We talked to the Dutch phenomenon Lotte Geelhoed to get to know her a bit more and have insights about how she trains at home. 

About Lotte

Age: 17

Education: Johan Cruyff College, Amsterdam

Nationality: Dutch

Horse: Kjeld

Lunger: Manon Swanenburg

Achievements in Vaulting:

4th place World Championship 2015 (Team)

2 times Dutch Champion

2nd place CVI Belgium 2018

Started vaulting at the age of: 13

I couldn’t live without: Sushi!!!!!!!!!

I could perfectly live without: Spiders and every other insect on this planet.

Motto: You will never know your limits, unless you push yourself to them.

1. With which 3 words would you describe yourself?

If I describe myself in 3 words I would say go-getter, perfectionist and ambitious.

2. What was your funniest vaulting moment?

During CVI Krumke, Joske and I stayed in a hotel nearby the area. In this hotel were also other competitors. The hotel had a swimming pool that closed at 22:00. One day Joske and I came back from dinner and we really wanted to swim. So, we asked to the hotel owner if we could swim. The hotel owner said yes. So, Joske and I went to the pool. Next to the pool they had a sauna. Joske and I thought we were the only persons there. So, we were singing, yelling and with rods beating on the water. We were acting like crazy idiots.. 10 minutes later, we realized we were not alone. After 10 minutes Jannik Heiland walked out of the sauna. Joske and I found out that the whole time there was a person in the sauna. So, that meant he heard everything.. Like Joke and I singing, yelling and rapping. It was a really funny moment, but also really embarrassing.

3. How are you doing at the moment with your trainings?

With the compulsory we went back to the basis. To make sure that we have the right technique. And toward the season we go back to routines and details. I also have a new freestyle next season. This freestyle is really different and I have a lot of new elements. I also have a new theme and new music (Feline Jurgens makes my music). I will work with Nicolas Andreani and Jacques Ferrari to improve my freestyle and work on the expression. So, during the training I work on my new elements to get them under control. And after that I will start training my routines and work on the details.
Lotte Geelhoed
Photo: Alieke van Koelen

4. What are your goals for this season?

I have several goals. The first goal is to qualify for the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors in Ermelo next season and the second goal is to end in the top 5 during the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors. That would be really awesome 🙂

5. What is ALWAYS in your training bag?

I have a few things in my bag what I always bring with me to the training. The most important thing in my bag are my vaulting shoes. I also have a bottle of water in my bag. And I also have my music speaker in my bag. We always play music during the training and we use the speaker to practice the routine of the compulsory and freestyle with music. I also have my notebook and a pen with me. We always analyse after the training what went well and what I could have done better, so I know what I need to do, in order to do better and to improve my exercises. That’s why I have a notebook, to write everything down.

6. Who makes your competition catsuits?

Anita van Dinter makes my suits. She is really good and makes the most beautiful and coolest suits. Almost every Dutch vaulter goes to Anita for their suits.

7. Some vaulters use different surcingles for compulsories and freestyle, do you?

No, I vault with the S – surcingles for the compulsory as well for the freestyle.

8. Can you list the main products you compete with?

– Surcingle: Lensing, S handles model
– Pad: CWD, carbon Pad
– Shoes: Bleyer, Nadia Zulow
Lotte Geelhoed
Photo: Alieke van Koelen

10. If you had to invent a new product for the vaulting community, what would you create?

If I had to invent a new product, I would create heated shoes for the winter training. 😉

11. Any surprise or announcement for us?

I have a new freestyle with a lot of new elements. One of the elements is flick flack on the horse 🙂