What a weekend!
Youri Zoon – what a class act. If there was a role model for our kiteboarding youth, he’s it!: humble, approachable, friendly, articulate, and an all-around nice person, not to mention a two-time world champion kiteboarder.
A special thanks goes out to Patrick Demann for his initiative, organization and incredibly hard work to make this weekend happen. I point out that Patrick doesn’t even have children old enough to kite and yet he gave up his mother’s day weekend and put in countless hours to organize this weekend and oversee it from beginning to end. When you see Patrick on the beach, please give him your thanks. He did a wonderful thing for our kids and the Amateur Kiteboarders Association. Hopefully, we will be able to continue this wonderful beginning with Youri in the future.
While the wind was not exactly cooperative, as they say “when you get lemons, make lemonade” and that’s what we did. Thursday afternoon Youri arrived and went straight to the beach where he surprised a number of Dorado Falcons. Smiles were big and wide with lots of selfies taken with Youri.
Friday – Dorado
Friday’s Dorado Beach Clinic was as productive as it could be on a low wind day. There was a video presentation and question and answer session at Ambassadors of the Sea. Youri talked to the kids about the importance of equipment maintenance. Coach Hurdman had a bunch of land training equipment out on the lawn to work on. Then there was paddle boarding activity out on the water. Finally, late afternoon the wind picked up and a couple of the Falcons were able to go out on the water with their kites and Youri riding the jet ski. Coach Hurdman picked up with things at 4:30pm with an abbreviated Falcons practice with a bunch of young girls who are potential newcomers to the team for next year. Friday’s clinic concluded with a festive cook out and a beautiful sunset. Melissa Neugebauer brought the most wonderful salad. Sammy’s Mom brought fixings for the hamburgers and there were so many deserts brought, I can’t remember everyone to thank. This was Youri’s first trip to Puerto Rico and everyone left him with a very positive impression. Youri commented several times about how welcome he felt by the kids and parents alike. He thought the kiting set-up at Goodwinds was one of the best he had ever seen. Imagine what he will think next year, when we have wind! Thank you Phil and Karla for allowing us to use Goodwinds for the Youri Clinic. Thank you Coach Hurdman for helping Youri in the Dorado Clinic.
Saturday – Parguera
The wind in Parguera was strong enough to kite. Everyone seemed to be on the water to take advantage of strong winds. Youri was equally impressed by the flat water and strong winds of Parguera. After he was done with the morning session of the clinic, Youri pulled out his equipment and did a “little practice” himself. That big splash you heard Saturday afternoon was everyone’s jaw dropping to the water when we saw Youri complete the most unbelievable tricks. For about 30 minutes, he put on a show that no one will soon forget. Our kids have their work cut out for themselves. Hopefully, we got some good video of Youri’s demonstration to put up on the AKA website. A special thanks goes out to Luijo and Jafet for their stewardship of the Parguera Clinic. Despite the crowds, everyone was kept safe, everyone got their kites up without incident and a great time was had by all.
Sunday – Parguera
Sunday proved to be a day of high expectations and low wind. The original plan was to have a Youri Clinic in Isabela. But with an island-wide forecast of low wind, the executive decision was made to return to Parguera in the hope that wind might return there. Alas, those hopes were not fulfilled. Still Jafet towed the kids around on the back of the boat while riding on paddle boards with Youri. Then Youri held a small “classroom session” under the shade of the mangroves to talk about kiting, answer questions and the like. I think Youri might have gotten hand cramps from all the autographs he signed. And I observed he signed every autograph that was asked of him and took a smiling photo with every kiter that wanted one: young and old.
Today, Youri returns to Holland. But I think given the wonderful Puerto Rican welcome he received and his observations of the great kiting conditions we have here, we will be able to get him back again next year!
Sincerely,
Michael