The future of kitesurfing is looking bright. At just 12 years old, Figo van Ekeren is already turning heads with his passion, dedication, and impressive results on the youth competition circuit. Originally from Zandvoort and now based in Tarifa, Spain, Figo has developed a deep love for the sport and a clear vision for where he wants to go. Inspired by some of the world's best riders and driven by big ambitions of his own, he is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting talents of the next generation. We're proud to welcome Figo to the Harlem Family and look forward to being part of his journey.
Read the interview below to learn more about Figo, his goals, inspirations, and what excites him most about joining Harlem.
Name: Figo van Ekeren
Discipline: Big Air, Airstyle
Date of birth: 23 April 2014
Where are you from? The Netherlands
And where are you based now? Tarifa, Spain
How/when did you get into kiting?
I got into kiting when I was really young. I spent my first years growing up in Zandvoort, where my parents were already kitesurfing, so I was always watching them on the beach. When I was about three years old, I started playing with a small trainer kite on the beach. When I was eight, we moved to Tarifa, and that's where I really learned how to kite. At Balneario, I saw a lot of Big Air riders training, and I remember dreaming that one day I would be able to kite like them. Since then, I've been training as much as possible.
What are your biggest achievements in kiting so far?
Finishing 3rd in the GKA Youth World Tour U14 and becoming Vice Spanish Champion U16 are probably my biggest achievements so far.
What excites you about joining the Harlem Family?
I'm really excited to join Harlem because everyone has been so welcoming from the very beginning. It already feels like a family, and I'm looking forward to riding, progressing and creating great memories together with the team.
What's your Harlem gear set-up?
For Big Air, I ride the Harlem Peak, and for freestyle training I ride the Harlem Hadlow Pro. I really like how responsive and predictable the kites feel. They give me a lot of confidence when I'm learning new tricks and pushing myself to improve.
What are your goals and aspirations for the future?
I want to keep improving, land bigger tricks, do well in competitions and have as much fun as possible on the water. My dream is to become KOTA and World Champion.
Favourite spot in the world?
Tarifa will always be my favourite spot because it's home, but I also love riding in Cape Town and Dakhla.
What or who inspires you?
I'm inspired by riders who keep pushing the sport and always try to improve. My family inspire me every day as well.
When not on the water, where can we find you?
Probably training, spending time with my friends and family, or playing with my self-made mini kites. I love building different mini kites and using them to visualize tricks.
Describe yourself with 3 words:
Motivated. Passionate. Enthusiastic.
Any curious fact about you that no one knows yet:
I create my own Big Air events with my mini kites and make up full competition heats between riders like Lorenzo Casati, Leonardo Casati, myself and other pro riders.
