A Decade with Naish
The first time I ever flew a kite, there was something in that experience that grabbed my attention so deeply that I knew it was going to change my life. From being obsessed with single-line kites at age 5 to my first experience with two-line kites at age 9 — there was just something so magical about it, and I couldn’t get enough. From trying to ride up and down the boulevard on my skateboard with a small trainer kite, to desperately trying to ride a canoe with that same kite — I was completely intrigued by the power of wind and my kite.
When I turned 13, my parents finally allowed me to take a real kitesurfing lesson. And as you might have guessed, I was even more in love after that.
Living close to a lake gave me the opportunity to kite a lot, and just a few months after that first lesson I met a friend, Rover. He had been kiting a bit longer than me and was quite a bit better. After many sessions together, he convinced me to join the Dutch Nationals later that year. With only 7 months of kite experience, I managed to come 4th out of 40 kids.
This didn’t go unnoticed. A local kite buddy of mine (much older, but we often kited together from a small, forbidden beach nearby) happened to be working for Naish Benelux — though I didn’t know this at the time. About a year later, that same man, Guido, asked me to become a team rider for Naish Benelux. I helped him during demo events in return for gear. This went on for many years while I was still in high school.
When I finally finished my exams, I got invited to join a group of kids for the first Naish Team Europe trip. It was my chance to show myself to the international team and other riders. That moment sparked another fire in me — and showed me that my lifelong dream of becoming a pro kiter wasn’t that far off. Shortly after, I made it to the international team.
Now, five years into living my childhood dream of being a pro kiter, I can tell you: I’d do it all over again, and I wouldn’t change this life for anything. I’m forever grateful to Naish for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to spread my wings. I hope to inspire many others to pursue their dream — and I look forward to many more projects, shoots, events, and competitions together!
