Team Rider
Anne-Marie Reichman
I am born and raised in the Netherlands where I learned to windsurf with my brother and dad being 11 years old. We're talking "the" beginnings here;) Being originally a "flat water slalom - race-board windsurf girl" and Dutch Champion in '94, I changed paths and started looking for waves in Scheveningen (west coast Holland) once I saw people windsurf (dance) in the waves. I was intrigued to look for waves outside Holland in Scandinavia, South Africa and Maui, Hawaii. Driven en determined in the waves, I made my debut in the wave discipline of the PWA (Professional Windsurfing Association) in 1997 and had my best ranking in 2002; 3rd place overall. Besides competing, I have always been active to look for new destinations and had the opportunity to go on some amazing windsurfing trips around the world to experience different waves, cultures and parts of myself. Yoga, writing articles and some painting creations have been part of my lifestyle in able to help me 'balance'. #AMArt, my art paintings have taken a new spark in the last year and I am excited where this can take me.
After a solid 10 years on tour where wave riding was my favorite part of competing, I've continued my passion for windsurfing in events like the AWT (American Windsurfing Tour) with a best result 2nd place in 2011 and in my free sailing sessions on Maui where I feel "home". Surfing and Stand Up Paddling are other sports that make me really happy like windsurfing; which comes in handy now I spend a lot of time with my other half and water man Eric Totah in California as well.
Since 2009 I organize "The SUP 11-City Tour". The "SUP" part of the name is connected to Hawaii, where the SUP sport is invented and where I feel home. The "11-City Tour" part of the name is connected to Friesland (Northern province of Holland) where I grew up and experienced my first years of water sports joy! The inspiration for my event comes from this phenomenal ice skating event "The Elevencity Tour" that started in 1909. The 220 kilometer long ice skating route, an ultimate challenge is going through 11 historical beautiful cities and is now immense popular with millions of people coming together and 'hooting' for the hard core skaters who complete this in one day. People started to cycle, walk, row, skate this route (and a few more options). I paddled the tour in 2008 on my own as a personal dream and to expand my horizon. Now we paddle these waters with a large International Paddling "Ohana" in 5 days in SUPtember. This year during the 6th annual in 2014, we add the non-stop category for who likes to paddle the 220 kilometers within 36 hours (or less). Through the event, I feel I can give back to others and let others experience the physical and mental power that water sports gives you.
My motto is: "Dream of life, Live your dream". I have dreamed big and made some 'impossible dreams' (so they seemed when I started dreaming them) possible. The first step is to allow your self to dream (what is it you would LOVE to realize or focus on in your life). The next step is to make a plan how to realize that dream - or some smaller steps when the big step is to steep. Realizing dreams involves time, effort, (mostly hard) work, focus and devotion that go hand in hand with overcoming the hurdles, set backs (tests) life will throw you. I learned that another important asset in the dream realizing process is to enjoy every step of the way to your dream and not only stare yourself blind at the final goal.
I am super stoked Hot Sails Maui provides me with awesome sails (KS3 - and an AM design soon), to keep riding my dream wave!
Birthday: 1-11-1974
Discipline: Wave
Sails: KS3
Homepage: www.annemariereichman.com
