North proudly welcomes Amado Vrieswijk to its international team.

Where are you from?


I'm born and raised and still living on Bonaire. A small island in the Caribbean belonging to the Netherlands and the number 1 windsurf paradise for me.

Was windsurfing your first love, and how did it lead to becoming a professional windsurfer?

When I was young I played soccer and tennis, but after seeing the 2002 PWA Freestyle World Cup on Sorobon, Bonaire, my attention switched completely to windsurfing. My parents rented me a board and sail and, without any lessons, but by looking at Tonky and Taty on the water I learned, got better and competed in a local competition very soon. At first it was mainly slalom and I reached several top podiums at the IFCA Youth World Slalom, later on I took on Freestyle as well and spent most of my time after school on the water until dark.

People say you are a multitalent. Tell us why?

I think every windsurf discipline is a challenge, and I like challenges. I like to keep on training for a trick until I've nailed it and can do it constantly and on both sides (Freestyle), I like velocity, racing and therefore after having the Freestyle World title in 2021, I switched my focus to slalom (fin/foil). For a while (2014–2018) I competed in the Wave discipline as well. The higher the jump, the smoother the rotation with a loop the better. Doing all disciplines in one season is undoable. Not only travelling with the many many gears, but also gaining and losing weight would be not reachable. If somehow possible, I would do all disciplines!

Do you remember the moment you decided to focus on racing?
What sparked that decision?
The many years of freestyle training, and the many times becoming 3rd or vice-world champion since 2014, there was the moment in November 2021, getting the world title Freestyle!! I was so happy and on my way back home I told myself , one title in the pocket, on to the next. In 2023 I was close with vice-world champion foil-slalom, and I'm still and keep on hunting for that title, to another box/another discipline.

What draws you to competitive windsurfing?

For me, the most fun is when everything is dialed in and you line up for a good start with seven other amazing riders, all pushing as hard as possible to see who can go the furthest. Especially in strong wind, when control is harder and mistakes are costly, that’s where the real fun starts for me. (What keeps me going is the constant development in every aspect of windsurfing, from technique and equipment to understanding the conditions. I’m driven by pushing each element further, finding the limits, and then breaking them, always chasing more speed and refining every detail to keep improving and going faster and faster.)

What’s been your most unforgettable trip / favourite spot?
Must be a mix of Brasil and Capetown, just because we were there with a group of riders, having great conditions and especially great vibes.

How do you hope to inspire others, particularly younger generations?

Windsurfing is not easy, 1000 times your move or jibe will fail, but that moment you get it right
is the best moment there is. So do not give up, feel free on the water and enjoy!

What is your main goal for the future and what do you hope to achieve in the next few years?

Becoming World champion in Slalom-Foil and Slalom-Fin.

Amados Accomplishments:

2025 Dutch Champion Foil
2024 IFCA World champion Foil

2023 Vice-World champion Foil-Slalom
2021 Freestyle World champion