Blog Sjors van de Kerkhof
Last three weeks haven't been really interesting to write about. Not that it felt boring, but it was all a bit of the same. I've been working at the cable and I had a lot of time to ride. Riding has been good, I learned some new stuff but, because of the low temperature it's hard to focus on new tricks.
Most exciting thing that I've done was a short shoot for the new marketing campaign for my shoe sponsor Teva. If you like it check out the video below (Dutch) and have a look at the www.tevathelist.com.
Next month I'll have more to tell. I will go to France for the FISE. Last year I had to skip this event but it's one of my favourites to ride in. There will be an insane setup and a lot of really good riders. I'll go with Daan Rigter to ride and film with him. Hopefully we'll come back with some nice footage.
Besides riding I can tell you it's party time in the Netherlands! On April 30th we celebrate “Konininginnedag” (Queens day) which is the biggest party of the year. It starts the night before and basically it goes like this: Find all the crappy stuff in your house that you don't want anymore, take it to town and you try to sell it on the “ vrijmarkt”. The money you make you invest in beer and other people's crappy stuff (so you come back home with even more things you don't need). In the meanwhile you drink some beers, walk around with an orange painted face, dress up like an idiot, play traditional Dutch games which you can't win anyway, listen to music and so on..... When you read this you have no clue what it's about unless you are Dutch or you've been there. If you want to see the real Dutch spirit I invite you to come to Amsterdam during Queens day! It might be a little bit busy but it will be great!!! I'll post a picture in my next blog!
27/04/2012
Most exciting thing that I've done was a short shoot for the new marketing campaign for my shoe sponsor Teva. If you like it check out the video below (Dutch) and have a look at the www.tevathelist.com.
Next month I'll have more to tell. I will go to France for the FISE. Last year I had to skip this event but it's one of my favourites to ride in. There will be an insane setup and a lot of really good riders. I'll go with Daan Rigter to ride and film with him. Hopefully we'll come back with some nice footage.
Besides riding I can tell you it's party time in the Netherlands! On April 30th we celebrate “Konininginnedag” (Queens day) which is the biggest party of the year. It starts the night before and basically it goes like this: Find all the crappy stuff in your house that you don't want anymore, take it to town and you try to sell it on the “ vrijmarkt”. The money you make you invest in beer and other people's crappy stuff (so you come back home with even more things you don't need). In the meanwhile you drink some beers, walk around with an orange painted face, dress up like an idiot, play traditional Dutch games which you can't win anyway, listen to music and so on..... When you read this you have no clue what it's about unless you are Dutch or you've been there. If you want to see the real Dutch spirit I invite you to come to Amsterdam during Queens day! It might be a little bit busy but it will be great!!! I'll post a picture in my next blog!
27/04/2012
The season started in Europe and the water is still freezing cold! Although we had some really nice weather, but now it's just cold. It didn't hold me back from riding as last week I was riding every day. Just some short sessions but I was just keen to go out and ride every day. After more than 15 years of riding I sometimes wonder why I do this to myself to go out in the cold water. I've been thinking about this and realized that there are quite some reasons to do it:
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13/04/2012
Aloha!
Finally the first sets of the season are done! It's still really cold in the Netherlands but I just had to go out! Last winters I was lucky that I was able to go to warmer places but this winter I stayed in the Netherlands. It's funny to feel the need for riding again even though it's so cold. It reminds me on some sets we took years ago. I always had that need for riding when I was younger. The first weekend in March is traditionally the first weekend of riding but it's so crazy cold! I'm so happy that even after 15 years of riding I'm still so stoked to be able to ride again after the winter!
Last week was the week of the Dutch Boat Show named Hiswa. Holland is just small and so is the boat show. Of course Jobe is present so that was the main reason for me to have a look. I had a quick talk with Jobe Barefoot skier Mathijs Zielman and CK who was there to promote his pro model but I wasn't able to stay long.
While I'm writing this the “Dutch Indoor Nationals” will get started at this same boat show. There is a small pool and a winch. I chose not to compete but I'm sure that our Dutch teammates Tommy Swaan, Michael Nieuwerf and Devi Sentrop will do well since they just got back from their training weeks. They are in shape so I can't wait for the results.
The 17th of March the Down Under Cableway in Nieuwegein is opening its season again. There will be lots of riders, test boards, music and more! If you are around come and have a look!
Cheers,
Sjors
12/03/2012
Finally the first sets of the season are done! It's still really cold in the Netherlands but I just had to go out! Last winters I was lucky that I was able to go to warmer places but this winter I stayed in the Netherlands. It's funny to feel the need for riding again even though it's so cold. It reminds me on some sets we took years ago. I always had that need for riding when I was younger. The first weekend in March is traditionally the first weekend of riding but it's so crazy cold! I'm so happy that even after 15 years of riding I'm still so stoked to be able to ride again after the winter!
Last week was the week of the Dutch Boat Show named Hiswa. Holland is just small and so is the boat show. Of course Jobe is present so that was the main reason for me to have a look. I had a quick talk with Jobe Barefoot skier Mathijs Zielman and CK who was there to promote his pro model but I wasn't able to stay long.
While I'm writing this the “Dutch Indoor Nationals” will get started at this same boat show. There is a small pool and a winch. I chose not to compete but I'm sure that our Dutch teammates Tommy Swaan, Michael Nieuwerf and Devi Sentrop will do well since they just got back from their training weeks. They are in shape so I can't wait for the results.
The 17th of March the Down Under Cableway in Nieuwegein is opening its season again. There will be lots of riders, test boards, music and more! If you are around come and have a look!
Cheers,
Sjors
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12/03/2012
Still no wakeboard stories, but you know what people say: Snow is just frozen water. That's why I went snowboarding last week. Sorry, no stories about crazy tricks that I did. Usually I try to visit the fun park and I'll do my best to break a leg. To be honest: I'm just not that much of a snowboarder ;) I know how to work my way down but doing tricks is a different story! Basically we just went touring through the beautiful mountains of Austria (Sölden) and one day I made a free ride trip with a friend and a guide. It was my first time freeriding and I can tell you it's beautiful!!! Since I’m a beginning freerider I went up with the lift instead of hiking. On top our guide knew were to leave the slopes to go in the backcountry. Beautiful untouched powder fields were our reward!
Back in the Netherlands the first boats are already in the water and the cable parks will open in the course of March. Finally some action on the water! I can't wait! Next is: the Dutch Boat Show called HISWA in Amsterdam. See you there!
28/02/2012
Back in the Netherlands the first boats are already in the water and the cable parks will open in the course of March. Finally some action on the water! I can't wait! Next is: the Dutch Boat Show called HISWA in Amsterdam. See you there!
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28/02/2012
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Last week winter finally kicked in. The lakes in Holland were frozen and it's a kind of tradition that the Dutch go crazy about ice skating. “ World Famous” in The Netherlands is the “ Eleven city's tour”. It's been the talk of the day for almost one week. Would we be able to ride the Eleven City's or not? In the end the ice wasn't thick enough so it was cancelled. Too bad but still lots of places where we could go skating. I made some tours on our beautiful lakes, even though I’m not much of a skater it was just awesome to cruise around. It works like this, first you try to find your skates. Everybody has them but as you hardly ever use them it is pretty hard to find them. Second is to dress up, don't ask me why but a braces seems to be fashion in skating.
Other fashion items on the ice are 30 year old jackets, orange “ Unox” hats and ski goggles. Probably the hardest part is trying to park your car somewhere close to the ice. To get on the ice the easiest way is to trespass somebody's property. Usually the people would call the police, but skating changes people and they just let you through. You put on your skates, make some laps and then you end up at the “ Koek en Sopie”. Here you buy some “ Snert” , hot chocolate, schnapps or wine and you go home drunk ;)
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, feel free to visit The Netherlands any time when it's freezing and you'll see the Dutch people at their best! I'm sure somebody will guide you around!
Off course I also played some games of ice hockey. So, all in all, finally some action on the (frozen) lakes!
Next week I'll go snowboarding in Austria and after that the Dutch Boat Show (HISWA) takes place in Amsterdam. This is also the start of the wakeboard season so from now on you can check my blog every two weeks.
Cheers!
Sjors
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14/02/2012
Lately my wakeboard activity hasn't got any further then watching Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo and all the wakeboard websites :( I've seen some great web video's coming by the last weeks of people chilling in Asia or Australia. I wish I was there but instead of that I'm stuck in cold Holland!
I would rather stand on my board but I still like the winter as well. It's time to sort some stuff out and it's nice to get ready for the coming season. I try to do this by working out a little bit. I visit the gym twice a week and I do some running. Playing a game of squash and ice skating are also good ways to stay in shape. Ice skating is really nice accept the fact that my girlfriend is twice as fast as I am... I don't like it when she is better in sports then me ;) I really feel that my body likes the winter break so that's good but my mind is ready for summer already! First I'll try to find some time and money for a small snowboard trip and then it's only a little while before the season starts.
Will keep you posted!
Sjors
16/01/2012
I would rather stand on my board but I still like the winter as well. It's time to sort some stuff out and it's nice to get ready for the coming season. I try to do this by working out a little bit. I visit the gym twice a week and I do some running. Playing a game of squash and ice skating are also good ways to stay in shape. Ice skating is really nice accept the fact that my girlfriend is twice as fast as I am... I don't like it when she is better in sports then me ;) I really feel that my body likes the winter break so that's good but my mind is ready for summer already! First I'll try to find some time and money for a small snowboard trip and then it's only a little while before the season starts.
Will keep you posted!
Sjors
16/01/2012
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I run and do some stuff in the gym and that's ok but always kind of boring. That's why I was happy that some Dutch wakeboarders organised a trampoline training last week. The jumping is so cool to do! It's just an awesome feeling to jump so high and practice some skills. Check out my picture!
If you take a look at the 2012 calendar it's hard to plan some events. Not much events are announced yet so it's a bit hard to plan anything. I would love to ride more obstacle only contests like Wakestock and Waterfront Battle so I'll keep my eyes open for those competitions.
So, for now I don't have a lot to tell. If you are looking for a new ride for next season have a look on the product videos. You can find a video for each board on this website or on Youtube. Check out my favourites: THE VANITY and THE GUERRILLA.
Wish you all the best for 2012!
Sjors
03/01/2012
Since I got home from Hip-Notics nothing really happened. The weather in Holland is so poor at the moment, riding is impossible. I think I had one of my longest seasons ever, it started in January in Thailand and it finished last week in Turkey. I felt so happy that I was able to ride the whole season without any pain or injuries! Just the thought of not riding the next 3 months makes me a bit sad :( This year no Thailand for me. I decided to stay home and it's finally time to put some effort in my house that Janneke (my girlfriend) and I bought last March. I still have no curtains and stuff like that so it's time for some decoration, painting and construction work I guess....
I hope I can work on my editing skills this winter. In Turkey I found out that buying a MacBook was a smart thing to do! It's so much easier to look back at the shots and the editing works just so much better on an Apple computer compared to my old laptop. Like I told in my last blog I was filming quite a lot last week. I started editing in Turkey already so it only took me a view days to finish the edit of Maxine, Robby and myself. I'm really stoked about the result and about the good feedback! I hope you like it as well. Check it out!
It was really nice to be able to ride together with Maxine again. I'm so happy for her that her doctor gave her the ok to ride again. It took some days for her to get some strength back but she worked so hard and I'm so happy that it paid off in Abu Dhabi were she finished first during the worlds! In general I love to ride with Max because she's one of the few girls that can really charge and besides that she knows all my tricks and she can push me to do some new stuff.
I wish everybody a really good winter! I'll do some trampoline training in the next view weeks. I'll send some pics/clips in my next blog.
Sjors
21/12/2011
I hope I can work on my editing skills this winter. In Turkey I found out that buying a MacBook was a smart thing to do! It's so much easier to look back at the shots and the editing works just so much better on an Apple computer compared to my old laptop. Like I told in my last blog I was filming quite a lot last week. I started editing in Turkey already so it only took me a view days to finish the edit of Maxine, Robby and myself. I'm really stoked about the result and about the good feedback! I hope you like it as well. Check it out!
It was really nice to be able to ride together with Maxine again. I'm so happy for her that her doctor gave her the ok to ride again. It took some days for her to get some strength back but she worked so hard and I'm so happy that it paid off in Abu Dhabi were she finished first during the worlds! In general I love to ride with Max because she's one of the few girls that can really charge and besides that she knows all my tricks and she can push me to do some new stuff.
I wish everybody a really good winter! I'll do some trampoline training in the next view weeks. I'll send some pics/clips in my next blog.
Sjors
21/12/2011
I talked about the last riding of the season in my latest blog but now it's really coming to an end. I am in Turkey right now together with Maxine. Max asked me to join her. She is flying to Abu Dhabi after this trip for the Worlds and I'll go home. So this week both of us train for our own goals. She needs to get back in shape and I just want to work on new tricks and getting some filming done.
I think this is the fourth time we spend some time here in Turkey. The park is called Hip-Notics and it's perfect for wakeboarding. We were so lucky this week because the weather has been so good. Sunny days and no wind so flat water. I am working on my video editing skills! There will be a video online in a few days. I'll post it on Facebook but in cause you can't find it just keep your eyes open for my next blog on this website where I will also post it again.
It can be busy at the Hip-Notics cable but also here you can see that the season is coming to an end. There are not so much riders, a few Germans, some Dutch guys and pro-rider Robert Pokevec from Slovenia is also here. Max, Robert and me have mostly been riding together to film each other and to push each other.
I am riding the Jobe Guerilla, I brought the 2011 shape and the 2012 shape to be able to compare them. The flex pattern for the 2012 model has been changed a little bit so it has more flex. Here you can see me talking through some more details of the board:
Since I have the boards next to each other I am getting more convinced about the flex! It feels better to press on rails and it still holds really well on air tricks and kicker landings. I have to give this board back to the designers so they can check it again but I can't wait to get my own 2012 boards!
So that's it for now. In two weeks I'll show you the movie that came out of this trip. Not sure if there will be a lot of wakeboard stuff to tell about but just check it out.
Sjors
02/12/2011
I think this is the fourth time we spend some time here in Turkey. The park is called Hip-Notics and it's perfect for wakeboarding. We were so lucky this week because the weather has been so good. Sunny days and no wind so flat water. I am working on my video editing skills! There will be a video online in a few days. I'll post it on Facebook but in cause you can't find it just keep your eyes open for my next blog on this website where I will also post it again.
It can be busy at the Hip-Notics cable but also here you can see that the season is coming to an end. There are not so much riders, a few Germans, some Dutch guys and pro-rider Robert Pokevec from Slovenia is also here. Max, Robert and me have mostly been riding together to film each other and to push each other.
I am riding the Jobe Guerilla, I brought the 2011 shape and the 2012 shape to be able to compare them. The flex pattern for the 2012 model has been changed a little bit so it has more flex. Here you can see me talking through some more details of the board:
Since I have the boards next to each other I am getting more convinced about the flex! It feels better to press on rails and it still holds really well on air tricks and kicker landings. I have to give this board back to the designers so they can check it again but I can't wait to get my own 2012 boards!
So that's it for now. In two weeks I'll show you the movie that came out of this trip. Not sure if there will be a lot of wakeboard stuff to tell about but just check it out.
Sjors
02/12/2011
So finally the season in Europe is really over. We had some extremely nice weather the past weeks and together with some friends I took the full benefit of that! Two weeks ago we planned our “waterski camp”. It has nothing to do with water-skiing but for some reason we still love to call our wakeboard weekends like that. Those weekends are the most valuable to me because this is what wakeboarding is about if you ask me. We are all really close friends and although we don't see each other a lot during those weekends we have so much fun. This is because we all have the same passion for being on the water and we can push each other really hard.
Normally we try to visit a nice cable park in Germany to ride there and chill in the mobile home of my buddy Rens but this year we decided to do it a little different. We were riding the Teva Blue Line park at Down Under cableway and we slept in my house. Besides wakeboarding we played a game of squash and some football. It was just a great weekend with great friends. Daan Rigter edited a nice video about this weekend. CLICK HERE and check it out!
Last week I tried to ride one more time but I have to admit that it gets too cold here. So no more riding in Holland. I almost put my board away already but then Maxine called me last week if I would join here to Turkey to go to Hip-Notics. She will be there to prepare for the WWA Worlds that will be held in Abu Dhabi in the beginning of December. Right now I'm looking for tickets to Turkey so I can join her. I won't be competing during the Worlds myself. I would love to go there but I decided to focus more on obstacle only contests. Those contest are giving me such a boost because it's all new. With the two tower cable systems (like the Sesitec System 2.0) it's so much easier to bring the sport to new places. This gives a lot of new options and I want to take full advantage of that. It worked out really well for me and I hope it can bring me even more in 2012.
I hope it works out with booking a ticket so my next blog will be about my stay at Hip-Notics ;)
Bye!
Sjors
23/11/2011
Normally we try to visit a nice cable park in Germany to ride there and chill in the mobile home of my buddy Rens but this year we decided to do it a little different. We were riding the Teva Blue Line park at Down Under cableway and we slept in my house. Besides wakeboarding we played a game of squash and some football. It was just a great weekend with great friends. Daan Rigter edited a nice video about this weekend. CLICK HERE and check it out!
Last week I tried to ride one more time but I have to admit that it gets too cold here. So no more riding in Holland. I almost put my board away already but then Maxine called me last week if I would join here to Turkey to go to Hip-Notics. She will be there to prepare for the WWA Worlds that will be held in Abu Dhabi in the beginning of December. Right now I'm looking for tickets to Turkey so I can join her. I won't be competing during the Worlds myself. I would love to go there but I decided to focus more on obstacle only contests. Those contest are giving me such a boost because it's all new. With the two tower cable systems (like the Sesitec System 2.0) it's so much easier to bring the sport to new places. This gives a lot of new options and I want to take full advantage of that. It worked out really well for me and I hope it can bring me even more in 2012.
I hope it works out with booking a ticket so my next blog will be about my stay at Hip-Notics ;)
Bye!
Sjors
23/11/2011
Hi all! It's been a while since I wrote a blog on the Jobe website. If you want to know what I have been up to last summer have a quick look on my website www.sjorsvandekerkhof.com. I've mainly been focussed on riding obstacles. It brings so much fun and it adds so much creativity to the sport.
The season in Europe is almost finished. I work at the Down Under Cableway in Nieuwegein and last week I've been busy winterizing the main cable. So that means no more riding on the main cable :( On the other hand I've been preparing the Teva Blueline Cable for one more weekend of shred :)
Yesterday Dirk Gideonse helped me out with shortening the cable of the System 2.0 and today we'll add the rooftop rail to the Teva park and this weekend we'll be riding the Teva Cable. We brought a crew together of all types of riders and we'll be busy filming and riding the whole weekend. I hope I can show you a nice edit really soon!
Ok, that's it for now. Next time I'll tell you a little more about my plans for next year. If you are still riding in cold Europe I wish you a nice weekend of shredding!
Sjors
08/11/2011
The season in Europe is almost finished. I work at the Down Under Cableway in Nieuwegein and last week I've been busy winterizing the main cable. So that means no more riding on the main cable :( On the other hand I've been preparing the Teva Blueline Cable for one more weekend of shred :)
Yesterday Dirk Gideonse helped me out with shortening the cable of the System 2.0 and today we'll add the rooftop rail to the Teva park and this weekend we'll be riding the Teva Cable. We brought a crew together of all types of riders and we'll be busy filming and riding the whole weekend. I hope I can show you a nice edit really soon!
Ok, that's it for now. Next time I'll tell you a little more about my plans for next year. If you are still riding in cold Europe I wish you a nice weekend of shredding!
Sjors
08/11/2011
