The Aruba Hi-Winds concludes successful 34th edition

It was a wonderful event after a two-year hiatus, says Hi-Winds volunteer treasurer Peter Broussard, it was great to see so many happy faces of participants, guests, sponsors and volunteers.

The Aruba Hi-Winds annually highlights Aruba’s best assets, the island’s #1 and #2 attractions, the fantastic beach and the incredible ocean around us.

The event is the largest kite and windsurfing competition in the Caribbean. Over the years, many legends in both disciplines have crossed the finish lines at Fishermen’s Huts and Eagle Beach.

The Aruba Hi-Winds has a rich history thanks to a large number of participants, sponsors, spectators and volunteers.

The beginnings were quite humble when windsurfing fanatics Ruben Croes and Anthony Blok announced they were organizing an international the event in Aruba, in the late 80s. But the happening took off and drew the attention of many stars, amateur and professionals, and the sponsorship of sail and board manufacturers, fragrances, sportswear and the Aruba Tourism Authority, Setar, and many local businesses. This year a generous sponsor, Successfully, got behind the event, and provided excellent support, along with many others some bigger, some smaller, all welcome.

(Diamond – Successfully; Platinum – Windpark Vader Piet; Gold – Bright, Korp Mariniers, High Performance; Silver – Boardwalk, Quinta del Carmin, Keller Williams.)

Through fat and lean years, the Aruba Hi-Winds could always rely on the collaboration of the WRCA, the Wind Racers Club Aruba, and this year the IFCA, the International Funboard Class Association, joined in.

This year’s event became the IFCA championship event for windsurfing.

Wednesday, May 25 served as registration and training day. Aruba registered above 16 local kids under the age of 17 and Bonaire showed up with 20. Kudos.

There were about 100 local and international Kite Surfers and 40 windsurfers. The exciting races on the water started on Thursday with the IFCA, the South American Slalom Championship, and continued with Windsurfing, Kite Surfing and Kite Foil Championships, that spread over a few days, until the last heat was run on Sunday, at sunset.

In between the traditional long-distance races, and the windsurf freestyle single & double eliminations, Hi-Winds conducted Sunfish Sailing races, at Surfside, and facilitated kid races, in New, Super and Barracuda categories, as well as Mountain Bike races through the Mondi, and a Striders race, a category which includes anything on wheels, allowing many kids to participate. Windpark Vader Piet BIG AIR kite surfing and super freestyle sessions starring legendary Sara Quita Offringa, 17 times world champion, concluded the menu of activities.

Hi-Winds makes it a point to be inclusive, hug and hold the younger generation to guarantee the sustainability of the event, in future years.

Beach entertainment included bands, DJ Chase, Earplugs and DJ Nutzbeatz, even the live streaming of Formula One races! Did I mention daily happy hour? Of course. It goes without saying.

The award ceremony on Monday, May 30^th, at 6:30 pm took place at Paseo Herencia.

Thank you, board-members, we couldn’t have done it without you: Wouter v.d. Berg, president; Peter O. Broussard, treasurer; Sabine Rump, secretary; Ron Henriquez, board member.

Thank you, hard working committee members, we couldn’t have done it without you: Wouter v.d. Berg, Peter O Broussard, Sabine Rump, Ron Henriquez, Edwin Hekman, Ruben Metz, Jordan Ema-Out, Daisy; van Leeuwen; Diederik Kemmering, Noortje Derksen, Pieter Verduijn, Robin-Paul van Veghel, Tessa Hoekstra, Pascalle Geelkens-Hamers; Chris Hoo.

List of winners by categories:

2022 Aruba Hi-Winds

KITE Long Distance Races

Kite LD Grandmaster