Coach Kuiper has joined Team Staan – CTS Group, contributing his broad experience in speed skating coaching to support the team’s ambition for professional growth.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch news outlet, reports on Kuiper’s transition to the new team.
Kuiper explained that his current role allows him to contribute where needed without having to manage everything himself, which he finds both enjoyable and motivating. Previously, Kuiper worked with Gewest Fryslân alongside Ingo Bos, but when the technical staff was restructured, his position was eliminated. Reflecting on that period, Kuiper described feeling some degree of age discrimination and expressed regret over not having the opportunity to discuss his role with the organization.
Shortly after, Kuiper received interest from Team Staan – CTS Group. Ian Steen, familiar with Kuiper from their time at Gewest Fryslân, reached out to him. Kuiper noted that earlier at his former team, there was an interest in someone with his qualities, but the team hesitated to approach him as they believed he was well placed at the gewest.
Kuiper was drawn to the enthusiasm of the new team, which played a key role in his decision to join. He emphasized how rewarding it is to work with people who express a genuine desire to collaborate. Team Staan – CTS Group is focused on developing and further professionalizing itself. Kuiper brings a wealth of experience from various aspects of top-level sport, including coaching at the TVM speed skating team, serving as a national coach at the KNSB, and coaching assignments abroad in Canada and Germany.
