Flippin’ Into 2025: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and New Beginnings
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Flippin’ Into 2025: A Year of Growth, Challenges, and New Beginnings

2024: A Year of Challenges, Growth, and New Adventures 31 december 2023 ended just as it should—on the water. My home lake served as the perfect backdrop for a last wingfoiling session of the year in thick wetsuit, wintergloves and shoes. It is where I set ambitious goals: mastering the backflip and the 360. No…

We hebben je gemist op de spelen.
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We hebben je gemist op de spelen.

“We hebben je gemist op de spelen.” De Olympische Spelen zijn een droom voor velen, en voor mij was die droom heel dichtbij voor de tweede keer (ook heel bijzonder, nu ik dit zo opschrijf). Kitefoilen was mijn passie, mijn doel, en ik werkte er jarenlang keihard voor. Maar uiteindelijk stond ik daar niet, maar…

A race win / 5th place overall: The Wingfoiling Marathon World Cup & Round Texel 2024
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A race win / 5th place overall: The Wingfoiling Marathon World Cup & Round Texel 2024

Another one for in the books; the story line of events, world cups  I didn’t train, don`t have the right gear (and was definitely not prepared) for. Yes, sometimes I do keep asking myself how I end up in situations like this… Anyway a week before I decided just to go with the flow and…

Year of 2023: Life is  a one-time offer live life to your fullest.
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Year of 2023: Life is  a one-time offer live life to your fullest.

2023 embarked on a tumultuous yet inspiring journey, full of chaos and last minute decissions participating in various kitesurfing disciplines, world cups, encountering personal challenges that tested resilience, determination and perseverance. The year 2023 comes to an end pretty soon (at the moment of writing this). And got me thinking where did the year go?…

Wingfoil, Ronde Om Texel
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Round of Texel 2023: Beaten by technology or proud?

Let me tell you about the round of Texel 2023 last June.  The round of Texel is a Dutch competition, for the last 45 years and growing. Originally it is a catamaran competition, one of the biggest in the world and if you participate you will know why. I have never seen so many catamarans …

kitefoil_mariska
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What is kitefoiling

*Note that not long after writing this article: Olympic kitefoil racing became individual. Two medals one for man & one for woman. (see the other blog about the Olympic individual kitefoil racing) What is kitefoiling? When mentioning its perfect kitefoil weather.. Or having an awesome foil session in 10 knots. Yet, sometimes I still get dazzled…

Wingfoiling_freestyle_Greece_Nafpaktos
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My first wingfoil race ever : The Wingfoil Racing World Cup & Europeans 2022 #Kookoftheday

Back to beginner…. My first wingfoil race ever! A bit of a change; Instead of jumping, spinning around in the sky, flying or racing around with huge kites and a race foil, I will be racing around with the “tiny” wing. A few months ago I finally had a board with straps and made my…

Snowkite_open_italy_competition_mariska
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International Snowkite Open Reschensee 2022

Next year I win both… I said three years ago.. International Snowkite Open Reschensee 2022 For more than 3 years (!) – also the first time snowkiting competitions for me –  we didn`t have any snowkiting competitions: cancelled, replaced, relocated, political situations…Just like that in this three years, I have been snowkiting just one day…

snowkiting_norway_mountains_travel_hardangervidda_kite_wintersport_bergen
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“Scary Movie” Podium 2022 – Cortina

The story of the Scary Movie Podium 2022 – Cortina What a season! Yep, the snowkiting season for me is over now.  With leaving Norway two weeks ago, the snowkiting season 21´-22´ came to an end.  From new years` eve to France to Lapland to nightshifts to Italy to Norway.  Lot’s of km’s driven, driving…

Mariska_wildenberg_mountain_cortina_snowkite
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Snowkite World Cup 2022- Roccaraso, Italy

Snowkite World Cup 2022- Roccaraso, Italy The final stop of the SnowKite World Tour is going down in the mountains of Italy – Roccaraso. Approximately 1900 km from The Netherlands. It could have been nice if I had decided earlier to go there… because  I was literally half way there the week before at the International Snowkite…