The Willem Hooft Story
Issue 83 / Thu 15th Oct, 2020
Adaptive kitesurfing seems to be on the march at the moment, and Willem Hooft is one of the early adopters. After a severe motorbike crash left him paralysed he didn’t let it stop him from pursuing his dreams. Read the inspiring story here, you won’t want to miss this one!
It was an ordinary December morning in 2016, being a maintenance engineer at Tata Steel IJmuiden, I was on my way to work on my motorbike; the same route I've been taking for years. Driving in the cold morning twilight, I approached the 'Wijkertunnel' in The Netherlands, while riding at the maximum speed permitted. All of a sudden, the traffic lights turn red; which doesn't usually happen on a highway! The car in front of me slammed its breaks, which meant I had to do the same, and in that second, everything changed.
I was able to dodge the car in front of me but ended up hitting the vehicle on the righthand side. Just when I thought it was over and done with, a car came at full speed and hit me from behind, tossing me into the air. At this point, I literally felt like my soul had left my body. I flew forty-one meters (to be exact) and crashed into the asphalt. In that second, I realised I was lying flat in the middle of the highway and cars were approaching. I had to move NOW. As I tried to force myself to the side of the road, it was apparent that something was terribly wrong.
My lower body was not responding, and I was unable to breathe. I, later on, found out that both my lungs had collapsed, my ribs were broken, and my vertebrae were crushed. While lying on the highway, I realised there was nothing else I could do but surrender. I opened the vizor, spread my arms, focused on my breathing as much as possible while staring at the sky. Slowly and steadily, I was able to inhale a tiny bit of oxygen into my lungs. I still couldn't feel my lower body, and there was a deep, and intense burning sensation shooting through the upper half of my body. My heartbeat was irregular, and my body was getting colder and colder. I was afraid, and all I could think was; 'Am I going to survive this?' I saw visions of my loved ones; my girlfriend, my daughter, family and friends and wondered if I would ever get a chance to see them again. Right then and there, I felt immense gratitude for all the meaningful and beautiful moments I had with them throughout my life.
Moments later, I could hear the paramedics get closer, and my hopes of survival increased. First on the scene was a trauma helicopter and shortly after 2 ambulances arrived. On my way to the hospital, I felt blessed to be alive.
A few hours later, the truth was revealed to me. I was paralysed from the waist down (Thoracic nerve T12), with close to zero chances of recovery. I saw my whole future collapse in front of my eyes. I feared this would mean the end of my career, relationship and having to give up on my life's passion; windsurfing. Over the next few months, I had to rediscover life as I knew it in my new body. I had to figure out how to work with it instead of seeing it as a disability. Mentally and physically and the high and the lows were all challenges I had to face. I was afraid I'd lose everyone close to me, but they never left my side. My girlfriend supported me through thick and thin throughout this journey. People overwhelmed me with loving and supportive messages, postcards and letters; precisely what I needed to gather the strength to keep going.
Before my accident, I had a dream to visit South Africa and windsurf the waves over there, but life kept getting in the way, and I kept postponing the trip. If this accident has taught me anything, it's that we should stop putting our dreams on hold, and coming up with excuses why we haven't done them yet.
I learned how to swim using my upper body only, so I could safely consider a way of riding waves again. My friends and I decided to design a surfboard suitable for me, thinking this would be a long process with years of amendments to come. A friend of mine recommended I watch a video by Thierry Schmitter; a sit-kitesurfer also with a spinal cord injury. I was awestruck! I found out the Thierry lived about thirty minutes away from me. At that point, Thierry had been a Paralympic sailor for ten years and had been sit-kitesurfing for approximately six years. He had built a network around him of contacts in the world of watersports. His kiteboard had been designed especially for him, with a custom-made frame and seat. Seeing this design, the option of kitesurfing and possibly going to South Africa, suddenly came within reach sooner than I could have ever imagined.
Over the next five days, I was able to receive 10,000 Euros through a crowdfunding initiative. Kickstarting the journey to build a custom-made sit-kiteboard for me. I ordered the adjusted seat from a French company, supplying material for sit-skiers, the frame for the chair was custom made in Denmark and the straps to attach me to the board came from a sailmaker in Scheveningen.
My motto was: "I can no longer walk, but I will learn how to fly!"
Over the next nine months, I dedicated my entire life to practising at sea and learning several safety techniques in the swimming pool. Two years, almost to the day, after my accident, my dream of riding exhilarating three-meter waves in Cape Town was going to become a reality. I started my own YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/willemhooft) and Instagram account (@willem.hooft), getting over 20K followers worldwide. My goal was to make a living being a full-time sit-kitesurfer, and a year later, I got sponsored by 2 renowned American companies; Slingshot and Wind Voyager. They have continuously helped me fulfil my dream and proceed to support me throughout my journey. I have recently started the "Willem Hooft Foundation" whereby I want to inspire others and show them the endless possibilities when you are in a wheelchair. Through clinics and introduction days, I'm trying to put sit-kitesurfing on the map, making it more accessible for people with physical disabilities. My goal is to create sit-kitesurfing Paralympic sports.
We all have to deal with life challenges to a certain extend. For me, this meant ending up in a wheelchair, but I'm sure there are other things people have to go through that I would not want to trade places with. By sharing my story, I'd like to make people aware that there are different ways of how to deal with setbacks and challenges. And that you can 'bend' these challenges into success and something positive. Looking at the bright side, by focusing on the possibilities and chances. Instead of getting stuck in limitations and hurdles. Everybody can accomplish their dreams.
I am currently in Italy riding the waters of Lake Garda, testing a new prototype for my sit-foil board. I also plan to visit Genoa, to share my story at 'Yacht Club Italiano' and raise funds for the foundation. Through my foundation, I hope to make watersports accessible to as many people with physical disabilities as possible. Allowing them to enjoy kitesurfing as well as other watersports as much as I do!
For more information visit: htps://www.willemhooftfoundation.com
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