As of January 1^st2010, the Dutch racing legend, Ben Van Der Steen will be hanging up his Exocet boards and Simmer sails in order to join top PWA racers such as the 2009 World Champion, Antoine Albeau (JP, NeilPryde), on the JP and NeilPryde International race team.

After finishing just outside the top ten in the slalom rankings for 2009, Van Der Steen will be looking to step it up a notch in 2010. Being on identical kit to the World Champion, he'll know that he'll be starting every race on a level playing field with the world's best.

An excited Van Der Steen commented:

"First of all I would like to thank Exocet and Simmer and Select who have been supporting me for the past few years in a really good way. I have learnt a lot from them in terms of development, racing, and in life.

Now it's time for a new chapter. With new gear, I feel an increase in my motivation for the next season. My ultimate goal is to become one of the best in windsurfing and I will work hard to achieve this. Together with JP, NeilPryde and Mystic this is a good start with hopefully a better ending."

We look forward to watching NED-57 fly off the line in 2010 and challenge those at the top end of the fleet.

If you'd like more info, check out Van Der Steen's website by following this link HERE. Also check out his recent interview on Continent Seven by clicking HERE.