King of the Chair || Sitting down with: Willem Hooft | Kitemana HANGTIME Podcast

Summary

In this inspiring podcast episode, William Hof, also known as the 'King of the Chair', shares his remarkable journey of overcoming a life-altering motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed. Despite his challenges, William pursued his passion for kiteboarding, leading to innovative developments in adaptive gear and the creation of his foundation to promote sit-kiteboarding. His story highlights the power of resilience, the importance of community, and the potential for individuals to push boundaries, even in the face of adversity.

Takeaways

• 🌊 William Hof, also known as the 'King of the Chair,' is an inspiring figure in the kiteboarding community who continued to pursue his passion despite a life-changing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
• 🏄‍♂️ William's accident in 2016 led him to start kiteboarding, showing that a severe setback can mark the beginning of a new chapter rather than the end of one's life.
• 🏖️ Cape Town is a favorite location for William due to its beautiful views and excellent kiteboarding conditions, but also the presence of large sharks in the water.
• 🛠️ William has been involved in developing lighter and safer gear for sit-kiteboarding, improving the equipment for those with physical disabilities to enjoy the sport.
• 📈 William's progression in sit-kiteboarding has been rapid, from learning to sit kite to performing impressive tricks and loops on the water.
• 🤝 William's friend Ruben introduced him to Cheri Smitter, a key figure in his development in sit-kiteboarding, highlighting the importance of community support.
• 💡 William's foundation, the Willo Foundation, aims to make sit-kiteboarding accessible to people with physical disabilities and to develop a lesson program for sit-kiteboarding schools worldwide.
• 📚 William authored a book titled 'No Wave Too High,' sharing his journey and insights from multiple perspectives, including his friends, ex-girlfriend, and even the person involved in the accident that paralyzed him.
• 🗣️ William also works as a motivational speaker, discussing topics such as dealing with change, overcoming setbacks, and personal leadership.
• 🏆 William's vision for the future includes seeing sit-kiteboarding become a Paralympic sport and integrating it into major events like King of the Air and Red Bull Mega Loop.
• 💰 The William Hof Foundation is organizing a fundraiser event called 'Wheels to Waves' in the Netherlands to support their mission of making sit-kiteboarding more accessible.

Q & A

Who is the guest in this episode of the Kite Mana hangtime podcast?

The guest in this episode is Willam Hof, also known as the King of the Chair.

What significant event happened in Willam Hof's life that led to his paralysis?

Willam Hof had a life-changing motorbike accident 3 years ago that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

How did Willam Hof continue his passion for water sports after his accident?

Despite his paralysis, Willam Hof pursued kiteboarding and has been adapting the sport for people with similar physical challenges.

What is the name of the foundation that Willam Hof started, and what is its purpose?

The foundation is called the Willo Foundation, and its purpose is to make seated water sports like sit kiteboarding accessible for people with physical disabilities.

What are some of the unique challenges faced by sit kiteboarders compared to stand-up kiteboarders?

Sit kiteboarders are fully strapped onto the board, making it difficult to release in case of emergencies. They also lack the suspension and balance provided by legs, which can make falls more dangerous.

How has Willam Hof contributed to the development of gear for sit kiteboarding?

Willam Hof has worked on making the gear lighter, safer, and more user-friendly for sit kiteboarding, including developing a smaller board for flatter landings and reduced impact.

What is the name of the book Willam Hof wrote, and what does it cover?

The book is titled 'No Wave Too High,' and it covers Willam Hof's journey and experiences after his accident, including insights from various people affected by the accident.

What is the fundraiser event that the Willo Foundation is organizing to raise funds?

The Willo Foundation is organizing a fundraiser event called 'Wheels to Waves,' which involves a downwind from Norvik to Amoda in the Netherlands.

What is Willam Hof's vision for the future of sit kiteboarding?

Willam Hof's vision is to see sit kiteboarding grow into a Paralympic sport and be integrated into events like King of the Air and Red Bull Mega Loop, with a sit kiteboarding division called King of the Chair.

How can people participate in the Wheels to Waves fundraiser event?

People can participate in the Wheels to Waves fundraiser event by registering for €50, which includes their own personal fundraiser link, and they will also get to enjoy an after-party on the beach.

What is the timeframe for the Wheels to Waves event?

The Wheels to Waves event is planned to take place between the 8th of April and the 3rd of May, depending on the best wind and weather conditions.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Inspiring Journey of William Hof: Overcoming Adversity

This paragraph introduces William Hof, also known as the King of the Chair, who despite a life-altering accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, continued to pursue his passion for kite surfing. The discussion highlights his incredible journey, the development of adaptive gear for sit-kiting, and his aspirations to bring sit-kiting to new heights. William shares his experiences of adapting to life in a wheelchair, the challenges he faced, and how he turned his situation into a new chapter of his life filled with opportunities and accomplishments.

05:00

🏄‍♂️ The Evolution of Sit-Kiting and its Challenges

In this segment, William delves into the specifics of sit-kiting, emphasizing the differences and risks compared to traditional stand-up kite surfing. He discusses the importance of safety and the development of a lesson program for sit-kiting, aimed at teaching others how to engage in the sport safely. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by those with physical disabilities in starting sit-kiting, the lack of available gear, and the high costs involved. William's foundation works towards making sit-kiting more accessible and shares his vision of seeing it become a Paralympic sport.

10:01

📚 William Hof's Book and Personal Growth

William shares the process of writing his book, which took two years to complete, and the collaborative effort with a writer who interviewed various people in his life to provide diverse perspectives on the impact of his accident. The book, titled 'No Wave Too High', explores not only his own experiences but also how the accident affected those around him. William reflects on the power of shared experiences and the importance of expressing gratitude and love to those who inspire us. He also discusses his journey as a motivational speaker, drawing from his personal experiences to inspire others to overcome challenges and take leadership in their lives.

15:04

🌟 Empowerment Through Shared Experiences

This paragraph focuses on the power of shared experiences and mutual support among individuals facing similar challenges. William talks about the importance of connecting with others who have experienced life-altering situations, and how these connections can be empowering. He discusses the inspiration he draws from others, such as Ed Sheeran, and how their resilience and determination can motivate him and others. The conversation emphasizes the universality of challenges and the collective strength found in overcoming them, highlighting the importance of sharing these stories to inspire and uplift one another.

20:06

🏆 The William Hof Foundation: A Vision for Inclusivity

William outlines the mission of his foundation, which aims to make water sports like sit-kiting accessible to people with physical disabilities. He shares his dream of seeing sit-kiting become a Paralympic sport and integrated into major events. The foundation works on organizing sports events and fundraisers to support its goals, with the upcoming Wheels to Waves event in the Netherlands being a key initiative. William invites those interested to participate and support the foundation, emphasizing the collective effort required to grow the sport and provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to experience the freedom of sit-kiting.

Keywords

💡Kite Surfing

Kite surfing, also known as kiteboarding, is a water sport that involves the user riding on a modified surfboard or kiteboard while being pulled by a large, controllable kite. In the video, kite surfing is the central theme and passion of the guest, William Hof, who continues to pursue the sport despite his disability.

💡Accident

An accident in this context refers to an unfortunate event that occurred three years prior to the podcast, where William Hof had a motorbike accident, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. This life-altering incident is a pivotal point in the narrative, as it led to William's determination to continue kite surfing and inspire others.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in the video refers to the process of modifying or adjusting gear, techniques, and approaches to make kite surfing accessible for individuals with physical disabilities, like William Hof. It encompasses the development of specialized equipment and training programs to ensure safer and more enjoyable experiences for everyone involved.

💡Inspirational

Inspirational in the context of the video denotes the motivational impact that William Hof's story and his pursuit of kite surfing despite his disability have on others. His journey serves as a testament to overcoming challenges and pursuing one's passion, regardless of obstacles.

💡Foundation

The term 'foundation' here refers to the non-profit organization initiated by William Hof, aimed at making seated water sports like kite surfing accessible to people with physical disabilities. The foundation focuses on gear development, lesson programs, and organizing events to promote and support the sport.

💡Public Speaking

Public speaking is the act of delivering a talk or presentation to an audience. In the video, William Hof uses public speaking as a platform to share his experiences, lessons learned from his accident, and to inspire others to deal with change and setbacks. His journey from being nervous to becoming a confident speaker is highlighted.

💡Personal Development

Personal development refers to the process of improving one's character, skills, and overall well-being. In the video, William discusses his personal development journey, which includes accepting his new physical reality and learning valuable life lessons from his accident.

💡Freedom

Freedom in this context symbolizes the sense of liberation and autonomy that individuals, especially those with disabilities, can experience through sports like kite surfing. It emphasizes the importance of enabling everyone to enjoy activities regardless of their physical limitations.

💡Par Olympics

The term 'Par Olympics' refers to the Paralympic Games, an international multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. In the video, William dreams of seeing kite surfing, specifically sit kite surfing, become a part of the Paralympic sports, increasing its recognition and accessibility.

💡Fundraising

Fundraising in this context is the process of collecting funds or financial aid for a specific cause. The William Hof Foundation organizes events like 'Wheels to Waves' to raise money to support their mission of making water sports accessible for people with disabilities.

Highlights

William Hof, also known as the King of the Chair, joins the podcast to share his inspiring story of returning to water sports after a life-changing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

William discusses the development of sit kiteboarding equipment, making it lighter and safer for individuals with physical disabilities.

The foundation, Willo Foundation, is introduced as a means to combine knowledge and develop a lesson program for sit kiteboarding, aiming to teach it safely worldwide.

William shares his personal journey of learning to sit kiteboard, from surviving between waves to making significant progress and even performing loops on the water.

The podcast covers the collaboration with the Technical University in Delft and specialized teams in para-Olympic sports to develop new gear and knowledge in sit kiteboarding.

William's vision for the future includes growing sit kiteboarding into a para-Olympic sport, with the dream of seeing a sit kiteboarding division in events like King of the Air and Red Bull Mega Loop.

The first sit kiteboarding camp was organized in Egypt, serving as a trial to test the effectiveness of the lesson program and its potential for wider implementation.

William's book, 'No Wave Too High', is mentioned, which he co-wrote with a journalist, including interviews from various perspectives including friends, his ex-girlfriend, and the person involved in the accident.

The importance of sharing personal stories and experiences is emphasized, as it can be inspirational and impactful on others, regardless of the challenges faced.

William's public speaking engagements focus on dealing with change, setbacks, and personal leadership, which he feels passionate about sharing.

The process of William becoming a motivational speaker is discussed, including overcoming stage fright and learning to speak from the heart.

The upcoming fundraiser event, Wheels to Waves, is announced as a way to support the Willo Foundation and make sit kiteboarding more accessible.

The podcast concludes with an invitation for listeners to join the Wheels to Waves event and support the foundation's mission.

The podcast's host expresses admiration for William's achievements and his positive impact on the sit kiteboarding community.

Transcripts

welcome to the kite Mana hangtime

podcast guys you're here with me Ruben

Lenton here we are diving deep into the

world of kite surfing bringing you

inspiring stories expert tips and of

course the latest buzz in today's

episode I'm super stoked to announce our

guest Willam Hof AKA King of the chair

after a life-changing accident leaving

him paralyzed from the ways down Willam

made sure to not let anything stop him

from getting back on the water join us

as we sit down with him and learn more

about his Incredible Journey and how

he's taking keyboarding to new heights

even from his chair so let's Jump Right

In 3 years ago I had a motorbike

accident and ended up in a wheelchair at

first I thought would be the end of my

life actually started a new chapter for

me good to see you again yeah good to

see you too man so we're here with

William hes a freaking Legend uh who had

a severe motorcycle accident in

2016 uh has been paralyzed from the ways

down and uh then he started kiding I

mean why not yeah man what an

inspiration yeah thank you thank you

yeah so how you doing back in Cape Town

just rolled in yeah it's my fifth year

now to be here um and about seven years

ago since I had my accident and yeah it

feels good to be back man yeah what do

you like about Cape Town man well well

first of all I think the view I don't

know if you see it on the camera but

it's yeah such an insane beautiful place

here uh but of course also like the

conditions for kiding here I think there

are not much places in the world where

they yeah where everything comes so good

together with the wind and the waves and

don't promote it too hard then they're

all coming I don't want that it's

already busy stay away sharks as

well yeah big sharks exactly and uh yeah

how's your writing progressing I mean I

see you uh playing around with some new

boards and like what has been the

progression from getting to learn how to

sit Kai to how you right now yeah

actually we were talking about that the

other day like thinking back about five

years ago I was just cing for a couple

of months then uh sit guiding and yeah

like it was literally surviving in

between the waves here it was if I'm

looking back at how I did it back then

it's quite a different

since um yeah I did a lot of development

on the gear so it's a lot more lighter

and a lot more uh safer yeah Bit

Stronger uh but also my level of course

has progressed a lot yeah yeah yeah

incredible man I mean I remember

actually introducing you to Cherry

smitter in in schening man that's about

six years ago or something yeah exactly

because your friend lauron he's like hey

yeah my my mate Willam he had an

accident and he was always an evid wind

Surfer but yeah he really wants to kite

so maybe you can help him a little bit

and yeah I knew Cherry was sit kiing so

then I organized that day there and you

guys got to meet and yeah you got you

took it to a whole new level because you

progress so fast in that man and uh yeah

then we saw you flying and even pulling

the loops on the water met

respect bro yeah man making making

progress every time and yeah in a way

it's um it's also like uh quite special

to have the opportunity uh to do all

this try outs on the new gear and

developing a lot on our own I mean um uh

last year we we've been working together

with uh the T Technical University in

Del for example uh working together with

uh teams that are specialized in par

Olympic sports and it's just nice that

all these doors kind of open uh because

yeah there's not there's nothing on the

market yet so a lot of parties are

interested in helping and and bringing

all the knowledge together and yeah it's

just cool to be part of that process

yeah man that's awesome like so many

opportunities to yeah get Brands

involved that want to help push this to

the next level and you also want to get

more people into sit kiding or what's

you have a foundation yeah definitely um

because it's uh in a way it's cool and

at the other side it's also sometimes um

like for my own experience I know it's

it's hard to start with sit guiding

because there is not like gear on the

market that you can easily buy and there

are quite some extra risks that you need

to take care of um and over the years

that that gave us the idea to start a

foundation uh to combine all the

knowledge that's here now and we do a

lot um our foundation willo Foundation

uh we do a lot of development on the

gear but we're also developing a lesson

program uh especially for sit guiding uh

so that kide schools worldwide can learn

like what are the differences uh between

normal kiding and sit kiding and how can

they teach it safely

um so what are some of the difference

and risks like I saw you in the

beginning you were practicing in the

swimming pool even with your board on

just to exactly I think the biggest

difference is that uh as a sit guer like

we we're uh totally strapped onto the

board and you cannot easily release

because yeah being strapped onto the

board it's also your safety when you're

in the water without the guite uh but of

course it's also immediately uh a risk

because yeah if the the lines are

Tangled around your seat for example

your safety systems don't work anymore

this is a big difference for I think

standup guiders yeah and this is the

first lesson you do when you start sit

guiding is learning how to in any

situation untangle yourself if if

something like that happens and we train

it in a pool uh simply rolling a rope

around your body and learning you to

esimo in the water like turn around and

relax yeah yeah yeah yeah like that yeah

yeah it's uh a lot of trying out for

ourselves as as well I mean um I've

learned a lot from Cheri and he kind of

learned the hard way himself but if you

want to uh I think teach it to a broader

audience or more people then yeah it has

to be like uh more structured and more

safe of course and we made a lot of

progress in that um last year we had the

first sit kite Camp organized in Egypt

which was awesome oh wow uh with

a small group of people as a try out to

to see like hey is the lesson program

working and is this something we can uh

yeah make happen for more people wow is

there a lot of people that want to try

it yeah I receive like weekly messages

from people worldwide who are in the

wheelchair who are like hey man

this looks coool I want to learn where

can I buy a board where can I take

lessons and yeah there are a couple of

schools uh who teach set guiding okay

but they are like full for two years uh

up front like that yeah so there's a lot

of uh opportunity there I think

definitely and good that you're leading

the way in that because I remember you

starting out it was a mission to get

like a custom seat that fit you well uh

to get the special board made and yeah

to just get everything together uh but

yeah to share that knowledge and to make

it easier for people to get into is

freaking amazing dude respect very nice

and uh I mean you are a professional

kaer you're living from this Sport and

from sharing your story and your

knowledge right so what does your

business and kind of vision look

like um yeah at one side I'm I'm trading

as much as I can as a pro guider see

where how far I can push the limits in

in sit guiding my goal here for Cape

Town is to progress towards 50 m jumps

15 M J say 50 got some Advantage sitting

down is too easy man two fingers in his

nose up 50 m let's go yeah yeah yeah now

15 meters um but another big difference

with sit guiding compared to to standup

guiding is is um yeah of course if

you're out of balance uh and you fall

down you cannot kind of kick off the

board um and you don't have your legs as

a suspension either to break the fall so

in the beginning I I didn't jump any

higher than three meters because the

impact on my my spine on my back was

just too much um so this is one of the

things that we did a lot of uh

development on in the gear H to make it

lighter and uh make the board smaller

also and so yeah with the flat Landings

that you have less impact and all these

things so yeah this I think this time it

should be possible to to progress to a

bit more height amazing dude 15 m is

crazy but like yeah building in

suspension will mess too much with like

the fuel and the directness of the board

I guess and some foam as well so what

are some of the things that you can do

making it lighter is one and yeah we

tried uh all these things out for

example suspension it it helps a little

bit in in the impact uh but because of

the extra weight you will be pulled down

more towards the flat Landing um and

because the yeah I have another frame

height now and another yeah because the

weight is so much less it's more easy if

you if you're out of control just to to

throw your shoulder down first in the CR

inste of like Landing it flat these kind

of things um but yeah besides guiding I

also work as a motivational speaker so

um in uh both Netherlands or

International I talk about dealing with

change dealing with setbacks uh taking

uh personal leadership on your life and

yeah I think this is something I feel a

lot of passion about as well amazing and

did you have some stage fright in the

beginning or how was the Journey of

progressing to be confident on stage

quite a journey it's quite a journey

definitely um I mean I did presentations

now and then but it was not something

that I did very naturally uh but then

after my accident I just noticed more

and more people telling me like hey it's

quite inspirational to see how you deal

with the whole situation and uh could

you share something more about that and

I did some interviews here and there and

um in that I found like hey maybe I can

can bring something more with this so

yeah I did the training on that just

practice practice practice and yeah I

can see the difference now you're so

well spoken and like so so good like you

definitely grew a lot in that and I uh I

had quite some hours uh of uh of working

it by now yeah beautiful pay big time

man feel thank you man thanks thanks I

remember I mean people say you're a nro

speaker and I mean I've been growing up

with the camera and doing lots of things

but going on the stage man like I had so

much stress like nothing would freak me

out more and like I'll just blank out

and like I don't know what to do almost

puking and like and then Striker called

me up there like hey do you want to do a

talk at our sales meeting and it was

2,000 people you know and it was like

well that's massive and I remember being

super nervous and I had such a hard time

to practice my own story you know

because you talk about your own

challenges and your own vision and it's

so boring to me to just like practice it

over and over again it's like okay my

story again but if you just speak from

the heart like the most beautiful things

come out and people resonate with it and

it's actually one of the most powerful

things we can do I think and uh yeah we

inspire people man yeah I totally

recognize what uh what you're saying I

mean um uh if I'm looking back at one of

my first uh uh talks then I'm also like

very nervous on stage and and talking a

lot from my head like that um and I

remember like uh all this tension and uh

and mo in In This Moment uh but I think

it's mainly about what you're saying if

you if you speak from the heart and

also what I kind of my Mantra before I

go on stage is if it's it's not about me

yeah it's about what I'm I'm I want to

give there and uh people don't have to

take it but at least I want to offer it

to them and yeah the moment moment it

it's about them and not about me then I

feel all the stress just Fades away and

yeah it's about tuning outwards and

feeling into my audience more than

feeling into my own nervousness and this

is the the switch that made a lot of uh

difference for yeah ex I recognize that

man that's uh yeah yeah because if you

focus on yourself like doing something

wrong no it's about them sharing for

them so that they can grow learn from

whatever they want to or whatever

resonates with them is yeah just makes

it so much lighter and more meaning for

with the right intention so that's a

good one yeah exactly and I think with

the three things that I'm doing like my

Foundation the public speaking and the

the pro guiding uh for me a lot of these

yeah how do you say things come together

like the circle is round yeah um I've

did a lot of personal development over

the years also around my accident of

course with the whole acceptation of the

new uh version of how my body works of

course and yeah this is also something

that I I felt like hey I want to share

this as well with with the people around

me the life lessons that that I learned

from it and I think with the public

speaking and also with my Foundation uh

it's a way to to share a little bit of

that part as well yeah and then there's

a beautiful book that you wrote I wrote

a book about it as well of course how

long did it take you that uh yeah the

whole process took about two years and

uh this is the

result so uh no I'm super proud of how

it became um I wrote it together with a

writer and um something I think it's

really cool what he did is he

interviewed a lot of people um yeah like

my best friends um my ex-girlfriend who

was with me during the accident but also

the lady that um that hit me with her

car and the way she experienced uh the

whole accident and the years after and

yeah it gave me also a lot of insight

about how this accident not only

affected my life

but also affected uh the lives of so

many people around me and uh of course

the the hard and the sad moments but

also the moments of of of of finding New

Hope and and new strength in the new

situation and determination and yeah I'm

very I'm very grateful for the people

around me that help me to good BS man

wow um I mean you sent me the book I

didn't read it yet I haven't read a book

in my life I think but I'm going to put

myself uh to it and uh it's called No

wave too high what a beautiful title

we're going to give one book away so to

see how you can win it read the

descriptions below and uh stay tuned

yeah definitely maybe a lucky winner no

that's good man no wave to high it's

going to be the Dutch version though

yeah the English version will come out

later this year all right yeah looks

like a super awesome book I will

definitely read it um and thanks for

sharing that I'm sure there's a lot of

awesome insights in it you never read a

book in your life life but I can tell

you this book is um um quite easy to

read I had many friends that told me

that uh yeah they never read a book like

completely but it's there's a lot of

speed in it and nice yeah and it's a

nice way of doing it with somebody else

and then I mean that's the crazy thing

about funerals actually how well you get

to know someone from so many

perspectives and what you just shared

like uh learning about how your accident

affected other people like learning from

those different perspectives is so

valuable you know I think you can take a

lot from that um so yeah I think that's

the beauty in funerals luckily this was

no funeral but but in in a way like just

after my accident it felt a little bit

like that that I received messages from

uh people that I some people I hadn't

spoken to for 10 years or something and

I received all these letters or or or

long text messages from people like hey

I remember this moment we had together

or or we talked about this and that made

this made this impact on my life all

these things you normally only tell

about someone that's yeah not among us

anymore and in the beginning it was not

sure if I would would be of course it

was quite uh tricky um but re the days

after my accident to read back all those

messages literally after a couple of

minutes I just had to stop because it

was like a lot but also to um uh have

had that experience it was quite uh

beautiful so much power and energy and

love that you can feel through that

exactly and people normally don't tell

you so honestly I think uh about the way

they experience you 100% And that learn

me a lot about like hey why are we

waiting for someone not to be with us

anymore before we share those things

yeah and also that we are good as we are

that we are Al light to someone I think

we all Inspire each other no matter how

old how young who we come across we yeah

we all are here to make each other feel

good and I think that's that's beautiful

and that can be shared more often so I

love you guys I love you too so happy to

be here with you man really nice a good

thing to share definitely and uh e were

you know e were yeah of course have you

chatted to him has he reached out to you

you've reached out to him how's that

relationship yeah I didn't know e were

uh personally before his accident I mean

of course by name but um after after his

accident we yeah we had some uh some

chats and we met up a couple of times

and um

um yeah it's uh I recognize a lot of

course in uh in the things he's going

through and um at the same time

everybody has also their own process and

uh their own physical challenges as well

I mean uh for me it's uh like I'm

paralyzed from the ways down my upper

body is still full functioning uh it

where he has incomplete injury uh in the

neck like he has different physical

challenges as I have and um I think yeah

that's one of the reasons also why I

have my Foundation because I noticed

that it just helps a lot for me to um

yeah have now and then these contacts

with with uh other individuals uh with

similar challenges I mean we all have

our own way to to work through it but I

definitely feel empowered uh seeing how

others uh do it and and visa versa I

think yeah very beautiful man yeah I can

imagine that is a

a crisscross of emotions and life we all

experience it in our own way no matter

what Journey you're on and um yeah

seeing how e and Mariah tackle their

situation is also so inspirational and

without no doubt so heavy every day it's

so much work and yeah it's uh it's life

now you know and for life we can be

grateful yeah we're here for a reason

exactly and I mean uh uh Ed and I were

both like in a wheelchair but um uh when

I'm on stage for example I mean

uh setbacks it's something that that

everybody has to deal with and my

challenge is living in a wheelchair um

but everyone has their own uh challenges

in life and I think in that sense uh we

can all learn from each other and um I

think that's the the main thing about

100% you you share some some of your

challenges somebody might share some

business challenges which inspire you to

take the foundation or something to the

next level so exactly keep on coming um

beautiful and the William hes Foundation

tell me something more about that uh

where is it at what's your vision for it

what's next and how can we help well I

experienced myself how important it is

to still have that feeling of Freedom

when you're in a wheelchair and this is

something we want to share with as many

people as possible um and we found out

that it's hard to start a sport as sit

guide serving or sit W boarding um when

you're in a wheelchair because the the

adapted gear it's it's expensive

there are no schools teaching at the

moment so that's where we as a

foundation come in uh our goal is to

make seeded water sports uh as sit kite

suring accessible for people with

physical

disabilities uh my new dream is to see

the sport grow into a par Olympic sport

and that it will be integrated in events

like King of the air red bu mega loop

that King of the chair right King of the

chair exactly that that that we will

have this sit Guai division in there and

yeah let's see let's see how far we can

progress well if you're almost jumping

15 meters I will call Red Bull and we

can make it happen yeah let's see I've

had some chats and uh I'm

sure but um no but first I think uh to

to reach this level it's important to

have as many Riders on the water as

possible so what we do is we organize

also sports events um for example the

camp in Egypt what i t about where we uh

really learn people the start and the

beginning how to how to start sit guing

safely uh but to make this happen we of

course need we of course need the funds

to uh yeah to to make that happen yeah

uh this year we're going to have the

first edition of uh a fundraiser Wheels

to waves it's called it's in the

Netherlands we're g to organize a

downwind from norvik to amoda I know

that place yeah it's your

homeown so um but the idea is to raise

funds for the foundation and um the

subscrip subscription will be uh open

very soon we will allow 100 uh people to

U we're looking for 100 people that want

to help us to raise funds for for the

foundation so if you're interested look

at the link below and uh and you can

help us big time and it's in April you

say in a wind window on a weekend during

the day or how does it work uh it's

between the 8th of April and third of

May okay and um yeah it depends on on

the best wind and and weather conditions

we hopefully want to do it in the

weekend um but of course yeah you know

with the weather you can't always plan

it ahead and you will give like a 48

hour notice or uh we get 48 hour notice

and uh yeah so nice I will register as

well so uh if you're around definitely

uh yeah come join us on this downwinder

and uh we support the William ho

Foundation to get more people sit kiding

amazing yes you can participate for €50

and uh you get your own personal

fundraiser link afterwards

uh of course we have an after party

afterwards on the beach so uh let's see

uh how many people will join us but I'm

looking forward to this event nice that

sounds awesome brother thank you so much

for the chat uh really lovely I hope you

guys enjoyed it too and uh yeah I will

see you soon thank you

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brother what an incredible dude I always

love hanging out with him and yeah

learning from each other it's wonderful

thank you so much for checking this out

I hope you really enjoyed it and might

be able to take away some of uh yeah

these tips and techniques that he uses

to overcome challenges and apply it to

your own life in the next episode we are

going to hang out with Craig keski uh

yeah world renowned professional

photographer and I'm looking forward to

spend some time with my friend so I hope

to see you there much love

ciao

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