We hebben je gemist op de spelen.
#roadtoparis | athlete life | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

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
athlete life | competitions | Uncategorized | vanlife | wingfoil | wingfoil racing

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.
#roadtoparis | athlete life | competitions | Uncategorized

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
athlete life | competitions | vanlife | wingfoil | wingfoil racing

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 …

The 2023 Sailing World Championship in The Netherlands, Scheveningen
#roadtoparis | athlete life | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

The 2023 Sailing World Championship in The Netherlands, Scheveningen

The Sailing World Championship in The Netherlands are around the corner: 10 – 22 august 2023. In a few days the Sailing World Championships will start in Scheveningen, the Netherlands: 10 – 22 august 2023.. Its special that such a huge sailing event will take place in the Netherlands, my home country.  What makes it…

Why I never leave home without saying goodbye: Christmas 2022
athlete life | lifestyle | Uncategorized

Why I never leave home without saying goodbye: Christmas 2022

Why I never leave without saying a goodbye. (- and why you probably never got a reply on your happy new year, christmas or other message around 2022/2023..might got lost down the road of this story, like a lot more. But he this is life too.) …When I leave the Netherlands I always say goodbye,…

kitevan_kitevanlife
roadtrip | travel | Uncategorized | vanlife

10 reasons why: Vanlife makes you happy

10 reasons why.. vanlife makes you happy. Everything about being home is easy, a loving dog, an awesome family, great parents. Safe surroundings. Work to choose from, kitespots all around, knowing the best conditions for each spot. University around the corner. A walk in the park. The fridge with cold drinks, the plugs in the…

Doha_Qatar_Anoc_World_Beach_Games_2019_kitefoil_teamnl_kitefoiling
#roadtoparis | kitefoil racing | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

Individual Kitefoiling Olympic – Paris 2024… Now What..?

Individual Kitefoiling Olympic – Paris 2024… Now What..? So that just happened a few weeks / months ago, the long awaited moment arrived:  Individual Kitefoil racing became Olympic!  So now what?  No team event anymore, two medals: one for the woman and one for the man. Now What? En route to Paris 2024..!? Well it…

kitefoil_mariska
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

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…

kitefoil_mariska_wilenberg
kitefoil racing | Uncategorized

When was the last time you did something for the first time? How to start hydrofoiling – 10 tips.

That moment you wish you could foil and you can! That’s perfect, making the most of all kiting days and circumstances. And leave everybody behind on the beach, just enjoy your session, alone, flying over the water. Seeing people struggle to keep high, seeing kites falling down from the sky and just.. thinking how awesome…

Kitefoiling_hydrofoiling_mariska
kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Uncategorized

Why YOU need to start hydrofoiling – 10 simple facts

Thinking about, not convinced yet, dreaming about it, wishing I could….nothing wrong with dreaming  – if you don’t forget to make them reality! 10 real live hydrofoiling facts I face every day again and again. More kiting days and a new challenge. 1. No more just not enough days – show off ! That means,…

Wingfoiling_freestyle_Greece_Nafpaktos
competitions | vanlife | wingfoil | wingfoil racing

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…

kite_peru_travel_blog_
athlete life | Uncategorized

Het blijft je bij!

You know all those things you`ve always wanted to do..? You  should go and do them! De vraag waarom? Die krijg ik best vaak, het antwoord is simpel: Het blijft je bij! Ja, het blijft je bij, nee je wordt er niet rijk van. Dat is voor heel weinig weggelegd. Het gaat niet vanzelf, het is…

Snowkite_open_italy_competition_mariska
competitions | snowkite | Uncategorized

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…

poland_polen_puck_kitefoil_kitesurf
#roadtoparis | athlete life | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

Individual European Championship Formula Kite – Puck, Poland 2020.

Individual European Championship Formula Kite (kitefoilen) – Puck, Poland, better know as seewead party. Keep hustling & Smile! .. & The story of the last race..? Let’s start at the beginning where I have to admit, in the first place I really didn’t want to go at all.  I closed the door a bit and…

snowkiting_norway_mountains_travel_hardangervidda_kite_wintersport_bergen
competitions | roadtrip | snowkite | travel | vanlife

“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
competitions | snowkite | Uncategorized | vanlife

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…

wingskating
athlete life | competitions | kitefoil racing | Uncategorized | vanlife

2022 Lepanto Open European Championship, Nafpaktos – Greece

Nothing to lose and all to gain! Guess what …?!? I drove down to Greece (!);  all the way through Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo…. After a year without kitefoiling, just briefly picked it up again a few weeks before the Europeans. A dusty foil and some far away left behind skills…Not remembering the last competition I…

spain_hydrofoil_kite
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

Formula Kite Series Spain 2020 Alarcón & Castellón

The Formula Kite Series Spain, the first two stops took place in Alarcón & Castellón from the 10th of jully until 21st of july Beaches are opening, cities around the world might slowly be coming back to life (except for some trying to break the world record of lockdown ). But then I realized, there’s no going…

The 2020 Formula Kite Mixed Team Relay Europeans
#roadtoparis | competitions | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

The 2020 Formula Kite Mixed Team Relay Europeans

” Experience can`t be learned and every experience is worth having!” Last week, the 15th -20th of September 2020 The Formula Kite Mixed Team Relay Europeans took place. It was the first dedicated event in the 2024 Olympic racing format. One format – 20 team – existing out of one man and one woman –  9 nations…

sardenia_italy_kitefoil
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

The Formula Kite World Championships 2021 – Torre Grande – Sardinia, Italy

No Team, No Coach, No Sticker… worked the 6 weeks before every day… didn`t really foil and before that I have flown so many different kites and bars I couldn`t even find the right laylines and mark roundings. Sheezz.. I was not ready for this one. This might be my most unprepared competition ever. Rocking…

acai_smoothie_bowl_nederland_fruit_food_health.png
athlete life | Uncategorized

Acai in Nederland!

Jaaaa, we ontkomen er niet aan ook in Nederland kunnen we deze kleine donkerblauw tot paarse Acai bes / vrucht. Weliswaar niet zoals in brazili, peru of suriname groeiend in trossen aan de acai palm, maar wel in andere net zo lekkere en gezonde vormen, zoals; acai pulp, gedroogd acai poeder of een puree van de bevroren…

Doha_Qatar_Anoc_World_Beach_Games_2019_kitefoil_mariska_netherlands
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Olympische Spelen | Uncategorized

ANOC World Beach Games 2019 – Doha/Qatar

ANOC World Beach Games 2019 10 t/m 16 October in Doha – Qatar. An International beach multi-sport event organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees. While some of the sports appear in the Olympic Games, all events on the program are non-Olympic events meaning there is new opportunities to engage for every country. Around 1240 Athletes from…

vanlife_roadtrip_travel
competitions | kitefoil racing | roadtrip | travel | vanlife | wingfoil | wingfoil racing

Are we there – yet..?!  Took the long way ‘round – Driving to Greece.

…….And just like that I was on the road. Asking myself: Are we there – yet..?!  Took the long way ‘round. Guess what …?!? I drove down to Greece (!); all the way through Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo….Greece, Nafpaktos, Drepano, Paros & Naxos….Venice, Lago di Resia, Lago di Garda and this is how it went: Long story ahead…

weights_gym_sportschool
athlete life | gymlife | Uncategorized

The 7 most annoying, yet funny disrupters in the gym.

The 7 most annoying, yet funny disrupters in the gym Lots of people I talk to, hate the gym… And to be honest I can`t really blame them. I personally do like the outside more, the freedom…nature, unexpected circumstances, beach, waves, wind… the space – adventure. But I had to admit that throwing some Iron…

#photoshop… or not? -World Cup Sardinia 2018
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Uncategorized

#photoshop… or not? -World Cup Sardinia 2018

NO it isn`t, I really did survive my first WORD CUP ever with a hydrofoil  Racing in between the best man and woman of the world! Racing with race kites on short lines, which I rode in total 1 or 2 times.  I didn’t  go here to win, neither to lose but sometimes you have…

formula_kite_world_championship_kitefoil_mariska_wildenberg
#roadtoparis | competitions | kitefoil racing | Kitefoiling | Uncategorized

Formula Kite World Championships – Italy 2019

For the first time I travelled with just a foil and foilkites to my  first Formula Kite World Championship. Secretly I was not convinced, not yet. Am I good enough? Should I go ? Do I have the right registered gear? I didn’t used them, yet… Is this a good idea? .. The answer to…

skate_kite_mariska_wildenberg
athlete life

Driven by Passion

Driven by Passion …brought with pleasure. “Passion is a love for the journey, drive is a need to reach a destination”.   So where are you waiting for? Travel the world with me! And believe me I still need to reach a lot of destinations. My blog represents: From frozen to liquid water, still alive and sending it…

Listen. Listen. Listen. Trust.  Travelling alone (as a girl) with a van
roadtrip | Uncategorized | vanlife

Listen. Listen. Listen. Trust. Travelling alone (as a girl) with a van

One night in particular I was in an abandoned campground all by myself  (strange, because it was middle of the summer). An older gentleman came around selling wood.  He said “I see you got all the campground to yourself tonight.”  I thought yeah right, a lot of people will might come in later.  It was…