Hanglos meets Youri Zoon

On the 3th place of the 2010 PKRA tour we have a 21 year old Dutchie who listens to the name Youri Zoon. He showed the world some really sick action this year, and he also took some time to answer my questions.

So Youri, tell me, as we all know this season was a lot different than the other seasons. Aaron's absence and Kevin getting injured. For the moment it is really close between you and Alex. How do you look back over this season? What will be the best memory of this season?

The level is getting higher and higher every year, also the riders getting more close to each other.
The 1 rider rides better in one kind of conditions and the other in another.
This year I had some competitions where I did really good, but I also had some bad ones haha.

It's too bad Kevin is out. It would have been nice to have him here as well in the battle for the title, but injuries are part of the game.

Hopefully Aaron and Kevin will be back in 2011 and then the battle is really on, I think!

My best memory is the win I took in Argentina because the conditions were really hard. Ice cold water and strong wind. It was such a beautiful place with the mountains which made it super nice.

Who is for you the biggest concurrent, and why?

At the moment Alex and Andy, both are very strong riders and very constant. It makes it hard every comp but that’s also the good thing. If I want to win I want to win against the best guys.

What do you think about next season, do you expect Aaron and Kevin to come back, if yes, what do you expect of them?

I don’t know about Aaron, but I know Kevin is planning on coming back. We will see how it goes with his injury and how fast he can get back on his old level.

I can imagine that a rider has a lot of stress during competition, on what moment is stress really hitting you, and what do you do about it?

Sometime's at breakfast or when I know I didn’t train enough.
Mostly I have a routine in my heat and sometimes when that’s get disturbed then I have to reset my self. Mostly it works but sometimes it doesn’t. Then I loose.

As we all know, 2010 was a nice busy year with 10 tour stops, what was your favorite and your most challenging tour stop this season?

To kite it was New Cal, but in general Argentina was my favorite and the most challenging one. As I said before, the place is so beautiful!
The challenging part is the cold part and the strong winds.

Do you ever get tired of competition?
Yes I do. We are now in the end of the year and I did 10 comps. Now I would like to go home and just ride and train a little bit.






The holiday of a pro kiteboarder, how does it look like? Is there a 'not kite' holiday?

Yes! Next week I will go to New York, just to relax and not having to think of kiteboarding for a bit.
But most of my trips my kite gear is with me.

Being a pro kiteboarder looks really nice, but every coin has another side.. You probably had to give up a lot of things, what is the thing you regret the most that you had to give up?

I didn’t have to give up a lot of things, because this is what I want to do. I would just like to be a bit more at home with my friends.
But who wouldn’t want to have a life like this? So I really enjoy it every second!

On Hanglos there came a question about how a pro kiteboarder lives financially. Is it possible to live from it, or does all the money goes to traveling?

I am lucky that I can live from it. Most of my money goes to traveling indeed, but at the end of the year I do have some money left. The price money is like a bonus for me.

About the future, what do you see yourself doing in 10 years? Do you follow any studies and is it possible to do both kiteboarding and studying?

I think I will probably work for 1 of my sponsors( at least that's what I hope).
I didn’t do any studies. Only my lower high school, but that doesn't really give me the option of a nice job haha.
I do have been thinking about doing a online study, but until now it didn't really happen yet.

Is there something you want to say to young talents that are heading for a pro career?

Live the dream! But believe me, it doesn’t come to you. You have to train hard for it.

As you probably know the sport is having a hard time in some countries. For example in Belgium they want to make a kite certificate with an exam, what is your opinion on that?

I think people should get a card or something. In that way that it says that the person completed a kiteboarding course. Only with that you should be allowed to buy gear.
They shouldn't take the freedom of the advanced, but they should control the beginners more.
An exam isn't a good idea if you ask me.

Next to that there is also the discussion to become Olympic, do you see that happen, and if yes, will you do course racing if that will be Olympic?

Maybe.. I will have to try it out and if I like it I would maybe do it. until now it's not really my kind of sport.

How do you see the sport in 5 years?

Mmm, I think the freestyle tack of the sport will probably be the same.
Like the way we are pushing it now.
Wave will become bigger and course race will maybe become Olympic.

Answer in a few words what comes in your head when you read:

Wave: straps or strapless: strapless
Single or girl/boyfriend: boyfriend gnagna naa girlfriend
Most expensive ticket: 2200 euro to New Caledonia
Megaloops: 35 knots +
Sliders and kickers: Fun
Best spot ever: New Cal and Brazil
Favorite music: Anything with a good beat.


Youri is sponsored by Slingshot, Brunotti, Mystic, Koraal.org, Daarom.com.
You can follow Youri on www.yourizoon.com


Read the other Hanglos Meets again:
Andy Yates
Gisela Pulido
Bruna Kajiya
Alex Pastor
Karolina Winkowska