Jordy Vonk, the interview

08/04/2026

One of the world’s top slalom windsurfers and a key figure on the windsurfing scene, Dutchman Jordy Vonk has added another string to his bow by becoming a co-owner of Tenerife Windsurf Solution, one of the most renowned windsurfing centres in the Canary Islands and internationally, in partnership with Duotone Pro Center Tenerife. Here’s an interview with him about this new venture!

Windsurfjournal.com: You’ve been part of Tenerife Windsurf Solution (TWS) almost from the start, having spent those winters in El Médano and been involved in the Pro Slalom Training programme. What does it actually mean for you to move from the role of rider and coach to that of co-owner and manager?
Jordy Vonk: It means a lot to me; 12 years ago it was hard to imagine ending up in a role like this, but I’m very excited for it. It feels like a sustainable way to proceed with combining work and passion together, even when I would stop windsurfing professionally at some point! I’ve studied to work in this field, and combined with the knowledge I gathered about the market and centers, I think it’s a perfect fit.

WJ: TWS has had to suspend the Pro Slalom Training this winter due to new environmental restrictions in the El Médano training area. As a new co-owner, what solutions do you envisage to relaunch this programme, which has become a benchmark for riders on the circuit?
JV: Of course I will see if there is a possibility to bring it back! Again, the training purely stopped due to environmental reasons; being now a co-owner won’t put me in a position to change the law! Yet my motivation is there to bring back the reason I came here for so many winters, but let’s see how if works out.

WJ: You’ve always split your season between international competition and activities in Tenerife. How do you plan to organise your schedule between the World Cups, running the centre and settling in full-time on the island?
JV: Not going to lie, the upcoming months will be a bit chaotic – not living on Tenerife yet! From September on we’ll be full-time on the island and I think we can build up a rhythm. Also Harco-Jan Folkerts, who build up everything basically to what it became now, is still heavily involved, and it’s not a handover of keys; we’ll be working together for a couple of years and I have plenty of things to learn from him. Once I’m settled here on Tenerife I expect to be daily around in the centers and make sure I hit the water to make hours between… I actually expect to be more on the water compare to the setup I have right now living in Austria!

WJ: The Duotone Pro Center Tenerife is often described as the flagship of the network. Now that you’ve joined the management team, what areas of development do you envisage to maintain this status in a highly competitive windsurfing centre market?
JV: The Duotone Pro Center Tenerife was the first Duotone Pro Center in the world, so let’s say the concept was created here. In a market that consistently changing it’s important to stay on top of your game, so that’s what we will keep on doing. Jumping into trends and make sure we can perfectly supply to demand. Including an amazing marketing manager that we have I think we can remain an example for the other centers!

WJ: You’re a rider who’s still making great strides, particularly with some solid results in Slalom X and foil over the last few seasons. Could living and training in El Médano all year round give you a strategic advantage as you prepare for the upcoming PWA seasons?
JV: I actually think so! Usually the time I spend on Tenerife is the time I make most hours on the water during the year…. So extending that time from 3 months a year to 12 months a year should only make it better!

WJ: Harco-Jan Folkerts talks a lot about the DNA and culture of the TWS team. As someone who has known the centre from the inside for over a decade, what do you absolutely want to preserve, and what do you want to develop further?
JV: I believe the center still has a lot of potential and plenty of ways to develop further, so that is 100% the plan. With such a big selection of the latest gear from a lot of brands all in one center is unique and gives a lot of opportunities for us as a center and for the brands that are connected. I want to highlight the TWS more as a test center, with customer reviews and feedback and the opportunity for clients to really ’try before you buy’ combined with an amazing trip to El Medano. I have a lot of ideas and will be excited to show you all, but I’m also a very lucky guy stepping in a company with such an amazing team that’s already providing an amazing service, of which I cannot give enough credit to all of them!

WJ: You began your PWA career in 2012 and are now one of the most experienced riders on the circuit. Does this new role within the windsurfing industry change your perspective on a professional athlete’s career and life after retirement?
JV: To be honest it’s still hard to imagine that I’m one of the most experienced riders on the circuit! Especially since I recently still raced against, for example, Antoine Albeau, who was competitive till like 50 years old… which is 18 years away from now! This new role honestly gives me a lot of peace knowing what my future will look like. Once you start to struggle more getting enough sponsors to keep doing everything like a 100% professional windsurfer, you start thinking about life after my professional career. Now I’m not ‘worrying’ about this anymore, because my path is clear.

Source: Jordy Vonk
Photos: Tenerife Windsurf Solution