We are happy to welcome a new member to our Starboard Junior Dream Team: Louise van der Meulen. Louise comes from the beautiful island of Aruba, where she spends most of her time practicing slalom and freestyle windsurfing. This year, Louise joined her first Slalom events and quickly rose to the top ranks. To help you get to know her better, we asked Louise four quick questions. The future of Slalom windsurfing looks very promising with talented young athletes like Louise. Welcome to the team, Louise!
Where, when, and with whom did you learn how to windsurf?
“The Blue Highway is where it all started for me! When I was about 10 years old, I tried to learn kitesurfing but found it too scary, and the kite was way too powerful for me. When I turned 11, I saw that all of my friends were learning how to windsurf, so naturally, I wanted to do that too. From the moment I first tried windsurfing, it felt like a perfect fit, as if a missing puzzle piece had fallen into place. My whole family is into water sports so they were my main inspiration and biggest supporters. Being on the water with them is something I’ll cherish forever. I’m a perfectionist, so when Aruba Hi-Winds came around in 2017, I didn’t want to compete because I knew I couldn’t beat the boys. Even back then, I was always battling it out with the boys and didn’t want to lose to them. I guess some things don’t change over time 🙂 Everything I can do right now is all because of my dad and Jeroen Weststrate. They taught me the basics of windsurfing and still push me to progress every day.”
What is your goal for this season? You have already competed in two Youth World Cups; do you plan to continue?
“Yes, absolutely! My next stop this year will be the PWA in Miami. Next year, I’ll be in VWO 6, finishing high school, so by summer 2025, I’ll finally be able to leave Aruba and head to Europe. There, I plan to compete in both IFCA and PWA competitions. I want to see how far I can go with this sport. In Aruba, it’s pretty difficult to see how good you are because there aren’t many windsurfers here. Normally, I train by myself and have no one to compare or push myself with. That’s why I hope that when I go to Europe next summer, this will all change, and a new world will open up for me. I’m very excited for that time to come!”
How does it feel to be part of the Starboard Junior Dream Team?
“It feels like a dream come true. I remember being in Bonaire for the PWA when I received the text from Starboard asking if I wanted to be a part of their team. After, I bursted into tears—happy tears, of course! I couldn’t believe it was really happening and was absolutely over the moon, to say the least! In 2023, the Starboard team came to Aruba for their 2024 photo shoot. I saw everyone, from Blanca and Matteo to Oda and Sarah. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people who shared my love for windsurfing. At that moment, I told myself, “I want to become a professional windsurfer one day too.”
Every day, I push myself both on and off the water to achieve this goal. Being part of the Starboard Junior Dream Team feels like I’m getting one step closer to that dream. I love it when dreams turn into reality. It makes life feel so special and magical.”
What message would you give to young windsurfers who aspire to compete one day like you?
“Never be afraid to do something no one else is doing! If you love windsurfing, don’t stop just because you’re the only one doing it. One of the things I live by is to never have any regrets. When I want to do something, I’ll go for it. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay, but at least I tried. If you never try, you’ll never know, and you’ll always wonder what could have been if you had taken that leap. So just go for it! Embrace every opportunity, make the most of it, and remember that everything you learn along the way is an added bonus.
Believe in yourself, stay determined, and keep pushing your limits. The journey is just as important as the destination. The sky’s the limit!”
