CORE team rider Giel Vlugt—known for redefining Big Air kiteboarding with his double loops and fearless style. While chasing the Big Air record of 36,7m he crashed hard into a collapsing wave, suffering a serious knee injury.

The crash forced him to step away from the water and face a different kind of challenge: recovery. His journey back isn’t just about rebuilding strength, but also staying mentally focused and motivated—a side of the process rarely seen. The new documentary series Fear of Missing Out captures this period up close, with the first two episodes now live. 

In the following interview, published in the IKSURFMAG, Giel reflects on the moment of the injury, the highs and lows of rehab, and how it feels to return.

Can you take us back to the moment of the injury—what happened, and what was your immediate reaction?
I was charging full speed at a wave to try and hit it with around 50 kilometres an hour. Unfortunately I was just a little too late and the lip of the wave had already collapsed. So the lip actually collapsed on my knee while I was moving at full speed. I instantly felt a lot of pain but didn’t want to believe something was wrong. Turns out that every time I injure myself I know it from the start but I try to talk myself to nothing being wrong.

What were the biggest physical hurdles you faced during recovery?
The few days after the injury were tough as the knee was crazy sore and stiff. But after a week or so I could move quite a bit. So this injury has been tougher mentally than physically.

Injuries can be just as tough mentally—how did you stay motivated during the darker moments?
I always tend to focus on the positives. So I don’t worry too much about the things I can’t do and fully shift my focus to everything I can do. It’s also important to keep your mind busy with other things so you have no time to feel sad about your situation haha!