Tell us something about yourself:
My name is Kate Adriaensen, but my coach calls me Blondie. I’m a 3-event skier, from Belgium. I am a student at the University of Baton Rouge in Lousiana and I was a member of the ULM ski team for 4 years. I spend my summers in the South of France where I train with Vincent Soubiron.
How long have you been skiing?
I started waterskiing with my parents at the age of 3. I have loved it ever since!! I skied my first competition when I was 7 years old, and went to my first under-14 European Championship in 1998! Since 2001 I have been a member of the Open Belgian National team.
Do you have a favorite event?
That is hard to say. My favorite event is usually the one that is going better in practice that week… ☺ In general I like slalom best with tricks as a close second. But jumping is fun too, especially when you are going far!!!
Do you have other hobbies than waterskiing?
I used to play a lot of squash when I was younger. I still love it, and will play a bit when I go home to Belgium in the winter. Other than that I like to go for runs to kinda clear my head ☺
What is your best waterskiing memory?
Winning World Games in 2009!! World Games is a tournament like the Olympics for non-Olympic sports that is held every 4 years. In 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, I won the gold medal in Overall. It was such an amazing feeling!!!
What is your worst waterskiing memory?
I broke my leg in 2007 in jump crash. That wasn’t very fun; it was in the middle of the summer and put a pretty abrupt stop to my season. I needed a lot of surgery and the rehab process was very long too. But it didn’t stop me from getting back on the water and jumping again! I came back 9 months later, and those first moments on the water reminded me again of how much it was worth it!
Do you hold any records?
I hold the Belgian Open national record in all three events and in overall.
What are your best scores?
In slalom, my best is 2@10.75m
In tricks, my best is 8830 points
In Jump, my best is 50.30m
What brands do you ski on?
I slalom on a GOODE REV6 (It’s an awesome ski!!!)
Trick on Radar : hard edge 42” in hands and a 41’ in toes.
In jump I ski on 86” Goodmans.
Do you have any sponsors?
I am sponsored by GOODE in Slalom, Radar SKIS for Tricks and by CAMARO. And my parents are my sponsors as well ☺
Is there anything else people should know about you?
Hmmm… maybe that I speak 4 languages so watch out what you say around me, I might understand!!! Also, I am an old soul. I love old school music and I hate technology ;) Other than that I think I’m pretty normal!
Highlights
- 2009 World Games Champion in Taiwan
- 2011 University Worlds Champion in Slalom, Silver in Tricks and Overall and Bronze in Jump-
- 2013 Open Worlds 5th in Overall in Chile
- 2014 US Open 5th in Slalom, 6th in Tricks and 2nd in Overall
- 2014 IWWF Ranked #5 in Overall
- 2015 Open European championships Bronze in Overall and Tricks
- 2016 San Gervasio Pro-Am Bronze medal
- 2016 Malibu Open 5th
- 2016 California Pro-Am 5th