May 22, 2012
Author: Will Splashtack
Just as the Michigan windsurfing season was kicking in, Michigan Windsurfing’s Will Splashtack strolled over to the Grand Rapids area to talk to Mark Boersma, USA 17, about some of his accomplishments - and to get a few tips as well. Even at a young age, Mark was a racer. In 1998, at the age of 10 yrs., Mark was the youngest person to compete in the Windsurfing Nationals and he tied for 9th place! This is a guy we gotta meet!
Will Splashtack (WS): Mark, I know we’re near the end of the semester, so thanks so much for taking the time from your studies to talk to Michigan Windsurfing. Before we get to your accomplishments, let’s start with where you grew up and how and where you first learned to windsurf.
Mark Boersma: I grew up in Grand Haven. My dad got me started windsurfing. When I was two years old, my dad put a baby boom on the mast, under his boom, so that I could hold on. We would sail around together on Spring Lake, Lake Macatawa and Muskegon Lake. When I was three, my dad took me onto Bear Lake and taught me to windsurf by myself. Of course, my mom used to windsurf and my sister windsurfs too!
WS: How about racing? If you were already competing in US Nationals at age 10, how did you get to that ability level?
Mark: My first race was in Michigan at Higgins Lake when I was 9 - I think? It was a long time ago. I was able to travel because my dad was a teacher and he had summers off. It also helped that my dad would only go on vacations if they had a good windsurfing spot. I have raced on Maui, in the Gorge, British Virgin Islands, American Virgin Islands, San Francisco, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Portugal, Thailand, Belgium and New Zealand. Everywhere I have windsurfed I have raced except for some places in MI. I have been teaching windsurfing on Maui for Hawaiian sailboarding techniques for 8 years. I have been racing for 11yrs in the Maui Race Series.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH MARK BOERSMA AT MICHIGAN WINDSURFING!
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