“Aruban sports history at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024”
Ethan Westera did write Aruban sports history this summer during the Olympic Games of Paris 2024. For the first time ever, an Aruban athlete did receive an olympic diploma. After three days of racing Ethan positioned his Aruba within the top 10 and hence for the final medal races. In the quarter final Ethan took up with the numbers four up to ten. Best two would race with the 2nd and 3rd in ranking for two places in final together with the leader after three days. During his race, with a.o. the Champion of the World 2023 Luc van Opzeeland, Ethan seemed to be in third position hunting for the important second spot. However, the Italian and British athlete chose an alternative route which made it hard to predict how this all would work out. In this video interview Ethan shares his Olympic experience with us.
“A day in the life of”
“A day in the life of” follows Ethan Westera and Malik Hoveling of the Aruba IQ Foil Team preparing themselves for the upcoming World Championship in Scheveningen, the Netherlands. Having the ambition to win a ‘first ever’ Olympic medal for their country they need a qualifying ranking for Paris either in summer during the Worlds in Scheveningen or in autumn when competing in the Pan American Games in Chile. “A day in the life of” gives a very good impression what sacrifices are made to reach the highest level in IQ Foiling. Although the Worlds did not secure the team’s Paris ticket yet, Ethan Westera made it happen at the Pan American Games. Being first in ranking after 16 heats, the final medal race brought the necessary silver medal for Paris. Windpark Vader Piet is very proud of it’s team. Real teamwork !! , knowing that Malik Hoveling’s 2022 medals made that Ethan could start in Chile in order to finish the job !
“Wind Energy Ambassadors of Aruba”
Given the Northeast Tradewinds which are always there, Aruba is the place to be for all kind of sailing sport kind of activities. Being raised in the sport in Aruba will most probably bring you on the water with a sail or a kite on a board or a boat. Aruba offers one of the best opportunities for young kids to discover and further develop their sailing talents. Ethan Westera, Malik Hoveling and Tom de Vries are good examples of this Aruban school which basically is a certificate to compete at the highest level with the best of the world and very good chances to win.
The same Northeast Tradewinds enable Windpark Vader Piet to produce a substantial amount of energy. The turbines operate at a capacity level of close to 60%, meaning that of the annual 8760 available hours they operate 5000 hrs at the equivalent of full capacity. This high output easily compensates for the slightly higher investment and operating costs connected to an island situation and per definition result in a relative low price of the produced kilowatt-hours. It should be a challenge for Aruba to gain from its low renewable energy costs, certainly since the world is preparing itself for a green hydrogen kind of economy.
Windpark Vader Piet proud to have supported the Olympic IQ Foil Team of Aruba up to their road to Paris 2024
As sponsor of the HiWinds Aruba since 2018 Windpark Vader Piet joined with the Aruba Sailing Association to support the ambitions of their IQ Foil Team to bring a first ever Olympic medal to Aruba. After meeting the team members in person early 2021, the match with Windpark Vader Piet was very clear. All very successful and promising, the windsurfing athletes were taking up the challenges of the next level innovative IQ Foil discipline. Windpark Vader Piet is in a very similar position: being one of the best worldwide performing windfarms and eager to adapt new technologies to enable Aruba to further profit from the generous winds connected to the island. The road to Paris was a three year companionship between Aruba IQ Foil Team and Windpark Vader Piet. It was great to experience so much enthusiasm and commitment from all team members to the set goal. And although an Olympic medal would have tasted better, being there and going for the medals up to the last day is an incredible accomplishment. Hopefully it will inspire upcoming Aruban athletes – in sailing or other disciplines – to set similar goals. Their success is great promotion for Aruba.
Tom de Vries
1st Place Overall at Aruba Hi Winds 2018
2nd Place Overall IFCA European Championships Croatia 2018
1st Place Overall IFCA South – & Pan American Championships Peru 2018
2nd Place Overall IFCA ABC Championships 2019
Ethan Westera
“8TH PLACE PARIS OLYMPICS 2024
Absolutely no regrets and we did it OUR WAY!!!! ARUBA is on the MAP!!!!!!!
BAN PA BAI!!”
at the Panamericam Games 
but also to have secured the country spot at the next Olympics in Paris! “
8th place Olympic Games 2024 in Paris
Silver Medal Pan American Games 2023
Winner Kielerwoche 2022
IFCA Slalom World Champion 2017
PWA Youth Slalom World Champion 2016 title under 22 years of age.
PWA Fuerteventura 37th place slalom 2014
IFCA World Championship youth 4th slalom (15 years old) 2013
IFCA World Champion under 17 slalom 2012
IFCA World Champion under 15 slalom 2011
IFCA World Champion under 15 freestyle and vice World Champion under 17 in 2011
Malik Hoveling
“With three medals in the last four competitions bringing us one step closer to that goal. Starting in Brazil where I stood steady in second place until the last day where I lost a few races and got third. Then in Paraguay three weeks after brazil I sought redemption and sailed my heart out again I stood steady in first place and again on the last day I dropped to second place. And then finally, at the last competition of the season, redemption! Absolutely no words can describe that moment and after an incredibly busy season it all hit right there on that podium.”
Third place at the South-American Championships IQ-Foil
Silver Medal at the South-American games
Gold Medal at the Santa Marta Colombia
IQ Foil Program 2024
| Date: | Event: |
| January 26 – February 3 | Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain World Championship |
| February 17 – 21 | iQFoil Games #1 Miyakojima, Japan |
| March 4 – 9 | iQFoil Games #2 Pto. Sherry Cadiz Spain |
| June 22 – 26 | Kieler Woche, Germany |
| July 28 – August 3 | Marseille, Olympic Games Paris 2024 |
| August 18 – 25 | iQFoil Games #3 Silvaplana Switserland |
| October 5 – 11 | Cagliari, European Championships |
| November 19 – 25 | iQFoil Games #4 Shenzhen, China |
