Bio

• Date of Birth : October 17th 1985

• Home Base : The Hague, Netherlands
• Kayaking Since : 1995
• Resides : Scheveningen beach & Dutch Water Dreams
• Education interests : System Engineering, policy analysis & Management/ Marketing- and Sport management
• Other Sports : Surfing, Snowboarding
• Any Nicknames ? Kamikazper - I earned this one with some of my extracurricular activities - I can get a little crazy.
• How old were you when you started your sport? I started kayaking in 1995 at the age of 10 and never took a break since then... My first competition was the European Championships in Thun in 2002 at juniors with a 19th place. Since then I have been taking part in every European and World Championship and competed in many other international events.
• What's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome? Being born in the Netherlands, a country without any mountains, rivers, snow or ocean swell. Luckily I have found my way out and spent much time abroad since I've started kayaking.
• Obsessions outside of kayaking? Other sports like surfing, snowboarding and wakeboarding. But as a Dutch you also have to be a representative of their culture… You can always charter me for a little bar time!
• What's your take on the progression of your sport? In the Netherlands we have been trying to push the sport as hard as we could. Living in a flat land means living without good circumstances for this sport. This is how we invented events behind speedboats, off ramps and on artificial features. This has created a new view on kayaking in the Netherlands that's not only based on flat water.Beside the Netherlands, I was involved in the organization of the European Teva Tour last May 2008, aiming the goal to portray the extreme sport of kayaking and the lifestyle that goes with it. Check www.tevatour.com
• What music is on your playlist? John Butler Trio CD in the car, minimal/electric house music, Lounge, Dub