Annabel van Westerop
Born in Leiden, the Netherlands
Raised in the Netherlands and Aruba
Living in Aruba
How did you start kitesurfing?
When I was 13 years old, my dad started taking lessons. As we started going to the beach more often I picked up windsurfing. However, I was always watching my dad and the other kiters flying through the air I could only think one thing: I want that too!! When I was 14 I took lessons and was immediately hooked!
How did kitesurf change your life?
Kitesurfing has given me the chance to make a carreer our of my passion. It only started as a hobby of course, but before I knew it I was competing in local competitions in Aruba and Venezuela (including Adicora and Isla Margarita). The next step was finding a sponsor and a few years later I finished school, went to my first international competition and never looked back!
Which are your favorite spots in the world
1) for kitesurfing Brazil most definitely! I go there every year for the incredible training conditions.
2) for relaxing The British Virgin Islands. These beautiful islands and cristal clear water create a vacation paradise! Also it’s the home of my sponsor Saba Rock Resort, a small island with a hotel and amazing restaurant.
3) for eating I’ve been to Thailand recently and that country changed the way I look at food. So much frehs goodness, cooked right in front of you in tiny kitchens or stands on the street.
Describe your perfect day
A beach day at home with my friends and family. Kiting till the sun goes down with everyone on the water just having a good time! Then turn on the bbq, have a nice glass of wine, turn on some music, and chill at the beach in the moonlight. And the best thing, I can do this every single time I get home from a long trip. 🙂
What do you like about Drika bikinis?
I fell in love with Drika bikinis as soon as I saw the brand for the first time in 2015. Being a pro kiteboarder, you are always looking around for good bikinis, and it can be the toughest thing! Drika brings everything together to create the perfect line of bikinis. They are sexy, comfortable, and do NOT move while kiting and most importantly, crashing! For every occasion you can find a bikini in her line. From a chill beach day to a hardcore training session, and from crazy colors to simple and cute.
How do the bikinis make you feel?
As a pro kiteboarding girl, your image is quite important! I only work with brands I truly believe in because when I walk onto the beach I want to be proud of what I’m wearing and the gear I’m using. And that’s exactly what I feel when I walk onto the beach every day wearing Drika, so I think that says enough! 😉
Your favorite model?
My favorite model for kiting is the cruzado top. It’s like a sport bra, looking really good, and staying on perfectly. When I come off the water I love changing into the Triki top with Margarita bottom to take as much as possible out of the sun!
