Flavio Marx wants to go to the 2028 Olympics.

The strenuous everyday life of a South Tyrolean surfer

South Tyrol and surfing: At first glance, they don't seem to fit together. But a Vinschgau native is currently showing that anything is possible in sports. The story of Flavio Marx, who aims to make history at the 2028 Olympic Games, is a special one.

11 April 2025

From: dl

Football, ice hockey, winter sports, and tennis: These are among the most popular sports in South Tyrol. Kitesurfing is certainly not one of them. How did Flavio Marx get into it? "Through my father; he always took me with him as a child. At five years old, I was still on the snow, and a year later, I was already on the water," the young man from Taufers im Münstertal, which lies on the border with Switzerland, answered in an interview with SportNews.

Marx is 21 years old and ranked number three in Italy in his discipline, kitesurfing. He is the only South Tyrolean to be on the national team and the first to achieve this feat in his sport. Although Marx has been on the national team since this year, he still has to work – full-time.

Working full-time is possible

In St. Moritz, about an hour from his hometown, Marx works for the mountain railways. In the summer, the Vinschgau native works in civil engineering, focusing on snowmaking. In the winter, Marx helps with piste patrol. In total, he works around 42 hours a week. "I couldn't finance my sport any other way," says Marx.

Flavio Marx (center) is number 3 in Italy.

Kitesurfing involves a lot of wear and tear on equipment. Additionally, three kite sizes are needed – depending on the wind, with one board costing around €4.000. This adds up to over €20.000 in equipment costs per season. Marx comes to train five to six times a week. After work, he usually does strength or conditioning training.

“I couldn’t finance my sport any other way.” Flavio Marx

On weekends, he usually goes surfing – currently mainly on Lake Garda. From the end of May, the lake will also be open again at his home in Reschen Pass. In winter, Marx occasionally trains in Cagliari (Sardinia) or Fuerteventura.

When asked what it takes to be a kitesurfer, Marx replied: "You have to have good coordination. It's simply an extreme sport. You have to be brave, physically strong, and have a lot of strength. You also have to be well-versed in the weather, i.e., be able to assess storms and thunderstorms."

Dream of the Olympics

Marx's long-term goal is the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. A maximum of 20 nations are allowed to compete in kitesurfing, with only one athlete per nation qualifying. "That's why it will be difficult, of course," said Marx, who was in the top 30 of the world rankings last year.

Flavio Marx is one of the top 30 kitesurfers in the world. © marxfla

This year, his season begins with the World Cup next weekend in the South of France. The highlight, the World Championships in Cagliari, is scheduled for the end of September. His goal is a top-20 finish there. Marx has to cover his own travel expenses; only the federation will cover his accommodation and meals. He will also be provided with a coach. One thing is certain: the surfer is working hard toward his big dream.