DIETER VAN DER EYKEN WILL ALSO and the Next Generation Project

Posted by RIWmag on 12 Apr 2013 /

English version follows.
DIETER VAN DER EYKEN, top riders PWA, He started his first Porto Pollo freestyle clinic for kids, THE NEXT GENERATION PROJECT. We took advantage of his presence in Sardinia to go find and make him a few questions about this exciting new project (10/04/2013).

RIW: Hello Dieter, first of all we would like to tell you that we are very happy to host in Sardinia the first clinic of the Next Generation Project. In a world like that of windsurfing that always has a bit of trouble to foster generational change your initiative is an example to support and promote. Tell us a bit about how did this idea.
D.V.D. AND: The idea came pretty quickly after considering carefully the windsurfing compared to other sports. In almost all sports talented young athletes is supervised by a coach who gets the best possible results in relation to their talent, except in windsurfing. There are some initiatives of clinic is true, as the Young Gun of JP/NP, but they are a bit different from our. Me and Alexis Duparc (other coach of NGP) We wanted to do something special for boys and younger girls. Beautiful places in Europe, with the ability to choose the formula inclusive (that includes the Clinic, rent, lodging and meals), in this way parents know exactly the prices and know exactly how much they're going to spend. In addition, a chance to get together one of the first 10 toprider and a coach with 20 years of experience seems perfect to suit all levels of ability, by jibe gliding up to the latest freestyle maneuvers.

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. photo: Britt Van Der Eyken

RIW: The project involves two clinic, Porto Pollo is expected over this one in Holland. Because the choice of these resorts and where else would you like to lead the clinic in the future?
D.V.D. AND: For the first year we identified and chosen bei inexpensive places remaining in Europe, in order to make the trip as easy as possible! We chose to start in Porto Pollo in Sardinia because early in the year is already hot enough (16-20 ° C) and the possibility that there is wind is rather high, In addition the club that hosts us claims really young and that is what we at NGP we try. Go i.e. in places where you invest in new generations of windsurfing. For the Brouwersdam in Holland was pretty easy, Besides being my homespot, gave the windsurfing as some of the best freestyler in Europe and still boasts many topriders PWA including Steven Van Broeckhoven win world champion 2011. The Windsurfcenter has the best materials in Europe and possibly the world to younger surfers. The location itself is perfect, works with all wind directions and have meals, accommodation and renting in one place!
For the future we would like to come back to these two locations and we hope to add someone else, It all depends on the demand for courses and from my calendar of competitions, because I want to improve my results and therefore I have to train for this. However the NGP project Clinic is definitely something that will remain for a long time, It won't be just the one year project!

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: I noticed your relationship with the boys, There is a lot of affinity and the guys are always very careful and focused during the theoretical phase to Earth. How do you stimulate their attention?
D.V.D. AND: I have no idea, I think the main reason is due to the fact that the guys who are to participate in the NGP Clinic are here to learn! Also I always tried to be brief but direct, showing them both videos to study the maneuvers, that explanation in Beach sailing. Besides this affects the fact that if you are engaged in something you love to do is easier to talk about it with enthusiasm. This keeps alive the attention of participants, which are then excited to go immediately into the water to put into practice the knowledge gained!

Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: How do you manage to combine the diverse needs of women into account that the technical level is different between them? Tell us in more detail how the lessons are set.
D.V.D. AND: Before I try to get a clear view of everything that kids expect and I write the maneuvers that want to learn. This way I can better prepare and be sure that all may learn something at the same time, mixing the manoeuvres of all in order to keep the attention all the time of the lesson, even when it is a maneuver that someone already knows do. Return also often on certain points that are basically the same in almost all maneuvers, turn your back while continuing to watch where you go, fold the front leg during slide, etc. Then I try to work as much as possible with shooting video to better explain the slow-motion technique so that kids know exactly what they have to do before going in the water.

Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: In the first group of students there are already a few guys we saw competitions Pro-Kids. Given the age of 16 years, What do you think about the technical level so far reached by these young?
D.V.D. AND: The level of this NGP Clinic is now very high, This is a great thing to see! I noticed that they learn very quickly, and only now I really understand what I missed when I was younger. What can you teach a guy in a week is very different from what you can teach him in a weekend. I have found that they can learn even more beyond the tricks, I can teach him something about the competition and how to deal with a race, Thanks to my own experience. I'm still growing out the freestyle discipline, but I hope with this project to help participants improve even faster and closer to your fitness goals, whether you want to be world champions, whether you want to just learn to sliding some true freestyle maneuvers!

Michiel De Trelawney. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: Now let's talk a little bit about yourself, you are in Sardinia for some week for training in view of the stage Podesdorf PWA in Austria, the conditions you found were ideal for honing your preparation?
D.V.D. AND: Yes, in two weeks there will be the first stage of the World Cup of the year in Podersdorf so it was great to come to Sardinia 2 weeks to train a bit and make the NGP Clinic. Sardinia has really amazed, Once again, I had forgotten how beautiful this island and how many options are there for the wind. You can safely surf every day if you are willing to travel by car and there are so many great places to exercise in view of the season. One day you can have 40 knots the other day only 15-20 knots and, Of course, You can choose between the dish, chop or even some good surfing in the waves! Definitely coming back and soon I hope, Since this is really a lovely island!

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: Ok, Thank you so much and I wish for future competitions from Pro riders around the world. I hope your example will convey the passion for windsurfing to many young people and can help grow this sport.
D.V.D. AND: Thank you very much

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

Details:
www.dieter-b35.com/NieuwsE.html ,
https://www.facebook.com/TheNextGenerationProject ,
www.ngp-windsurfing.com/Engels/News.html

Text: Michele Tagliafico – www.RIWmag.com
Photos: Michele Tagliafico, Britt Van der Eyken

Nicolo’ Tagliafico to Next Generation Project. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

English version
RIW: Hi Dieter, first of all we would like to tell you that we are very happy to host the first clinic in Sardinia of the NGP Next Generation Project. In a world like that of windsurfing which always has a bit of difficulty to foster generational change your initiative is an example to support and promote. How has the idea of the clinic been thought?
D.V.D. AND: The idea came pretty fast after a clear observation of windsurfing compared to other sports. In almost all sports young talented athletes get coached by a trainer who gets the full profit out of their talent, in all sports besides windsurfing. You have some clinic programs like the Young Gun camps from JP/NP but this are just a few and different than our clinic’s. Me and Alexis Duparc (other coach for NGP) wanted to make something special for younger guys and girls, good places within Europe with the option off an all inclusive possibility (Clinic, Rental, accommodation and food) like this the parents know the price in front and know what it’s going to cost. Besides that the combination of having a top 10 pro rider and a coach with already 20 years of experience seems to work out perfect to cover all level from the first planning jibes till the latest new move there is.

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: Why did you choose these two locations (Porto Pollo – Browersdam) and where would you like to bring the clinic in the future?
D.V.D. AND: For the first year we really wanted to go straight to good places which aren’t to expensive and are within Europe to make the traveling the most easy! We chose to start in Sardinia Porto Pollo because it’s already warm enough in the beginning of the year (16-20° C) and has a good chance for wind. Besides that the local club is really supportive toward the youth which is something we from NGP are also looking at, to go to places where they invest into the next generation of windsurfing. For Brouwersdam it was pretty easy, it’s my homespot and it gave windsurfing some of the best freestylers of Europa with several PWA topriders including Steven Van Broeckhoven 2011 world champion. The windsurf center has the best gear for younger riders in Europe and probably in the world and the location itself is perfect as it works with all wind direction and you have accommodation, food and rental all in one place! For the future we want to come back to this two locations and hopefully add a few more but this all depends on the demand and my competition schedule as I also still want to improve my results and I have to train for this also but the project is for sure something that is going to stay for a long time and is not just going to be a one year project!

DIETER VAN DER EYKEN. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: I noticed your relationship with the kids, there is much affinity and the boys are always very attentive and focused during the theoretical part on the beach. How do you keep the boys into concentration?
D.V.D. AND: I have no idea, I think the main thing is that the people who come and participate in the clinic are here to learn! I also always try to keep it short but straight and show them both video footage as explanation with the sail on the beach. Besides that it also the fact that if you are busy with something you love it’s easier to talk about it with a lot of energy which helps to keep the attention and get the participants excited to go on the water straight afterwards to try it for real!

Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: How do you combine the different needs of boys considering that the technical level is different between them? Explain in more detail how the lessons are set.
D.V.D. AND: First I try to get a clear view from what everybody want to learn so I let them write down a list of moves they want to learn. Like this I can prepare myself a bit better and make sure everybody learn something the whole time by mixing up the moves from everybody so they keep the attention the whole time I’m explaining maneuvers whether it’s a move they already can do or not. I also always come back to some points which are practically the same in almost all moves, turning the shoulders by looking where you are going, bending the front leg while sliding etc. Afterwards I try to work also with as much as possible video footage to clearly give the technique in slow-motion so they exactly know what they have to do before they go on the water.

Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: In the first group of boys there are already some guys we’ve seen in international competitions Pro-Kids. Considering the age under 16 years old, what do you think of the technical level reached?
D.V.D. AND: The level on this clinic is immediately very high which is great to see! I noticed they learn really fast and now really see what I was missing when I was younger, what you can teach the youth in a week is such a big difference to what you can teach them in a weekend. I notice I also can teach them still other things than only the tricks, I can teach them about competing and how to put a heat together even better out of my own experiences. I’m still growing in the freestyle discipline but I hope with this project I can make participants even improve faster and get closer to their goals whether it’s becoming world champion are just be able to slide true some freestyle moves!

Matteo Pala. Photos: Michele Tagliafico

RIW: Now let’s talk a bit about you, you have been in Sardinia over the past weeks to train for PWA event at Podesdorf in Austria, have the found conditions been ideal?
D.V.D. AND: Yes in 2 weeks it’s already the first worldcup of the year in Podersdorf so it was great to come to Sardinia for 2 weeks to train a bit and do the clinic. Sardinia has truly amazed me again, I forgot how good this island was and how much chance you had for wind, you can pretty much sail every day if you drive around a little bit and you have a lot of different location which is perfect to prepare yourself for the season. One day you can have 40 knts the other day just 15 to 20 knts and of course you can chose between flat, chop or even some good wave sailing! I will be back for sure and hopefully sooner than later as this is really just an amazing island!

Riccardo Pistidda. photo: Britt Van Der Eyken

RIW: Thank you so much and my best wishes for future competitions by Pro Rider around the world. I hope that your example will convey the passion for windsurfing in many young guns.
D.V.D. AND: cheers.

Mattijs Lasore. Photos: Michele Tagliafico