Gijs Wassenaar is an Airush Big Air rider from the Netherlands who started his Airush journey in 2019 when our Team Manager scouted him after a 29-meter jump he performed at Misty Cliffs, Cape Town.
This guy brings a vibrant energy to the team with his dad jokes and Dutch accent.
Photographer: Danny Houwaart
Tell us a little bit about your kiteboarding journey so far.
When and how did you get into kiteboarding? Who taught you how to ride?
About 15 years ago I was surfing in the north of Spain on a stormy day when peddling out felt nearly impossible. At that moment a guy was cruising out with a kite and a little board. When I saw that, I knew that this was the next sport I wanted to learn. About a year later I got lessons together with my brother and we bought a set of gear together… from that moment I was addicted to the sport and never regretted it.
Photographer: Danny Houwaart
How did you get into Big Air riding?
The Big Air part has always been the part I enjoyed the most, and still do. Although I really enjoy all aspects of the sport and think that switching it up benefits your riding, I enjoy proper Big Air sessions the most.
Being a Big Air rider – you must have had a kitemare before right? Tell us about was your worst one yet?
Yes, I have had many but one that stands out is when I crashed a kite loop with so much speed that I cartwheeled straight into my lines while the kite was dropping from the sky. Fortunately, I managed to untangle myself just on time to not get caught in a potentially life-threatening situation!
Photographer: Chris König
What was the first trick you ever tried?
My first ever trick was a back roll.
What was the last trick you landed?
Does a tack on a foil board count? 😂
The last Big Air trick I landed was a double backroll kite loop.
Photographer: Danny Houwaart
What was the first victory you had in your career?
The first victory I had was when I placed 1st in the first-ever WOO Worlds Height competition in 2015.
What off-water activities do you enjoy?
I love paragliding, longboarding, riding motorbikes, enjoying beach days, going to a party, kayaking, having good food and the list goes on…
Who are the riders that inspire you?
A lot of them! I think everyone with their own style inspires me, but to name a few: Kevin with his high jumps, Liam with his power and mindset, Aaron with his brilliant control, Oswald with his unmatched style, Marc for giving his all every time…I can go on for a long time!
Where is your absolute favorite place to ride?
Dolphin Beach, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa.
Photographer: Ydwer
Favorite conditions?
SE 35-40 knots, 2m waves, 16-second intervals
and after a whole day of strong winds, an empty landing strip!
Then finally..what is your signature party trick on the water?
The biggest kite loop I can throw and super slow rotations in a front roll.
Check out how Gijs rides in this new Big Air POV video below:
Next article: 10 Big Air Mistakes You Can Avoid
We were all beginners once and mistakes are a natural part of the process when starting something new, but the principle that takes a beginner to the point of becoming a professional is the ability to identify mistakes and correct them continuously.
To try to make things a little bit easier for us all, saving some frustration and confusion over the long run, we’ve put together a short guide on how to avoid or correct the mistakes you might find yourself making as a progressing Big Air rider.
Next article: How To Do A Board Off
A Board-Off is great. It is exactly what the name suggests it is. You take your board off during the height of your jump and need to get it back under your feet for the landing. You can take your board off your feet by using the handle as a grip or by grabbing the board close to the fins.
Next article: How To Hang Ten On A Twintip
The Hang Ten is a must-know out-of-the-box (or boots rather) party trick that you have no reason not to try. In our latest Freestyle video – Anthology, you will see Oswald Smith doing this trick at around 4:46. We thought it might be a great idea to break it down for you, in case you also wanted to try this on flat water!
