Overview
Zara Hoogenraad is a professional kiteboarder from the Netherlands and the 2024 GKA Big Air World Champion. Known for her powerful riding style facilitated by her status as one of the tallest riders in the fleet, she is a trailblazer who pushed the boundaries of Women’s Big Air by becoming the first to land a “Boogie Double” in competition.
Career and Riding Style
Despite entering the sport relatively late, she reached the world’s elite through sheer dedication and hard work. As one of the tallest female riders, she excels at controlling massive kite power in extreme winds. Her style is characterized as extreme and powerful, featuring a repertoire of high-difficulty tricks such as Boogie Doubles, Double Loops, and Contra Loop Front Rolls.
Her path to the 2024 world title was marked by extraordinary resilience; she competed in the finals with an arm injury and faced a desperate situation when her board straps broke mid-heat. However, she switched boards three times during the final showdown, ultimately borrowing Giel Vlugt’s board to land a comeback Boogie Double and secure the victory.
Sponsors and Gear
She is a global team rider for CORE Kiteboarding. Depending on the conditions, she utilizes CORE’s “XR Pro,” “XR7,” and “Nexus” kites. In elite competitions like Lords of Tram, she has been noted for using cutting-edge prototypes featuring Aluula materials (such as the XR Pro Aluula) to maintain a technical edge.
Professional Synergy with Giel Vlugt
Beyond their personal relationship, Zara and Giel Vlugt maintain a deep “strategic training partnership.” Utilizing the same gear and training together daily, Zara benefits from high-level technical feedback and insights directly from Giel, a top-tier male pro, which has significantly accelerated her progression. During competitions, they function as a tactical unit, acting as each other’s beach caddies to communicate wind conditions, remaining time, and required scores—a professional synergy often highlighted by commentators.
Quotes and Episodes
Regarding her journey and the importance of perseverance, she stated:
“I feel like there are so many girls that are so much better than me and I came so late in the sports… I feel like it’s super cool to show people that with the right mindset and with hard work and dedication, you actually can achieve anything you want.”
— Zara Hoogenraad
In a legendary heat during the 2024 KOTA semifinals, she lost her contact lenses after a crash. Despite being unable to see the beach or the heat timer, she relied on feel to land nearly all her tricks, securing a spot in the finals.
“I lost my contact lens so I couldn’t see anything and I thought I lost… But I’m so happy with this heat because I landed almost all my tricks.”
— Zara Hoogenraad
Competition Results
• 2024 GKA Big Air World Championship (Gran Canaria) – Winner (World Champion)
• 2024 Full Power Tarifa – Winner
• 2024 GKA Lords of Tram – 3rd Place
• 2024 Red Bull King of the Air (KOTA) – Finalist