Leander Vyvey

Leander Vyvey
Whatever you're dreaming of, go for it!

Biography:

Leander Vyvey tried his hand at kiteboarding for the first time as recently as 2002. Since then and with the howling wind running through his long blonde hair, the young Belgian hasn't looked back. After falling head over heels in love with the sport almost overnight, Leander spent as much time as possible on the water back home in Nieuwpoort. Kitesurfing proved to be a welcome distraction  throughout Vyvey's adolescent years, and while he never planned on turning professional, the path that kitesurfing has taken him on in recent years has been like a dream come true. A full-blown career in kitesurfing has allowed him to travel and compete all over the world. A handful of his favorite spots to kite include South Africa, Brazil and Egypt. In 2009, Leander made his intentions clear in terms of what he hopes to achieve in the coming years when he was crowned KPWT Overall & Freestyle Vice World Champion. Above all, the young Belgian aims to stay healthy and happy so he can enjoy his kitesurfing as much as possible.


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Q: What has been the biggest highlight of the past 12 months for you?
A: Releasing my signature JN kiteboard was big for me.   

Q: What's the best thing about riding for a living?
A:  That's the beauty of it - it hardly ever feels like work.   

Q: Who do you enjoy riding with the most, and why?
A: My friends back home in Belgium. Riding with them keeps me grounded and takes me back to how things were when I was starting out. You can never beat a solid session with good friends, it's an absolute highlight on the water for me.  I also enjoy riding with other pro riders. It's super motivating to be surrounded by guys who ride so well.  

Q: Other than home, where is your favorite place to ride, and why?
A: I really like Hawaii and South Africa. Both of those countries have great waves with flat sections in between, making it great for both freestyle and wave disciplines.  

Q: What are your main goals and plans for the next 12 months?
A: I'll be competing on the Kiteboard Pro World Tour and after twice coming second, I'm hoping to notch up a first place finish.  

Q: How do you see your sport evolving in the next few years?
A: I think an increasing number of riders will be responsible for pushing the different disciplines and styles to new levels. And I think there'll be an even greater number of freestyle styles, like big kiteloops, boots riding, big airs and more.  

Q: Have you got any plans to film a new video part, and if yes, with which film company?
A: I'm not involved in any professional film projects at the moment.  

Q: What do you do for fun when you are not riding?
A: Music  

Q: What achievement are you most proud of so far in your career?
A: Winning gold at the Kiteboard Pro World Tour in Italy.  

Q: If you didn't ride for a living, what would you have liked to be doing now for an occupation?
A: I'd be making movies.  

Q: What trick do you enjoy the most?
A: Jesus walk.

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