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- Dutch Formula Windsurfing champion Cindy Koopman likes windgirls.com magazine for taking girls and women seriously and
promises "a lot of pleasure" for future windsurf beginners. Here is her word
wrap:
- date of birth: 29-09-1976
nationality: Dutch (Netherlands)
- profession:
- student/
windsurfinstructor/ sportsteacher/ primaryschool teacher/ and whatever comes on my way
sponsors: Fanatic, Kater Surf
- when and where did you learn the
sport:
- Ummmmm,
let me think...
- My
father came home with a old windsurf board when I was about 13 years old. He could buy it
very cheap from an older person or something like that. We took the board with us on
vacation an my father taught me how to windsurf. Off course the first time I started very
well but couldn't come back so my dad had to get me what took about two hours.
- The
next vacations we practiced again and again and after about two or three years I bought my
own board and didn't want to go on vacation anymore to any place without water.
- best results so far:
- IFCA Vice-worldchampion 2002
- 1st
Dutch championships Formula Windsurfing, 2001
- 8th
European championships Sopot, Poland, 2001
- 3rd
Eurocup Lelystad (Holland), 2001
favorite discipline: freestyle
and with low wind I like Formula
favorite move: carving pushtack
favorite windsurfing spot: Medemblik/
Oesterdam (Zeeland)/ Aruba
best music: Shakira, Bob Marley
last book you have read: Uhhhhhh,
a windsurf magazine or study books
best film: I've got no idea
best food: Indian
and my mothers rice with something
best drink: Pina Colada
- Who are your models in windsurfing?
- I
don't really have a model or idol. But there are some people I respect because of the way
they are practicing the sport of windsurfing: Steve Allen, Ron Ruiter (NED), Niek van der
Linde (NED)
What causes you fear? Too
much. If I wasn't that scared of everything I would loop already.
What makes you laugh? watching "Friends" on tv
Windsurfing – better than sex?
Why? Hah! Everything is good at it's time!!!
- With whom would you like to spend an
evening?
- Honestly
or positive? With my boyfriend of course. Sorry for giving a dull answer.
- Is the sport of windsurfing a
macho-sport?
- No
way, maybe from the outside. My experience is a lot of windsurfing people are very nice to
hang out with. Always time for a chat (ok, not in between races of course), interested,
not to arrogant to answer any questions.
- The
reason I learned so much in windsurfing the last few years is because other windsurfers
helped me by showing me tricks, adviseed me how to tune my sails, take time to wait at the
end of the lag so we can start together again, etcetera. I am very thankful for that.
- What do you think about the
PWA-tour?
- Actually
I don't really know all about it. I'm not a PWA sailor.
-
- What do you like about the
"windgirls"-mag?
- I like that it is all about girls making it in such a male
dominated sport and not just about girls in bikinis with skinny arms and pretty smiles.
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- Three tips for GIRLS who want to
learn windsurfing:
- 1. Go and take lessons at a good
windsurf school with new material (big, wide boards and small sails) and driven,
diplomatic teachers who have a lot of experience with teaching.
- 2. Try to find someone else to go with
you. Because alone is just alone.
- 3. Don't think you can learn from a
friend, family member or other relative unless they are diplomatic teachers. Usually they
don't have the right equipment, don't have the patience, don't have teacherskills and
don't have the right lessons.
- Like
learning how to snowboard the best way is to have about 5-10 lessons and than practise
yourself. It will cost you some money, but after that you have had a lot of pleasure
and good skills and knowledge to go on yourself. Besides a teacher can advise you what
equipment to buy. Go on and see it is fun!!
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