Building up to BHM: Sanne Meijer (NED)

Building up to BHM: Sanne Meijer (NED)

Wakeboarding World Champion Sanne Meijer (NED) is heading to her second edition of The World Games when the multi-sport event returns to the United States in July 2022. “Participating in The World Games feels like you’re part of something bigger,” Meijer says, “and it’s also really cool having other athletes watch Wakeboarding for the first time and get to know the sport.” Sanne Meijer is this week’s athlete Building up to Birmingham!

Meijer says she really wanted to try Waterskiing when she was only 6 years of age, but didn’t have a swimming license then, so it was not possible. She started Wakeboarding on the cable at the age of 10: “When I moved from the south of Holland to the north, I met a boy in my class who had just started Waterskiing, and he asked me to come and try it after school. Since that day I have never stopped Wakeboarding.

I started Wakeboarding behind the boat in 2014, at the age of 17. I was training in the winter on an indoor cable when I met the national coach of Boat Wakeboarding, and he asked me to come and try it.

Meijer has qualified for The World Games 2022, but is preparing for the Games with an extra challenge: “At this moment I’m working on a big shoulder injury. I actually have to have surgery on it, but I decided not to have that now because it would mean that I would miss participating in The World Games next year.” She is struggling hard with the injury, keeping her goal in mind at all times: “I don’t really want to have too big expectations for The World Games, I just want to be fit. Hopefully, if everything goes well, I would love to bring home a medal.” She is doing everything possible to be in shape in Birmingham in July 2022: “I hope to go to America one month before the Games to prepare in better Wakeboarding conditions and fully focus on Boat Wakeboarding. And before this I will work super hard to get my shoulder as strong as it can be!

The World Games in 2017 was my first multi-sport event. It’s super different from World Championships. First of all, you travel with a big team of Dutch athletes, and you get to know new sports and new people. Participating in The World Games feels like you’re part of something bigger, and it’s also really cool having other athletes watch Wakeboarding for the first time and get to know the sport. If I can, I want to see every Dutch athlete compete! I love to see fellow Dutchies do their thing.

Meijer loves to do Crossfit besides her Wakeboard training, but Wakeboarding is her big love: “Since the day I tried it, I’ve fallen in love with the sport. Just being on the water all by yourself, the adrenaline, and it’s just so much fun to do. In Wakeboarding you’re for everlearning. You can always add another rotation or grab, that’s what makes it special. Also the whole Wakeboarding community is really great, it’s like a big family. My best friend are my biggest competitors, how cool is that. I don’t think you see this really often in professional sports.

Fans had the chance to ask Sanne Meijer questions on social media, and she has answered them:

If you were to compete in another sport of The World Games, what would it be?

I have no clue haha, but airsports sounds cool!

What is your goal for 2022?

My main goal is to be fit and healthy. Besides this I would be really stoked if I can keep my European gold streak going and get a medal at The World Games.

What has been the biggest challenge on your career?

Dealing with my shoulder injuries. It’s always frustrating to get injured and see all your competitors move on and get better, when you’re just standing still. Being injured is always challenging for your mental and physical health.

How many hours do you train per day?

Hard to say, it really depends on the weather. Specific Wakeboard training: If I wakeboard on the cable I can easily do two hours’training a day. If I wakeboard behind the boat, one hour is already really exhausting. Also it depends on where I am; if I go for training to Thailand I can train for 5 hours a day. It can be different every day. Stretching, going to the gym, Crossfit and physical therapy are also variations of training I do, these I do everyday besides Wakeboarding spread out over the week.

Most of my Wakeboarding training is on the cable. This I try to do at least every day for at least 1-2 hours; it also depends on the weather forecast. Training on the boat is a bit harder for me. The boat is approximately 2½ hours drive away from my home, and the weather in Holland is not ideal 90% of the time (windy/rainy).

What is the most difficult trick/task you have completed in competition?

I guess that’s either gonna be an s-bend or a skeezer.

Sanne Meijer will take part in Wakeboard competitions at The World Games 14-16 July 2022. Tickets for the events can be bought here.

 The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.

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