From chasing podiums to creating flying works of art, Scott Barendsen is redefining his path. Blending kiting with creativity and marketing, he’s turning kites into moving canvases and pushing the sport in an exciting direction - read all about it here!

My journey into kitesurfing began when I was just five years old, during a family holiday in Tarifa, Spain. I remember seeing a kite for the first time and being completely mesmerised. From that moment, I was hooked. By the time I was nine, I knew exactly what I wanted—to become a top-level kitesurfer. The dream of travelling the world and living the life of a pro athlete became my ultimate goal. That vision fueled everything.

I never imagined I could become a top-level kitesurfer. Watching the pros in action, I always thought, “Wow, that must be incredibly difficult.” But everything changed when I met Giel Vlugt and we became close friends. He saw potential in my riding and told me, “If you train with me, I’m sure you’ll be sponsored in a few months!” His belief in me was the motivation I needed. Fueled by his confidence, I dedicated all my time and energy to training—and that’s when everything started to change.

In 2020, I took the leap and entered my first competition. The motivation to train at the best, windiest spots and compete on a global stage became an obsession. I lived that dream for the next four years, pushing myself harder than I ever thought possible.

One of the most memorable moments of my career was my first-ever competition, which took place in my hometown, Tarifa. I was lucky enough to make it onto the podium, and that feeling was unforgettable. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to travel to places like Cape Town, Brazil, Egypt, and Oman, each offering its magic. Every session, every destination, and every person I’ve met along the way has shaped me.

But after about three years of competing, something changed. I started noticing a shift in how I felt about the sport. The pressure to perform well and constantly improve began taking a toll. I realised that I was only truly enjoying about one in every four sessions—the rest left me feeling frustrated, whether due to the conditions or simply not being at my best. The structure of competition was becoming more about expectations and less about passion.

I started asking myself: Is this all there is?

As I stepped back, I realised another side of me had been neglected—creativity. I’d always been passionate about marketing, visual storytelling, and content creation, but my intense training and competition schedule left little room to explore it.

That’s when everything aligned. My head sponsor, Harlem Kitesurfing, announced an exciting partnership with Brainchild, a fabric production company in Macedonia. Harlem could now print custom designs on kites, and suddenly, a whole new idea was born—kites as mobile billboards.

I saw an opportunity to merge my high-level kiting and modelling skills into something entirely new. Whenever the wind picked up, I could take my kite into the sky as a performance tool, a moving canvas for brands and companies.

This shift reignited my passion in a way I hadn’t felt in years. No longer confined by the rigid competition structure, I found freedom in creating, innovating, and merging my two worlds—kitesurfing and marketing. The joy of riding returned, but this time, with an entirely new purpose.

At first, stepping away from competition felt daunting. I wasn’t sure how my sponsors would react. But when I sat down with them and shared my decision, I was met with overwhelming support. They assured me they believed in my vision and were still on board.

Beyond that, unexpected doors opened. Thanks to my years of Big Air experience, I was approached to become a judge for the GKA Big Air events. It was an incredible opportunity I had never seen before, and I absolutely loved it.

Looking ahead, I see huge potential for this concept. Branded kites could evolve into large-scale projects—TV commercials, collaborations with major brands, and even partnerships with car companies. There’s so much unexplored territory in kiting, marketing, and visual storytelling, and I’m excited to push the boundaries.

For any rider feeling stuck in their current path, my advice is simple: pause, step back, and ask yourself—does this truly make me happy? If not, it’s okay to pivot. Motivation thrives on passion; sometimes, taking a new direction is needed to rediscover that fire.

This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter—one where kiting, creativity, and innovation unite to redefine what’s possible!

By Scott Barendsen

Comments