Zundertse Bode - 2008
8 Years old skitalent Richio Ruiten from Wernhout
"I'm indestructible when it comes to sports"
By Eline Mangnus
WERNHOUT – At the end of February, during the Dutch Championships, 8 year old Richio Ruiten from Wernhout finished at the ninth place in giant slalom. His total was a time of 140,69. During normal slalom he was fast enough to become third but unfortunately he was disqualified for rounding the wrong pole. So a lot can be expected from this skiing talent, who already was into contesting when he was just seven years old.
When did you discover that you are a real talent?
Richio: “I have been on skis since I was 2 ½ years old. My mother was a ski-teacher in Germany and I just grew up with it.”
Mother: “From when he was 6 months we took him with us to the tracks. When he was 2 ½, he started screaming he also wanted to ski so we brought him to a ski-class in Austria and there the first thing they said was: “He is a real talent!” From the age of 4 he has been skiing at Snowworld. There he was discovered by a scout when he was just seven years old and ever since he has been attending the Snowsports Academy.”
How does one get as good at skiing as you are?
Richio: “First you have to work on your technique. That is more important than speed. My technique is very good for my age. After that you watch your speed and learn to control it. After school hours I always take time for sports. Every week I ski one and a half hour with my personal trainer Didier in Landgraaf, and soon that will become 3 hours a week.
Also here in Zundert I have a personal trainer with Better Bodies, a company which sponsors me. I go there 3 or 4 times a week to strengthen my muscles and improve my overall form.”
Mother: “And on top of that he goes skiing for whole weekends or a week out on a snow-camp in Austria. Those weeks are very hard.”
Richio: “Right after skiing we have to do some running to improve our stamina. We only get five minutes to change. Most kids are very tired afterwards and think it is hard, but I sometimes ask to be allowed to do some extra training in the hall. I'm indestructible when it comes to sports.”
And where does your school fit in? Do you have enough time to study?
Richio: “My sporting happens after school hours.”
Mother: “He attends a school in Belgium and there holiday dates differ sometimes from Holland. On and off he gets special permission because he is a sports talent. At school they are really proud of him.”
What do you like most about the Dutch Championships?
Richio: ”I was there in a real disco. The last evening everybody went out for dinner and afterwards to the disco for the awards ceremony. Oh, you mean the skiing part? There is the Slalom, the Giant Slalom and the combination race. When I am a bit older I will also be allowed to do the descent. But I like the normal slalom best, it's so great for speed.”
What is your objective for the next Dutch Championships?
Richio: “I will just let myself shoot down.”
That sounds as if you do not care about winning?
Mother: “Well… if he sets a bad time he really will be very disappointed.”
Richio: “That is true but when your timing is your goal you will only end up extra jumpy. When you just set of and let yourself go, you always go faster.”
And what is your biggest dream?
Richio: “Joining the Olympics! And then winning the Slalom there!”
By Eline Mangnus
WERNHOUT – At the end of February, during the Dutch Championships, 8 year old Richio Ruiten from Wernhout finished at the ninth place in giant slalom. His total was a time of 140,69. During normal slalom he was fast enough to become third but unfortunately he was disqualified for rounding the wrong pole. So a lot can be expected from this skiing talent, who already was into contesting when he was just seven years old.
When did you discover that you are a real talent?
Richio: “I have been on skis since I was 2 ½ years old. My mother was a ski-teacher in Germany and I just grew up with it.”
Mother: “From when he was 6 months we took him with us to the tracks. When he was 2 ½, he started screaming he also wanted to ski so we brought him to a ski-class in Austria and there the first thing they said was: “He is a real talent!” From the age of 4 he has been skiing at Snowworld. There he was discovered by a scout when he was just seven years old and ever since he has been attending the Snowsports Academy.”
How does one get as good at skiing as you are?
Richio: “First you have to work on your technique. That is more important than speed. My technique is very good for my age. After that you watch your speed and learn to control it. After school hours I always take time for sports. Every week I ski one and a half hour with my personal trainer Didier in Landgraaf, and soon that will become 3 hours a week.
Also here in Zundert I have a personal trainer with Better Bodies, a company which sponsors me. I go there 3 or 4 times a week to strengthen my muscles and improve my overall form.”
Mother: “And on top of that he goes skiing for whole weekends or a week out on a snow-camp in Austria. Those weeks are very hard.”
Richio: “Right after skiing we have to do some running to improve our stamina. We only get five minutes to change. Most kids are very tired afterwards and think it is hard, but I sometimes ask to be allowed to do some extra training in the hall. I'm indestructible when it comes to sports.”
And where does your school fit in? Do you have enough time to study?
Richio: “My sporting happens after school hours.”
Mother: “He attends a school in Belgium and there holiday dates differ sometimes from Holland. On and off he gets special permission because he is a sports talent. At school they are really proud of him.”
What do you like most about the Dutch Championships?
Richio: ”I was there in a real disco. The last evening everybody went out for dinner and afterwards to the disco for the awards ceremony. Oh, you mean the skiing part? There is the Slalom, the Giant Slalom and the combination race. When I am a bit older I will also be allowed to do the descent. But I like the normal slalom best, it's so great for speed.”
What is your objective for the next Dutch Championships?
Richio: “I will just let myself shoot down.”
That sounds as if you do not care about winning?
Mother: “Well… if he sets a bad time he really will be very disappointed.”
Richio: “That is true but when your timing is your goal you will only end up extra jumpy. When you just set of and let yourself go, you always go faster.”
And what is your biggest dream?
Richio: “Joining the Olympics! And then winning the Slalom there!”
