and do his strategy talk with the coach. So he leaves the equipment part to me. If there's any tuning, I will tune for him or perform preventive maintenance. On the beach, I will make sure that he launches his kite safely. This involves rolling the kite on the beach mat to protect the kite fabric from the sand, as the sand has sharp objects like streaks of glass or rocks. After that, I have to carefully ensure there are no knots in the bridles.”
Daniel also ensures that all grounds are covered as the team makes decisions on the type of kites to use based on weather conditions prior to the races. During the race, he is ready to make adjustments for Max. “I have a VHF radio on standby, tuned to the same frequency as the race committee. When I hear that the wind is going to increase from 15 to 20 knots, I will prepare his 11m kite. If I hear that the wind is dropping, then I'll prepare his bigger kite.”
“The most difficult part is when the wind is borderline at 20 knots. There are times I have to change the kites five times, just for two or three races. When Max swaps the kite, he must land and launch the kite by himself. My role is to make sure that his new kite is ready on the beach. It's like an F1 pit stop; the driver sits there while the team changes the tires.”
As the team prepares for the Paris Olympics, Daniel is looking beyond 2024 for kitefoiling to grow as a sport. “We will try to be the best of the best. Hopefully, even after the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the discipline will continue.”
Behind every successful athlete is a dedicated team, and Daniel is a crucial member of Max's. As the two-time world champion shared on social media: "The legend himself @danleow, greatest support anyone could have."
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Daniel celebrates with Max Maeder after the World Championship victory
(Credit: IKA Instagram)