Living the Dream
A few weeks after catching up with Marc Paré (99NoveNove / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins), 99NoveNove had just had the chance to check-in with Amanda Beenen (99NoveNove / Point-7), who finished 4th overall for 2015, while also achieving her first podium finish in Tenerife. The 29 year old has big plans for the year and you can find out what’s in store by reading on below:
Hi Amanda, please can you tell us about your experience during the Novenove Aloha Classic?
AB: “The Novenove Maui Aloha Classic has been an amazing experience and a great event! I was very proud to be representing Novenove at an event that they support. I of course would have liked to do better but with a 9th place making me 4th overall I am happy. We had some amazing conditions and this gave the riders the chance to really showcase what windsurfing is all about. As for many others also for me Maui is a very special place and to able to partake in an event such as the aloha classic is nothing less than an honour. I feel I still have a lot to work on, but I think that as long as I keep at it my starboard tack skills will keep improving. Hopefully next year I can again move up a few places in the rankings.
Amanda, can you tell us a little bit more about you? Where are you from? And when and how did you start surfing?
AB: “I am from Holland and I started windsurfing about 11 years ago! I started on the Dutch lakes and slowly progressed from there to the ocean. In 2008 I had my first experiences with wavesailing and in 2011 I joined the PWA tour.”
How did you decide to dedicate yourself totally to windsurfing?
AB: “I think I kind of rolled into it. After I did my first year on tour in 2011, for fun, I got really fired up to get better. I don’t like losing and to get better I needed to put time into my sport. So I did and by doing this I basically moulded my whole life around windsurfing. It’s not a sport anymore, it’s honestly my life.”
For a girl it is definitely not an obvious choice, what are the main difficulties you had to overcome? And the biggest satisfaction?
AB: “I think I had a lot of fun learning windsurfing. Mostly because I was lucky to roll into a tight group of guy friends, who all windsurfed at a good level. It was at times frustrating that all the guys where so good while I was still drifting up and down on an old Tiga board. I can be very impatient so I want to learn stuff straight away!
Later on I think I had to learn to take advice from the guys. I can be quite the smartass and I like to think I know everything. I had to learn that the guys were not giving me “sh*t” but were actually trying to help me out! I think the moment you can be honest with yourself and accept that you don’t know it all, is the moment you can start learning and improve yourself. I think that this was a big turning point in my windsurfing level.
Besides that I always have the feeling I need to prove myself just because I am a girl. I understand the level is very different between men and women, but is that not the case in most sports? It always depends a bit on what people you are around — some are super motivating and positive towards woman’s windsurfing, but there are also people out there who think woman’s windsurfing should not even be on the PWA World Tour. I can still get really heated up about this subject.
My biggest satisfaction is hard to say. How am I supposed to choose from so many different great moments? Results make me very happy, winning the indoor in Poland was amazing and getting my podium place in Tenerife this year was unreal! But seeing myself on a double page of a magazine still makes my heart jump! I know it might sound so very superficial but think about it this way… Only 5/6 years ago, I was a girl, sitting in my studio apartment in Holland. Above my bed I had a wall which was full of windsurfing photos that I had cut out of magazines and a big PWA Fuerte sticker. I was watching the “plug and play” DVD 3 times a day I remember in the end it just didn’t play anymore. I couldn’t even jibe at that time, if you would have told me I would be in the top 5 of the PWA in five years time or have a double page photo in a magazine I would have probably told you that you’re crazy.
But than again, nothing beats the feeling of getting out in good size waves in places I used to dream of going and used to watch in movies. I love the little adrenaline kick you get while sailing out through the break and the moment of the first bottom turn is in the end, the biggest satisfaction I can get.”
How do you manage your year of training, competitions and work?
AB: “I honestly have no idea! Time is flying and money goes even faster! I am very lucky that I have many great people supporting me where they can! I try to plan my year ahead every year but its just impossible! The only thing that is certain is that, I will be at the PWA stops. Everything else is up in the air until about a few weeks before. Mostly that is just a money issue.
I work where I can, depend on prize money and on the goodwill of my mum and dad if they might be able to borrow me money for a ticket, until my prize money comes in. I work in bars and restaurants and work about 40-50 hours a week in the worst case scenario and 33-35 in the best case. Besides that I’ll windsurf when there’s conditions and try of course to put this before everything. Add Gym time to it and my days are very full. Lately I feel I’ve not been doing enough, but I just need to work a lot to make sure I get to my next PWA stops and of course for my tickets for my winter windsurf wonder island — Maui!
It get’s to me sometimes, I tend to forget why I do this. In the end getting a good result just makes it all worth it. I just really like competition, it pushes me to do more, work more, travel more, hit the water more and so on.
Can you tell us your dream life in Maui?
AB: “Maui wauwi! Completely opposite lifestyle to that in the Canary Islands. Maui was an amazing experience which changed me quite a bit. It put a lot of things into perspective. Personally and windsurf wise. I was very lucky to gather the most awesome of people around me. The windsurf, the surf, the hikes everything was great but it would have been nothing without all the people I got to share it with!
My perfect Maui days are when I get up at 6am, chug a smoothie and hit some nice surf spot. Catching waves with friends is the best start of the day! Around 10:00 or 11:00 it starts blowing at Ho’okipa. So it’s time for a windsurf session! I’ll probably pass by the Ku’au store and get some sort of organic lunch haha! (If it’s not organic or vegan it won’t be sold in Maui!) If there’s wind and waves all day I like to just hang there, and windsurf. Otherwise I love going hiking to one of the waterfalls, jumping off high cliffs or going free diving, rock running, snorkelling etc.
Afterwards I’d go home and have a nice steak with homemade shimmy churro sauce BBQ on the Lanai (porch/veranda) with my friends. The guys will jam the guitar and I’ll chill in the hammock. At 11:00 we’ll be in bed. Just to do it all again the next day! Those are the days man!”
Why did you choose Maui?
AB: “I went there for a competition. I fell in love with the island instantly, but it also made me lose my third overall place and I’ve put down my worst result there. As I told you I hate losing. With that happening and having been to Cape Town for five years in a row I felt it was time for something new. I decided I needed to develop myself on starboard tack.
Aside from this, it was also a great opportunity to start fulfilling another dream. I got to ride bigger waves than I would have done in Cape Town or the Canaries. I know some people thought spending time there would be a waste, but I think it helped me become a better windsurfer on port tack too!”
But, you’ve also spent a lot of time in the Canary Islands, a place a little more “comfortable” (close to Europe) and where you can train for the European conditions — What do you like about these spots?
AB: “The consistency is amazing! Always windy! I get so many days on the water it’s crazy! And I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but I just absolutely dig this onshore stuff! I guess because I feel this is my strongest side. I really enjoyed coming back to Cabezo after feeling like a beginner for 6 months in Maui haha!
It’s an easy life here, people are friendly, the windsurf community is pretty big, it’s cheap and there’s just a lot of training days!”
And if you had to choose between Maui and the Canaries?
AB: “Let’s say I can picture myself living in Maui for the rest of my life! But not yet!"
In Tenerife you achieved your first podium in the Waves, what are your goals on the PWA?
AB: “After this, the sky is the limit! I don’t care what anybody says, I’m coming for the twins now haha! I’m kind of joking but also kind of not, it’s all about time on the water and setting goals. I hope we get conditions in Sylt and France so I can work my way up to the third overall this year!
And then it’s a matter of going hard to get my level up again for next year. I’m in a very tight spot here. Daida and Iballa being icons of the sport and seemingly undefeatable, Steffi breathing down my neck and SQ developing her wave skills in such a high tempo. I feel I have no time to hang about there’s work to be done!”
And what can you tell us about your style in the water, you look very aggressive, especially in the jumps…
AB: “Well, it’s funny I’ve always been a bit scared of jumping. This year I felt it was either go for it or go home. I now also noticed I started comparing my wave riding with the men’s. Where I was once satisfied, I am now wondering why I can’t ride hard like them. I think this will be a new training goal for the year.
Jumping wise I put away a lot of that fear. I need to, because its time to learn more moves. Just a big forward or table forward won’t cut it anymore. I finally started being serious about pushloops! I had some bad crashes but still feel very confident. So for next year I will have that one down! And there will for sure be more to come!
What are your strengths?
AB: ‘I’m a fighter. I’m spontaneous. I will go through fire for my friends. I love taking care of people around me, let me do your laundry and cook for you haha! I have a lot of crazy dreams and ideas. I am creative. I am always up for an adventure and have a ton of energy! I am very competitive, anything you can do I can do better and if I can’t, I’ll try until I can! I love to laugh, don’t take myself too seriously and try be nice to everyone I meet!”
And your weaknesses or fears?
AB: “I’m impatient, impulsive and lack self discipline in some things. I’m afraid of missing out on things, I’m afraid of my life flying by, I’m afraid of my indecisiveness about my future. I’m afraid of cockroaches and big unidentified bugs flying towards me. I really can’t handle anyone touching my feet – be warned, I will kick you in the face! I can’t handle being challenged by anyone, doing anything, sometimes I’m afraid I’ll actually kill myself because someone challenges me to do something. I am a smartass. Sometimes I speak before I think, but I’m working on that! I can get very irritated if things don’t go my way. If I have to wait for people and if people comment on or criticise my actions (on or off the water), but also this I’m working on. Sometimes I am scared of not being liked.”
Let’s talk about your sponsors, all Italians … 99NoveNove has a team of athletes which are increasing all the time. What do you hope to bring to the brand for 2016?
AB: “Yeah! It’s been fun so far! I’ve been working hard on my Italian (only the bad words of course)!
Point-7 is a fun brand with great ideas and views on windsurfing. They have a good attitude towards the team riders and this has been a crucial part of my big decision to join P7!
99novenove has an amazing high quality standard on their product! I love the whole exterior as well as the performance and durability! As for the team, with Kauli on board for the wave development, Nico Akgazciyan for freestyle and Finian Maynard for speed and slalom I think we have a very solid team for developing the best equipment for any condition and discipline!
Doing my first photoshoot in Maui was very fun and I really enjoyed it even though I was really nervous and found it very hard! I intend to bring 99 and Point-7 a lot more results and hopefully podiums in the near future and I hope to learn from them and get involved a bit more in development to keep improving products!”
Which waveboards will you be adding to your quiver, and why?
AB: :I am a BIG fan of the Chameleon! At the moment I have only the small one (69litre) but I really want to add the 77 litre version for the lighter days in the Canary Islands! I would also love to give the Quad a few more tries in Maui. I didn’t have the chance to test it a whole lot yet, but the 70 or 78 litre must be such a great toy for me in Ho’okipa! Also I was thinking about getting myself a freestyle board, training freestyle moves will most definitely improve my skills in the waves to get down things like takas! Oh, and while I’m on it gonna need one of those awesome skateboards they are producing and some surfboards too! Those shapes are looking SWEET!!”
The female image in windsurfing is looking very strong over the last few years, why do you think this is and what can be done to get more females involved in windsurfing?
AB: “I think in the time I’ve been on tour the level has gone through some transformations! I think there are a lot of girls out there who have so much potential and talent! I really hope to meet them on tour one day!
To make this happen it’s important that the brands, magazines and the (female) riders keep encouraging, inspiring and motivating girls to push themselves and get out on the water! In my opinion we as an industry are not using the full potential female windsurfing has to offer! I also think the magazines and media in general could get more girls coverage!
But in the end it’s a combination of a lot of factors. But I think the girls out there, who have a dream of competition, who have mad love for the sport and are willing to put time into it I can only advise them to go for it! You’ll never get rich, but if you put in the effort, be smart and work hard, windsurfing can show you the world! You’ll get to see incredible places and meet incredible people! You won’t regret it I promise you!”
Where will you be training this year, and with whom?
AB: “I’ll be going to Maui for the winter time! I’ll be sailing with the big boys, Levi Silver, Kevin Pritchard, Goya, Robby Naish and so on! What that actually means is; I’ll be in Ho’okipa where they’ll be too and I will stalk them on the water to see how they sail it and then pray to God they won’t think of me as that weird creepy girl following them around!
After that I’ll return to the Canary Islands! I hope to get some time in with my girl Arrianne Aukes and of course sailing with Adam Lewis, Colin Dixon and get some tips and tricks from Musso!
In the summertime I will be working together withwindsurfcoaching.com to set up some awesome clinics! I am excited to be working with Colin Dixon as he is one of the most professional coaches I have met! So everyone, keep you’re eyes open for that!”
We asked some other riders what they would like to ask you…
Sarah-Quita Offringa: If you could have a windsurfer as your coach, who would it be and what would you want to learn?
AB: “Man! I would probably have a whole army of coaches! I would have Musso to teach me those sick wave 360’s he does, I would have Levi to make my starboard tack sailing more stylish! I’d ask Jaeger to teach me those sick arched backies, SQ, I would like you to teach me some freestyle and I’ll ask Jason P to help me conquer Jaws!”
Adam Lewis: What is the most girly thing you ever did on a windsurf trip and what is the least girly thing?
AB: “The most girly thing are probably walking in proper high heels on a night out, painting my nails and straightening my hair. The least girly thing is sitting on the couch at home next to you, Adam, while you fart out loud. This also makes me very unhappy!”
Thanks Amanda, good luck over the winter and see you next year.