From Wind to Wisdom: How 20 Years of Kiting Shaped My Life and Purpose

From Wind to Wisdom: How 20 Years of Kiting Shaped My Life and Purpose
By Jennie “AdrenaJen” Milton

For over 20 years, I’ve taught people how to fly—quite literally. As a kitesurfing and snowkiting instructor, I’ve dedicated my life to harnessing the power of the wind and sharing it with others. But what started as teaching a sport has become something far deeper: a mission to help people—especially women—find courage, face fear, and build unshakable confidence.

Running women's camps has been the greatest joy of my career. These aren’t just lessons in flying kites—they’re lessons in flying past fear. I've watched women arrive nervous and unsure, sometimes with shaking hands or tear-filled eyes, only to leave feeling like superheroes who just learned they could fly. They conquer what once felt impossible. And every time they do, I’m reminded: we’re not just riding the wind. We’re rewriting what we believe is possible.

I’ve always believed that courage is contagious. When one woman finds it, others follow. I’ve seen how learning to kitesurf transforms more than balance and technique—it transforms belief systems. Many of the women I’ve taught walk away not only stronger on the water or snow but braver in business, relationships, and life.

But my journey hasn’t been without its own storms. When I was diagnosed with multiple brain aneurysms, everything I loved—kiting, skiing, teaching—was suddenly off-limits. I didn’t know if I could still be AdrenaJen, the name so many knew me by. The adventurous athlete. The woman who chased adrenaline and taught others to harness it.

It forced me to ask the hardest question of all: Who am I without the sports?

And then I realized—I’m still a teacher. I’m still a storyteller. I’m still someone who helps people face fear. The medium may have changed, but the mission remains.

Now, I’m pivoting—still with passion, still with purpose. I’ve begun sharing the lessons I learned from the mountains and oceans on podcasts and stages. I’m writing books to empower the next generation with stories of courage, wind, and possibility. My goal is to inspire hope—not just for athletes, but for anyone facing fear, change, or uncertainty.

You’ll still hear about snowkiting and kitesurfing and all the wild adventures I’ve had across the globe. But now, you’ll also hear about what it means to start again. You’ll hear stories of facing the unknown, building courage when everything feels uncertain, and finding new ways to fly—even when life clips your wings.

I hope you’ll continue to follow my journey. And more than anything, I hope these stories help you feel a little braver—whether you're standing on a mountain ridge, starting a new chapter, or simply deciding to believe in yourself again.

Because fear may whisper, but courage… it soars.

—
AdrenaJen 🪁✨
Speaker. Snowkite Champion. Courage Coach.
Helping women turn fear into fuel—on the mountain and beyond.