Courtesy of: The Morning News
By Rosalie Klein
Paseo Herencia Shopping Mall in Palm Beach is more than a shopping center; it is a history lesson of Aruba, past, present and in the making. Owners and management take particular pleasure in showcasing young athletes who are fine role models for Aruban youth. Their “Wall of Fame,” co-sponsored by CMB Bank, is dedicated to those who demonstrate the talent, determination and tenacity it takes to attain medal-winning status in the international arena of sports competition.
The newest addition to the Wall of Fame is BMX biker Zaitheyl Soekandar. The fifteen-year-old presently holds second place in his division in the world of BMX biking competition, having recently come home with the bronze medal from the Pan American games. His father, Audy, a former BMX competitor and his coach, Pedro Estaba, are confident that Zaitheyl will be Aruba’s first athlete to fully-qualify for the next Summer Olympics Games in 2016. By that time, he will be of an age past the youth divisions, and can compete as an adult in the “Elite” category.
Paseo Herencia welcomed Zaitheyl to their Wall of Fame by hosting a bike rally for enthusiasts of all ages late Sunday afternoon, June 23. Heading the pack with Zaitheyl as they made their way from Palm Beach to Eagle Beach and back was Aruba’s Minister of Health and Sports, Richard Visser, and Parliamentarian Donny Rasmijn. Paseo Herencia GM Valerie Pietersz-Camacho and Marketing Manager Candy Rasmijn, with their children, also joined the rally to show support for a healthy lifestyle and proper exercise. Zaitheyl’s portrait was unveiled to his proud parents, Minerva Kock and Audy, and the public, at the finish of the rally.
Zaitheyl, is known as “Z” to his friends, as well as “Zoolander” and “The Missile” on the biking circuit. He and his younger brother, Zyqion, were declared the champions at the Day 1 races of the BMX Gator Nationals in Oldsmar, Florida in March of this year. Both now race for the U.S. team GHP in such events. Prior to this race on the U.S. National championship circuit, “Z” also took the top title at First Youth Dutch Caribbean BMX Championships in his division in November of last year.
Despite having suffered a broken collarbone twice and serious injury to his kidney, “Z” is a fierce competitor and devoted to the sport. “When I was young, I loved doing all sports; soccer, swimming anything,” he explained. “But my father loved BMX biking and when I tried it, something really clicked for me. I know this sport was my destiny. I have been training and competing since I was seven.”
His father, Audy, travels with his son to every competition, and they are about to depart for the U.S. for the summer round of qualifying meets that give him points towards the 2016 Olympics. Then it will be off to New Zealand for the big one: the UCI BMX World Championships in Auckland, July 24-28. Zaitheyl is training daily, 25-28 hours weekly, determined to bring the gold home to Aruba.
