Pippa van Iersel

YOUR HOBBIES ASIDE KITEBOARDING?

Before I started kiteboarding I wanted to be a professional football (soccer) player, I played for many years and even selected for the youth dutch nationals 2 times. Besides playing football I was skateboarding, wakeboarding and snowboarding in the winter. My dad always said: “You have to do sports, play a music instrument and go to school” Well I managed to do that quite well haha. I play saxophone, accordion and piano. Doing a lot of sports, but the school part isn’t my strongest part ;) I didn’t finish high school but I studied 1,5 year at the dutch filmers academy. Filming became a hobby when I actually started to create my own promotion videos for sponsors in kiting. Now I have a passion for making YouTube videos. I vlog daily, you can see this on Pipsvlog :)

WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY WITHOUT WIND? 

I train outside as much as possible. Love to run in the mountains or on the beach. But I also have to train in the gym to keep my strength.

At home I love to play music instruments because when I travel there aren’t a lot of possibilities to play. But besides that I still like to play football on the streets, skateboard, vlog and I have interest in entrepreneur.

WHAT STYLE OF MUSIC ARE YOU INTERESTED IN? 

I play classic piano by myself but I like to listen to (Electronic or 90s) Hip Hop/rap, Alternative Pop.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU START KITEBOARDING? 

From my bedroom window I could see the water! So whenever it was windy I saw loads of kites hanging. When I saw people were able to jump and do tricks I wanted to try it. Lucky me, my dad is the most enthusiastic kiter I know. He already kites for 23 years. When I became 14 he took my sister and me out for our first session. I felt in love with the sport from the first moment. Just the adrenaline you get from it and the moments you share with your family on the water. I was kiting with my dad and sisters, all cruising behind each other and having so much fun. That’s where it all began and why I continued.

WHY ARE YOU RIDING FOR DUOTONE?

In several things I got inspired by this brand. At first it’s really innovative, not only in terms of material but also the way duotone promotes itself. The videos are so creative and the projects they are working on are really cool and inspiring. For me a collaboration only works if you can stand for the fully 100% behind the brand and that the brand believes in you as a rider. That’s exactly what I have with Duotone. Besides that, it’s an amazing team and the gear is perfect. I feel really honoured to join this team :)

WHAT IS YOUR MAIN GOAL FOR THE FUTURE?

To be an innovative rider, share my passion and to inspire people. Besides that I want to be world champion :)

WHAT TRAINING DO YOU DO TO STAY FIT? 

I go to the gym and have a specific plan that my physio and trainer Bruce Fritz made for me. It includes, mobility, strength, cardio and even mental training.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR JOB IF YOU WOULDN´T BE A PRO KITEBOARDER? 

Professional soccer player or skateboarder. I always felt the urge to compete, no matter what I did. Or I like to present tv programs. I think that’s why I also got into vlogging. I love to stand in front of the camera and tell stories.

WHAT´S YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD? 

Well my parents had a restaurant and my mom is a really good chef so it’s hard to choose one dish out of everything she kooks haha. But I love if she kooks Thai spicy food haha. You can always make me happy with a good green curry.