How did you motivate yourself
during the five days?
I had done the SUP 11 City Tour before in 2013 and I knew from
experience that it gets easier during the week. I expected the
first day to be the hardest and it was. Seeing Seychelle Hattingh
(1st place, USA) and Petronella van Malsen (2nd place, The
Netherlands) in front of me pretty much during the whole race
was extremely motivating. I constantly pushed myself to narrow
the gap.
Can you talk about
some highlights of the
S U P 1 1 C i t y To u r ?
Absolutely. Going through the canals in
the Dutch countryside and in the cities
was great. I especially loved day two
where you first paddle through a long
canal lined with trees that provide shade
and a special atmosphere. And the cities
were beautiful. There was always
something to see so that the long
distances didn’t feel so long. I also like
the fact that there were always people on
the bridges and near the canal to cheer us
on. We were also exceptionally lucky with
the weather. It was warm and sunny
during the whole race.
motivation. NRS also supports me with clothing and gear that
add style and comfort to my paddling adventures. There were so
many paddlers, and of course, the race organizers and many
volunteers that supported me so I felt I had the best support
team in the world. I am extremely grateful for all the
encouragement and help I received.
How did you prepare for the race?
I love paddling long distances. I just enjoy being on the water. I
paddled several marathons and half marathons during the year
and also competed in the Molokai2Oahu
Paddleboard World Championships in July.
The M2O and the SUP 11 City Tour are my
two favourite races, even though they are
entirely different.
How did you deal with
logistics?
The race is very well organized. The race
directors, the staff and volunteers are
extremely hard working but always helpful
and cheerful. I was so impressed. I stayed
in one of the boats, which was great for
meeting people and making new friends
but maybe not so great for getting a good
night’s sleep. Still, I am very happy to have
stayed on a boat and met the four fantastic
women with whom I shared a room.
Were there times when
you were struggling?
You have done many
long distance races, you
have done the 11 City
To u r t w i c e , y o u h a v e
done the M2O three
times, you have paddled
the length of Lake
Geneva and completed
several marathons. Why
do you paddle?
Probably mostly on day four. I was tired, I
hadn’t slept well the night before and
found it hard to keep my head in the
game. But luckily there were some
fantastic people who encouraged me and
motivated me so that I managed to
regain my focus and finish strong.
How did you handle
food and nutrition?
That was a bit of a challenge. Luckily SUP
Shop 24-7 had provided me with Ox
Endurance Formula, which worked great
and provided energy for the long stages.
Eating was more difficult. It’s really
important to eat enough to get through
many hours of paddling but at times I
really didn’t feel like eating at all. I had to
convince myself to eat another banana or
another energy bar. My stomach was
pretty upset on two days and eating is
hard when you really don’t want to.
Did you have a support
team with you?
My partner Stefan Munsch couldn’t come
with me but he is always there for me and supports me
throughout the whole journey. I also had wonderful support
during the race from so many people. It was fantastic. Alexander
from Aqua Inc. of course and his team who supported me with
cheers and energy drinks. Albert Grossguth who had done the
non-stop race was also a fantastic supporter and knowing that he
would be at the rest stops and the finish line gave me extra
I love being out on the water and
challenging myself - I also love the fact
that the water is always different and there
is so much to learn and to experience. I
enjoy paddling on all kinds of water – the
ocean, lakes and rivers.
What are your plans for
next year?
I will definitely keep paddling and enjoy
being out on the water – on rivers, lakes and
the ocean. I will also participate in races
and think 2017 is going to be an exciting
year with strong paddlers who are
dedicated to the sport. I look forward to
meeting wonderful people at different
events. I love downwind races and long
distance races and look forward to some great events. I’d also
love to do the 11 City Tour again, even though it’s far too early to
make a commitment. This race is just so special and so much fun
that I wouldn’t want to miss it.
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