Youri Zoon kiteboarding: 10 Webisodes Recorded

by Bob van de Gronde

Starting April 2010 professional kitesurfer Youri Zoon will start broadcasting action packed video's on the internet called Recorded. In the 10 episodes you will see him travel around the world to find the best kitesurfing spots.

His journey starts in Tarifa, home of his girlfriend and pro kiter Angela Peral. Together they launch their kites for some kiteloop and freestyle action.
Tarifa is like Youri's second home, where he spends lots of time enjoying the different conditions Tarifa has to offer.
In Brazil he shows the crew at the famous Kauipi lagoon how its done. “Youri is the most stylish rider of the PKRA. Every time he tries a new move, he can just do it in a second, faster than anyone else. Its pretty anoying”, says Alex Pastor, number 4 of the PKRA. Jeremy Tronet, who hangs out at the lagoon most winters; “He got his knee injury, and we always think he is not going to be as good, but he comes back even better. I think he is on his way to become the world champion.”
As Youri travels the cumbucco area to find some deserted kitespots, he comes across beautiful places and people. Brazil also includes wave action, doing some nice moves on his waveboard, combining freestyle moves like handlepasses with waveriding.
In Africa, Youri leaves Cape Town to make a road trip along the Garden Route. Escaping he crowds in Cape Town, soon he finds some perfect lagoons just for himself. “Some of the lagoons here look just like the one's in Brazil, except the lagoons here are totally empty”.

After being injured for two years, Youri has made an unbelievable comeback in the PKRA ending 2nd in the 2009 competition. Youri is famous for his powered moves and flawless style, Youri; 'My style is to make a trick look easy'.
Youri demonstrates why he is the vice worldchampion of the PKRA by pulling off some amazing tricks. Amongst all the powered and stylish tricks you will see him do stuff like mobe 7, kgb pass, front mobe 7, kiteloop slim 7, blind judge pass, blind judge 5 and the low mozis. He also does some kiteloop 7's, the trick that made him win the title of 'best trick' at the PKRA stop in New Caledonia.


The video's were shot over a time span of half a year in which eyeforce productions followed Youri in between competitions.
The webisodes not only show action on the water, but also peak into the lifestyle of a pro kitesurfer.

Multiple camera angles were used to capture the action “In the process of filming Youri we tried to include more and more camera angles towards the end, filming him from speedboats, from the sky and from the water” says Arthur Neumeier. Bob van de Gronde, filming most of the watershots feared for his life more than once ¨Youri came so close sometimes, but I totally trusted him when he was jumping over me.”

Youri's sponsors Brunotti, Slingshot and Koraal helped financially by sponsoring the video's togheter with G-Shock, Kater and Eurofuncentre. The video's will be broadcasted on all of the websites of these sponsors.

Story of kiteboarder Youri Zoon

At the Age of 14 Youri was discovered by Brunotti boardshaper Jinne Sietsema. Until then Youri had been windsurfing, sailing, skating and doing motorcross. On the water he distinguished himself with his powerful and fast style. Since then Youri has been the face of many Brunotti campaigns


In his first year competing in the Dutch championships, he surprised many by taking the title home. Winning the title helped him to choose for a life as a professional kiteboarder, and he started to travel abroad joining the worldcup tour.
In 2006, his first year of competing in the worldcup, he became a young hero winning 2 out of the 9 worldcups, and ending up 3rd overall.

Then, in 2007, a year of horror started when Youri injured himself badly. A ripped ligament in his knee forced him to stop kiting. After living for the kite for many years, Youri now had to let his kite down and focus on healing his knee.
A period of recuperating and hard training began. Youri traveled to Brazil, Spain and South Africa to get back in shape. Friends, family and sponsors kept supported him which helped him to get fit again.


A new worldcup season started with a competition in Mexico where Youri was determined to make his comeback. But the drama continued as Youri again tore his ligament, leaving him questioning if he could ever kite again.
His medical sponsor Koraal ensured him that even after tearing his ligament twice, there was still hope. Koraal refered him to Viasana, a clinic with specialists in knee operations. Youri went under the knife just a couple of days later.

2009 finally became the year of his comeback. The competiton that year stayed exiting until the last day. After beating Aaron Hadlow, the 5 time world champion, youri was able to achieve a 2nd place in the overall ranking. 2009 was also the year that Youri started making a video series for his fans. 10 webisodes showing action and lifestyle are planned to air April 2010.