TVTAS 2026. Let IT GO - KiteActive

A lesson that stays with you

Since I started organizing this trip in 2022, I’ve learned a few lessons.
And honestly? Our last attempt in 2024 gave me a proper scare.
The wind dropped between Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, and the heroes
of the KNRM had to come to our rescue.

That stays with you when you’re organizing a trip for a group.
Our goal is to bring everyone home safely, and that experience
really brought home the risks involved.

140 kilometres. A very specific weather window.

For this tour, we need southwest to northwest winds of 20 knots or more.
Preferably for two days rather than one, because we’re talking about
140 kilometres! A pretty specific window!

Over the years, I’ve noticed these conditions often appear around
early July during MadNes, or somewhere between mid-September and
early October. But nature doesn’t work with calendars. 🙂

When the moment comes… you want to drop everything and just…
GO!

Get the crew together. Organize the logistics. Check the whole weather
picture with Tobias from Surfweer. Because between the islands,
you want to SEE where you’re going.
No thunderstorms, no massive rain showers.

There are a lot of things that need to come together before we can say:
LET’S GO!

The crew. And YOU!

Our kite rescue crew consists of around 10–15 diehards. Kitesurfers
from the early days, with years of experience in heavy conditions.
People who can rescue you and your kite, help you get back to land,
and keep their heads cool when shit hits the fan.

And then there’s YOU. The rider!

How’s your level? Your fitness? Your gear? And what happens in your
head when things get heavy?

On the water, we’re only as strong as our weakest link. An old line
that snaps. A body that’s completely done after 50 kilometres.
A moment of panic when you really need to stay calm.
Small things can become very big things out there.

This trip is no joke

Please don’t read this story and think: nice, let’s try it ourselves
this weekend!

The currents, the waves, the energy between those islands…
it’s a different game.

On our first attempt, we brought a support boat. Sounds like a good
plan, right? But with the sandbanks and waves, it turned out to be
more dangerous for the boat than for us.

Even the KNRM can struggle to reach these places. We need to be able
to count on each other. And even with an experienced crew,
there are no guarantees.

So… what happened in 2026?

First window: during the Ameland event

Jan Willem and I rode from Den Helder to Ameland. And that was…
AMAZING! What a trip, with smooth and mellow conditions.

Second window: mid-September

Our whole crew was already on two boats, sailing to Terschelling
for our Sail & Kite Weekender. An epic weekend! But unfortunately,
the team and logistics weren’t in place for TVTAS.

Third window: this Friday and Saturday

Tempting? Absolutely.

But the forecast suggests the wind could turn too offshore on
Saturday to safely reach Schiermonnikoog or Ameland. And then
there’s the rain. A lot of rain. Which means poor visibility,
exactly where you need it.

I feel the magic pull too. But we are not ready. 2026 was an heavy year for KiteActive with a lot of management changes and challenges.

So this year, I’m letting it go.

Looking ahead 2027: building a stronger crew

Meanwhile, there’s plenty to work on! For next year, we’re investing in:

A better and fairer screening process
Comfortable buoyancy aids
New GPS trackers
More safety equipment
Official kite rescue training for more Kitecrew members, so we have
a bigger team prepared to help in a wide range of conditions

Because this tour asks a lot. From your gear, your body, your mind,
and the people around you. Please understand how extreme it can be,
and the risks involved.

But the good news? You can train. We can prepare. We can build a
stronger crew together. There’s always another storm coming,
and we’ll keep looking for the moment when everything comes together.

For now: have an AMAZING kite weekend!
Be safe, look after each other, and I hope to see you soon on the water! 🤙

If you wan’t to train with us and do a downwinder along the Dutch coast please join this community.

Geschreven door: felix

Bron: https://www.kiteactive.com/tvtas-let-it-go/