Chit chat with Denise de Haan

Posted on April 25, 2010 4 Comments

If we talk about female wakeboarding, she is one of my favorite riders… After hard knee injury she is finally back on the water, back in the competitions giving all female riders tips how to follow her trails in the water… Check it out…

Nelly Mance:

Hi Denise whatzup beyb? Your new season is starting?

Denise de Haan

finally.. I’ve been off the water due to the injuries, but now… finally back on the water! Enjoying more than ever

Nelly Mance:

You had lots of dry trainings and now came tI’me for the water tricks, are you back in a full form?

Denise de Haan

Yeap, it took me 2 months to get fit, but now, finally my ride starting to look like something

Nelly Mance:

And now you are in Singapore or Netherlands?

Denise de Haan

I’m stuck at Hip-Notics because of that wonderful cloud that Iceland donated to us!

Nelly Mance:

Stuck sounds bad? I think you got lucky to stay at wonderful place to get more trainings you didn’t count on?

Denise de Haan

Well, we were supposed to stay there for a week so I trained like that as well.. Now I’m very tired so just took a 2 days break.. Hopefully tomorrow we will fly back and then I can pick up training in the Netherlands again.

Nelly Mance:

What are the plans for the competitions this year, which comps you are planning to hit? Will you focus more on boat or on cable wakeboarding?

Denise de Haan

After all these injuries (which happened behind the boat), I decided to stop competitive boat riding. Maybe I’ll compete in the Nationals. Just see how it goes.. So ya, mainly ill be riding cable comps to get back in the grooooveee..

So both WWA worlds and IWWF worlds are on the calendar and also the WPWS and CWWT tours..

Nelly Mance:

It will be busy and expensive season. You had some breaks with sponsors but you are now back with your old ones. Who is supporting you now?

Denise de Haan

Red Bull kept on supporting me through the rough times last year so I’m very grateful to them. I also decided to stick with O’Neill. I’ve been with them for so many years now and it just feels like we belong together

and of course I’m still riding Hyperlite!

Nelly Mance:

What about “girly spirit”… If I want to follow one of the best female wakeboarders in the world… to follow your tracks on the water, what should I do, where I should come so you could learn me?

Denise de Haan

I’m willing to teach any girl that wants to ride with me. Just come to Lido-Almere. That’s my home cable and if you want to ride behind boat, you can come to Wakeboardschool Loosdrecht. That’s where I coach as well..

Nelly Mance:

But you are also preparing some clinics, when, what, where?

Denise de Haan

At the end of April I give a clinic in Holland. 40 Girls are there waiting for me! Throughout the year ill be giving clinics for O’Neill and also RedBull

Nelly Mance:

Where to contact you to book for this clinics?

Denise de Haan

My website is currently under construction so you can contact me on my blog: www.denisedehaan.blogspot.com or just drop me an email: denise@denisedehaan.com

Nelly Mance:

What are next trick you are hoping to land?

Denise de Haan

Surprise surprise

Nelly Mance:

mmmm I cant wait to hear…

Denise de Haan

haha

Nelly Mance:

What is the message for all girls who are afraid to try wakeboarding, thinking that everybody will laugh to them if they dive at the starting dock?

Denise de Haan

Ride in the morning without too many spectators or take a boat lesson before you go ride cable.. it’s always good to have 1 on 1 coaching first so that you can get your foundation

Nelly Mance:

And your message for all girls who are transferring from intermediate to advanced, how to avoid injuries?

Denise de Haan

Do a warming-up before riding, don’t hit kickers or do big jumps if your muscles feel tired. Listen to your body!!! No point riding every day!

Nelly Mance:

What are your plans for the future?

Denise de Haan

I wanna stay involved in the sport in any way. Wanna ride as a professional wakeboarder as long as possible and after that I’ll continue coaching because I wanna help the sport to greater heights. I might wanna go back to school to study physiotherapy. Just have to see how it goes!

Nelly Mance:

With your experience and physiotherapy you can do really a lot for the sport progress.

Having good one is 50% of your recovery, the other 50% is your consistency in trainings.

Denise de Haan

I wanna help athletes on and off the water. Because of my injuries I know where injured athletes are going through, so i think that’s a big advantage.

Nelly Mance:

Thank you Denise for your nice interview, if you would like to point out something I forgot to ask please do…

Denise de Haan

I wanna thank my parents, friends and sponsors Red Bull, O’Neill and Hyperlite for the support through the past 3 years. It’s been a bumpy ride, but found my way back to the water! My girlfriend was really big support for me! And of course I thank boardforce.net as well for this interview!

Nelly Mance:

Thanks Denise, it’s so great to know you! You are really good friend of this sport! Hope to see you soon

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