Two hundred kilometers of the Frisian eleven cities. Tjietse Veenstra from Emmen will take on that challenge tomorrow. Veenstra does this to raise as much money as possible for research into diabetes.
Veenstra itself is a diabetes patient. In 2016, he was found to type 1 diabetes. “In my opinion I have always lived healthy. I have never smoked or drank and then you suddenly hear that you have diabetes,” says Veenstra. “Then your life will be upside down.” In the beginning, Veenstra had to take two tablets a day, nowadays he has to spray insulin four times a day.
Because of his illness, Veenstra cannot do everything he wants. “In 2021 I also tried to supply the Elfstedentocht,” he says. “Then I stopped after one hundred and fifty kilometers, because continuing was irresponsible. My diabetes started to play.”
After his earlier attempt, Veenstra tries again on Saturday during the SUP 11 City Tour. To complete the challenge, he must take a maximum of thirty -four hours. “I have a few followers who ride along the side and from the organization a few follow boats sail, but they are not there at night,” says Veenstra. The starting shot sounds at seven in the morning and he hopes to be over the finish line in Leeuwarden on Sunday afternoon at five o’clock.
To make a trip of two hundred kilometers on the SUP, you have to prepare well. Veenstra already has one advantage: he lives on the water. “So in the morning at six o’clock I will supp on an hour and I adjusted my vacation to it. So I have already made a lot of kilometers.”
Veenstra is not afraid of a sporting challenge. “In 1997 I skated the Elfstedentocht and when I heard a few years later that you get a certificate when you walk the Elfstedentocht, I thought that was such a nice idea.” This is how the idea arose to do the trip in different ways. “I am really an Elfstedentochtfreak. I have already cycled, scoured and walked it.”
In the meantime Veenstra has already completed eight different disciplines of the Elfstedentocht. This weekend it tries to be able to eliminate the ninth discipline of his bucket list.