The Real Stig Holland

When I learned how to kite, one of the last things I had considered was recording myself. I fell in love with the sport for it’s freedom and endless possibilities. However, as with anything in life, once something becomes more familiar, you start seeking new horizons. The next challenge, the next big thing you want to learn, do, or create. For me, that meant thinking outside the box. Since I started kiting, I've been inspired by kite movies. Initially, I enjoyed videos featuring impressive tricks or beautiful locations. But after a while, I had seen all the tricks and locations on videos. So, I yearned to witness things I didn't even know were possible – creative ways of performing tricks, exploring new locations, or utilizing obstacles while kiting.

I was incredibly fortunate to come across Edwin Haighton, a talented videographer with years of experience in the industry. Once I got to know him better, it became evident that we shared the same thoughts and vision. We began brainstorming how to create something cool, entertaining, unique, and memorable. And that's when the idea was born – a combination of a fast car, kites, unique locations, and a great crew.

The name "Stig" originally came from the car TV show "Top Gear." In the show, they have a driver who remains unknown but is faster than anyone else, always testing cars for "Top Gear." This driver is called "Stig." So, you could say that a significant part of this project took shape when my parents decided to name me "Stig" (although my name didn't actually come from "Top Gear"). We thought, why not simulate a race between the kiter "Stig" and the driver "Stig" from "Top Gear"? Thus, the idea was born. All we needed now was a solid plan, a crew, locations, a car, and a driver. We pitched the idea to a few friends, and without hesitation, they all jumped on board. We planned everything meticulously and managed to create an incredible result – something I can watch for the rest of my life and be proud of.

Crew:

• Edwin Haighton (camera man, director, editor)
• Matthijs Los (camera man)
• Francine Boer (photographer)
• Thomas Roos (director)
• Rover Dullaart (race driver)
• Stig Hoefnagel (kiter, director)