In the spotlight: Watersports Association Zeewolde, watersport with a big heart

Photographer: Onno Rijpstra

In the run-up to the Dutch Water Week, we put a number of stakeholders in the spotlight. This time, five questions to Randolf Kobus, chairman of the Watersports Association Zeewolde (WAZ). “With us the motto is: sailing is for everyone.”

 

What is the link between WAZ and the Dutch Water Week?
“As an association we don’t have a specific role in the organization, but in a week where water sports are central and also top-level sports are practiced, there is of course also attention for associations like ours. If you want to get talent to the highest level, you have to start at the bottom. Zeewolde is an association where that happens.”

What happens in that area at Zeewolde?
“A bit of talent development as well. Children learn to sail in an optimist with us and if they reach a certain level, we offer them the next steps together with the regional training center in Almere. As a local association, we can never provide all those facilities ourselves, but that’s how we all work together. And if they transcend the regional level again, then they move on to national level. We want to offer the basics at the bottom of the pyramid. For example, the first Optimist in Tour this year will take place at Zeewolde in mid-April and we are proud that more than 400 children have already signed up for it. Also worth mentioning is that we have a fairly active group of sailors with disabilities. They sail in Hansa boats. Four sailors from the top 5 in the Netherlands come from us. With us, the motto is: sailing is for everyone.”

How do you benefit from an event like the Dutch Water Week?
“We hitch a ride on the enormous attention for water sports. This is not only in Almere and Lelystad, but certainly also in Zeewolde. Come sail on the Wolderwijd! We have fantastic waterways on our side of the Flevopolder.”

What else should we know about WA Zeewolde?
“We are a very active association with just over 100 members. Every week we organize the Wednesday Night Competition together with Harderwijk, because we both sail on the same water. The Wednesday Night Competition is a concept with more associations, but I think we have one of the largest in the Netherlands.”

What are you looking forward to in Dutch Water Week yourself?
“I am an avid competitive sailor and look forward to competing in one of the races. This is a wonderful event in a beautiful central location. As the Netherlands, we are really a water sports country and we also get more and more beautiful national and international events. As an enthusiast, that can only make you happy.”

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