VRIESWIJK INTERVIEW

AMADO VRIESWIJK NB-20 IS NOW DRESSED BLACK!

Welcome to today’s interview with Amado Vrieswijk, a star in the windsurfing world and the newest member of the prestigious Point-7 black team.

Hailing from Bonaire, Amado brings a unique blend of talent and determination as he sets his sights on the racing title.

Join us as we delve into his motivations for joining the team, the experiences that have shaped his journey, and his ambitions as he prepares to make waves in the competitive circuit!

Where are you from? You race with the Bonaire number—were you born there? I’m born and raised on Bonaire; my parents are from the Netherlands and moved to this beautiful island 31 years ago and never left. My Sail number is NB20 Netherlands Bonaire)  

You started young and your first love was freestyle. What were your results in that discipline? I stared with racing, speed has always been my “thing” but seeing the guys on Sorobon flying around doing crazy tricks, I needed to try this as well. So soon after starting windsurfing in 2002 you could find me in freestyle- and racing-gear.  

Before you went pro, there were several windsurfing legends on the island. Who inspired you the most? Of course, the Frans-brothers, Taty, Tonky and Choco inspired me but not to forget Kiri Thode with whom I spend many hours training. I really looked up to these guys but at the same time we had a large group of kids of my age that were pushing the freestyle every day.

You have shifted to racing disciplines like slalom and foiling. What motivated that transition? Racing/speed has always been in my blood, so I always enjoyed it a lot but had the focus on freestyle to get that World title. When that goal was achieved it felt like the chapter freestyle was closed and wanted to aim for a new goal, a title in Slalom/foil. Also, with 2 PWA-events for Freestyle it didn’t feel right to be training the whole year and trying to stay as light in weight as possible. So, the chapter closed, gain weight, and attack the new goal.

Looking ahead to Fuerteventura 2024, competing in freestyle, Slalom X, and foil—how challenging is it to be competitive in all three? It’s extremely difficult as you need to be able to switch your mind set in between these disciplines.  Every discipline has a different approach and takes a lot of preparation. Switching from fin to foil between races can be tough.

How important is the gear in slalom, freestyle, and foil?  The gear is very important , it all needs to be tuned the right way for your own sailing style and it makes life easier during the competitions and gives more confidence as you can focus completely on the racing or your tricks and not worry about being unstable in racing or freestyling.

You recently joined the Point-7 Black Team after 13 years with one brand. What motivate this change? The main thing was that I felt I needed something new and a new challenge for myself, I have had thirteen great years with another brand and learned a lot but it was time to move on, take on a new challenge and work with new people and ideas. Cannot wait to get the season going!

How involved are you in the process of designing or choosing your gear? Do you have input in the development of your sails and boards? Yes, I have been involved for around 10 years with the development of windsurfing gear, most of the years it has been for the freestyle disciplines and for the last 3 years been really involved with the slalom gear as well.

What goals do you have for 2025? Any new equipment on the horizon? The development of windsurfing gear never stops, especially now with the slalom foil there is a lot still to discover. It is all about trying different stuff and pushing it to the limit and with the help and skills of Point 7-team I think we can make big improvements fast and bring it to the next level.

What is your mental approach to competition? How do you prepare yourself mentally before a big race or event? I do not really have a way of preparing mentally … I just know if I put in the work in training and getting my gear tuned, I can focus good on the starts and what is happening around me. Besides that, of course always eat healthily, have enough hours of sleep, and be as fit as possible before the event.

Wind conditions play a huge role in your performance. Do you have a preferred wind condition or specific time of year for competing? Personally, I like strong wind, I just love it when it becomes extreme and you are basically on the limit all the time, as with lighter winds its more about how the gear is performing and with stronger wind is becomes more the rider that makes the difference. 

You have experienced a lot of highs in your career—what has been your most memorable moment so far? There are too many to mention, but I must say of course winning the Freestyle title, and for also winning my first slalom event in 2018.

Windsurfing is not just about technical skills; it’s about passion. What keeps you motivated when things don’t go your way? It is never fun when stuff doesn’t go your way, and I have experienced a lot of this in my career, but I have always found a way to turn this into more motivation and just makes it more satisfying when you perform on the next possible opportunity.

What has been your biggest challenge in windsurfing, and how did you overcome it? I don’t feel I personally had big challenges … it was more like needing to find out the best ways to prepare myself before a competition and make sure I perform to my level.

 In your experience, what’s one of the most underestimated aspects of being successful in windsurfing that new competitors might overlook? I’m seeing it more and more, but I think people don’t take fitness as seriously as having a diet act. And if you want to be able to compete with the top guys it takes a lot of hours on the water tuning your gear to get everything out of your windsurfing set in whichever discipline.

What type of training do you do specifically for windsurfing? I have a fitness coach, so as soon the offseason starts we basically start straight away with a buildup schedule to be ready and top fit for the first event  which is normally in May and then we make sure we peak around that time and then it’s all about trying to maintain this during the season. So it’s hard to tell you specifically what type of training I do as it’s a buildup and we have blocks where we burn all the fat but maintain the strength and get the conditioning on point  and then it’s about getting to the right weight with the best endurance and strength possible

What other sports or passions do you enjoy outside of windsurfing? Besides windsurfing and being in the gym I enjoy paddle, golf and… I love driving bikes/racing cars as well (I’m an adrenaline junky) I don’t drive enough on the real circuits, but I do quite some SIM racing. (Virtual world.)

Bonaire is known for its beautiful landscapes and perfect winds. How does your environment inspire you in your training and daily life? I’m not on Bonaire that often. Last year only 1.5 month (November/December) When I cruise the bay though you really enjoy the clear waters and the breeze/winds and home feels like a formidable holiday. On tour we do not get these conditions nor the beautiful scenery since the PWA in 2019.

Who do you look up to in the windsurfing world right now? Are there any young talents or seasoned pros who inspire you? A big inspiration for me is Taty Frans, he has helped me with a lot of things during my career and always tried to send me in the right directions.  Besides Taty of course there are many other riders that I look up to and try to learn from them all.

on’t drive enough on the real circuits, but I do quite some SIM racing. (Virtual world.)

Where do you see the future of windsurfing going? Are there any trends or shifts in the sport that you’re particularly excited about? Personally, I’m curious and excited for what the foiling world is going to bring … As I’m incredibly involved with the developments, I just think there is still so much potential still to be unlocked.

How do you envision the role of younger athletes coming into the sport, and what advice would you give to them as they pursue their windsurfing dreams? As I tell all the kids, I try to help is to never give up and build a good routine and discipline for yourself to work your way to the top.

Do you have any upcoming events, or travel plans you’re excited about? I’m currently back home on Bonaire preparing for the upcoming season. Next on my schedule is to go to Tenerife for a month to train over there and I guess as it’s looking for now that Defi Wind is the first competition in May in 2025

Ph: Dasher