Amado Vrieswijk has joined the North Windsurfing racing team with immediate effect. The man from Bonaire, born in 1995, is one of the most accomplished windsurfers of our time. In 2021, he secured the freestyle world title, followed two years later by the vice world championship in slalom. Now he is joining Pierre Mortefon, one of the most successful racers of his generation. The collaboration should enable Vrieswijk to take the decisive step towards further world championship titles. Vrieswijk not only brings racing expertise with him, but will also drive forward the development of freestyle sails. The switch was made after intensive negotiations during the transfer period. After Mortefon, Vrieswijk is the brand's second prominent new signing this season.
Ambitions and objectives
"I'm very excited, North Sails is a first-class team with a great vision. I'm looking forward to what's to come and the new season," explains Vrieswijk. His ambitions for the world championship title remain unchanged. The Bonairian has already achieved important milestones, but wants to continue fighting for world championship titles. The switch to North puts him in the best possible position to develop further in the coming years and remain competitive at the top. North has a strong development culture and a clear long-term vision. This gives him the confidence to improve season after season. There are no guarantees in racing, but he believes that this change offers him the best chance to fight for victories and ultimately a world title in the coming years.
Collaboration with Pierre Mortefon
The team constellation with Pierre Mortefon opens up new perspectives: "You're right, Pierre is definitely one of the best racers out there. I never really had the chance to train and test with him, but I know that he has an enormous amount of knowledge," says Vrieswijk. He is sure that he can learn a lot from Mortefon. Together they will be able to develop first-class sails in the future. The two athletes bring different strengths to the table. While Mortefon is considered one of the most successful racers of his generation, Vrieswijk scores with his versatility. The combination of Mortefon's experience and Vrieswijk's innovative approach should bring North Windsurfing to the forefront of competition. Both athletes share an unconditional desire to compete at the top of the world.
I want to be as prepared as possible for the season and enjoy the process. (Amado Vrieswijk)
Freestyle development and competition schedules
In addition to the racing focus, Vrieswijk will remain involved in freestyle. He will definitely help with the development of freestyle sails. Freestyle remains something he enjoys. If it doesn't clash with his racing programme, he would also like to compete in some freestyle events. Overall, however, racing remains his main focus. Vrieswijk's dual role as a racing and freestyle specialist makes him a valuable development partner for North Windsurfing. His experience from both disciplines flows into product development. He can test and evaluate sails in a wide variety of conditions. This versatility sets him apart from pure racing specialists.
Season goals 2026
Vrieswijk has clear goals for the coming season. "I think the most obvious goal is to attack the slalom, foil and fin titles. To achieve that, I want to enjoy the process, have fun and make sure I'm fully prepared for the season," explains the 30-year-old. He is confident that the results will come if he puts his mind to it. This gives him a strong chance of the top spot. He plans to compete in all three disciplines. The combination of slalom, foil and fin requires different skills and material set-ups. Vrieswijk is relying on thorough preparation and intensive testing phases with the new equipment from North Windsurfing. The 2026 season will show whether the change will have the desired effect.
