Erika Heineken

Last updated
Erika Heineken
Born (1986-06-01) June 1, 1986 (age 38)
Nationality American
Other namesHeiny
Education Marin Academy, University of Vermont
Occupation(s)Mechanical engineer and kitesurfer
EmployerCity of San Francisco Water Department.
Known forFormula Kite
SpouseJohn Tilney
Relatives John Heineken (brother)

Erika Heineken (born 21 June, 1986) is an American mechanical engineer and a competitive kitesurfer. She won a sailing event with her father at the US Nationals in 2006 before she switched to windsurfing and then Formula Kite. She was a Runner-up in the Rolex US Yachtswoman of the Year. She has been the women’s kiteboard racing world champion twice,

Contents

Life

Heineken was born in 1986 [1] and she was on a sailing boat when she was a month old. She lived at Larkspur. She attended the Marin Academy in California after she went to St. Patrick’s, Hall Middle School. [2] Her father, Paul Heineken, was a member of a sailing club and she won a woman skipper event with him in 2006 in a 29er dinghy at the US Nationals. [3]

She was a sailor and a windsurfer and she followed her younger brother, Johnny Heineken, when he moved on to the new sport of Formula Kite. [4] While she was at college she went on a windsurfing trip to Sardinia. She tried kite surfing whils she was there and this resulted in her extending her stay by a month so she could get the knack of holding a kite while standing on a hydrofoil. When Heineken returned home she made the decision and bought her own kites [4]

In 2012 she won gold in Cagliari in Italy at the 2012 Kiteboard Course Racing World championships. She narrowly beat the British Steph Bridge with Caroline Adrien taking the gold. It was a family victory as her brother won the men's event. [5]

She was world champion at coarse racing again, [1] as in 2013 at the women’s kiteboard racing world championship she again beat the British Steph Bridge, and the Russian Elena Kalinina in Bo'ao, Hainan, China at the IKA Kiteboard Course Race. In the men's event in Bo'ao, her brother, John, this time, was beaten into second place by the German Florian Gruber. [6]

Private life

She married John Tilney and they have a child. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Erika Heineken | Team | Ozone Kitesurf". web.archive.org. 2016-08-11. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  2. ↑ Towle, Mimi (2014-03-24). "Erika Heineken". Marin Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  3. ↑ Foundation, The (2017-02-01). "Erika Heineken | St. Francis Sailing Foundation" . Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  4. 1 2 3 "10 Questions with Erika Heineken – North Bay Woman". 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  5. ↑ "World Sailing - Stellar Performance From Heineken Siblings Sees Them Take Kiteboard Crowns". World Sailing. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
  6. ↑ "2013 IKA Kiteboard Course Race Worlds- Winners crowned in China". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
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