Zandvoort, 13-Oct-2023
Last Friday the time had come and the green light was finally given for the Young Capital NK Big Air Kitesurfing in Zandvoort. It had been 4 years since the last NK Big Air Kitesurfing was held so the stoke was high! The reason that such a competition cannot be held every year has to do with the wind conditions. For these types of competitions you need strong wind so that the participants have as long a hangtime as possible and can gain height.
The competition took place on the beach in front of the Watersport association which is a permanent pavilion and therefore the ideal base. The forecasts were perfect for this competition, in the morning the wind would pick up and slowly go towards gusts of 40 knots.
Who were the participants?
For this competition only the top of the Dutch Kitesurf scene was present which caused a number of athletes to be flown in from abroad. Riders like Giel Vlugt and Zara Hoogenraad were still in Spain on Wednesday where they participated in the Full Power Tarifa and took 1st place.
Jan Zoon, the Dutch Champion of 2019, was also present at this event and showed in his first heat why we should take him into account. His first jump was immediately well over 20 meters and with that he made a nice statement towards the other participants. Cohan van Dijk, the number 2 of the Red Bull Megaloop had yet to start and he also immediately kicked it on his tail.
Zijlstra Sisters
You read that right. These two Dutch kitesurf chicks started kitesurfing competitions over a year ago and have been working hard ever since. Their achievements have not gone unnoticed and both ladies have qualified for the Young Capital NK Big Air Kitesurfing. Where Gretha Zijlstra recovered from an injury in August, she was able to ride with the Fullpower in Tarifa thanks to many hours in the gym and she came 4th at the Dutch Championship. We will definitely see her again at major kitesurfing competitions.
Elsien Zijlstra
Her sister Elsien has made enormous progress in recent years, just like Gretha. In Tarifa she came in 2nd and had to let Zara Hoogenraad go ahead of her. But in Zandvoort it was very close and she managed to take 1st place ahead of Zara. Congratulations Elsien, well done!
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For more information we refer you to the website of NK Big Air Kitesurfing .