Ripstar

What Ripstar does

Ripstar is a privately held Dutch action sports travel company headquartered in Amsterdam, founded circa 1990 (per firmographics; youth-camp operations documented since 2010). It organizes packaged group trips and camps across three core sports — snow (ski/snowboard), surf, and kite (kitesurfing) — targeting Dutch-speaking consumers primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium, with destinations spanning Europe (France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Portugal) and select international locations (Morocco, Egypt, Iceland, Georgia). The company's offering is a full-stack travel service rather than a technology product: each package typically combines transport, accommodation, meals, professional instruction, and equipment, with pricing on a per-trip basis (youth surf camps from €404/week, youth snow camps from €1,049/week, adult snow trips from €965/week, kite rentals from €385/week, IKO kite lessons from €445/person).

Name

Ripstar

Legal name

Ripstar

Website

https://ripstar.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ripstar is a Dutch action sports travel company that organizes packaged surf, snow, and kite camps, instructor courses, and group trips for Dutch-speaking youth (12–17), adults, families, and schools across Europe and select international destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Travel

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Activity & Expedition Packages (Guided Adventure Trips) (THAJABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports & Active Travel Agencies (e.g., ski, golf, dive) (THAKAFAJ), Group & Small-Group Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAF), Youth Adventure Camps & Summer Programs (THAAAOAB)

Keywords

• Action sports travel
• Surf camps
• Snow camps
• Kitesurf trips
• Group travel packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Packaged Group Travel & Camps: Ripstar generates revenue through fully packaged group travel experiences for surf, snow, and kite sports. Packages typically include transport, accommodation, meals, lessons, and equipment. Revenue is collected upfront at booking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ripstar organizes fully packaged group travel experiences for action sports (surf, snow, and kite). Each package typically bundles transport, accommodation, meals, professional instruction, equipment, and supervised activities into a single bookable trip. Offerings span youth camps (ages 12-17), premium adult trips (18+), family vacations, and customized group programs for schools, companies, and associations across European and select international destinations.

Product overview

Ripstar is a Dutch action sports travel company offering a comprehensive portfolio of vacation packages organized around three core sports: snow (skiing/snowboarding), surf, and kite. The company operates a multi-brand architecture with distinct product lines for different customer segments: Adults (18+ premium camps), Family (multi-generational vacations), Young (12-17 year old youth camps), and Groups (schools, companies, associations). Key products include Snowcamps with destinations in Switzerland and Austria, Premium Surfcamps in Spain and France, and Kite Trips spanning Northern Europe, Southern Europe, and North Africa. The company also operates specialized academies for each sport (Snow Academy, Surf Academy, Kite Academy) providing instructor certifications and skill development programs. Supporting services include equipment rental (kite gear, winter sports equipment), IKO-certified instruction, and custom/group travel arrangements. The offering functions as a unified travel platform rather than a software product, connecting customers with comprehensive action sports vacation experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Snowcamps (Adults) Winter sports vacation packages for adults aged 18+ featuring ski and snowboard trips in the Alps with accommodation, meals, coaching, and group activities. Targets active Dutch and Belgian adult travelers.
• Snow & Family Family winter sports vacations in Austria featuring 4-star hotel stays, optional ski/snowboard lessons, kids programs, and parent activities. Targets active Dutch-speaking families.
• Young Snowcamps Supervised winter sports camps for youth aged 12-18 with professional instruction, ski/snowboard lessons, group activities, and 24/7 crew supervision during Dutch school holidays. Targets parents booking on behalf of teens.
• Off-piste / Freeride Trips Advanced backcountry and freeride ski/snowboard trips for experienced riders, including cat skiing in Georgia, touring in Iceland, and splitboard courses with certified mountain guides.
• Snow Academy Ski and snowboard training programs in the Netherlands plus Anwärter instructor certification courses for aspiring ski/snowboard teachers.
• Young Surfcamps Supervised surf camps for youth aged 12-17 with surf lessons, group activities, and 24/7 crew supervision at locations in the Netherlands, Spain, and France. Targets parents booking on behalf of teens.
• Premium Surfcamps (Adults) Premium adult surf camps in Spain (Oyambre) and France (Le Pin Sec, Montalivet, Biscarrosse) featuring high-end accommodations and surf coaching. Targets active adult travelers aged 18-55+.
• Surf & Family Family surf vacation packages in France and the Netherlands with glamping accommodations, surf lessons for children (from age 7) and adults, and family-friendly activities.
• Surf Academy Surf school and instructor certification programs including ISA Level 1 and Lifesaver diploma courses, plus Surfcoaching Weeks for skill development.
• Kite Trips (Adults) Adult kitesurfing trips across Northern Europe, Southern Europe, and North Africa with lessons and equipment rental, including snowkiting trips in Norway.
• Kiteschool & Lessons Professional kitesurfing instruction at multiple European and African destinations with IKO-certified instructors, including Level 1-3 packages, private lessons, and clinics.
• Kite Academy IKO-certified kitesurf instructor training and certification programs for aspiring professional kitesurf instructors.
• Kite Rental Kitesurf equipment rental service featuring A-brand gear from Slingshot, Flysurfer, Prolimit, and Brunotti with shared and pre-book rental options and damage waiver add-on.
• Group Trips & School Camps Customized group travel packages for schools, companies, and associations, including ski/snowboard camps, surf camps, kite camps, and full logistical planning, transport, and instruction.
• Winter Equipment Rental Ski and snowboard equipment rental service for group winter sports trips with rental gear and pricing packages.
• Ripstar Membership Subscription program offering members benefits and exclusive access to Ripstar travel services and deals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.6 out of 10 rating based on 193 youth reviews
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ORTOVOXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerORTOVOX is a German mountain safety and outdoor apparel brand. Ripstar partners with ORTOVOX for winter sports equipment and safety gear marketing/promotional activities.
• SRFACEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSRFACE is a surf brand. Ripstar partners with SRFACE for promotional and co-marketing activities around surf camps.
• GoProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoPro is a global action camera brand. Ripstar features GoPro as a partner, likely involving content creation and promotional activities.
• RossignolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRossignol is a French ski and snowboard equipment manufacturer. Ripstar partners with Rossignol for winter sports equipment branding and promotional activities.
• RIF010minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRIF010 is a Rotterdam-based fashion/lifestyle brand. Ripstar features RIF010 as a partner, suggesting a regional lifestyle brand collaboration.
• KUNUNTIQI (Kuntiqi)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKuntiqi is a wellness/lifestyle brand. Ripstar features Kuntiqi as a partner, suggesting a wellness-oriented collaboration.
• KiteManaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKiteMana is a kiteboarding-focused brand. Ripstar features KiteMana as a partner, suggesting a collaborative relationship in the kite sports space.
• Protect Our Winters (POW NL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtect Our Winters is a non-profit organization advocating for climate action in the winter sports industry. Ripstar is a partner, reflecting its stated commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
• Surfrider Foundation NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurfrider Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the world's oceans and beaches. Ripstar partners with Surfrider Foundation Netherlands, aligning with its sustainability mission of respect for nature.
• Green EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Earth is an environmental organization. Ripstar partners with Green Earth as part of its sustainability and environmental responsibility initiatives.
• IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization)coreTechnology or IntegrationRipstar is an official IKO-affiliated kite center. This partnership provides internationally recognized kiteboarding certification (IKO levels) to students upon course completion, enabling them to rent gear and continue lessons worldwide.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunweb Group: Large Dutch OTA and tour operator with winter sports and summer beach packages; competes with Ripstar on snow and surf holiday booking intent but at a much broader, less specialized scale.
• CORENDON: Dutch travel brand offering packaged beach and ski holidays to broad consumer segments; relevant as a broader Dutch incumbent that competes for the same discretionary travel budget rather than the same niche action-sports customer.

Direct peers

• KiteWorldWide: European kitesurf camp and school operator with multi-country destinations (Egypt, Cape Verde, Spain, Greece); comparable to Ripstar's Kite Trips and Kiteschool offerings in product and target customer.
• Summum Snow & Surf Camps: Dutch action sports travel company organizing snow, surf, and kite trips for youth, adults, and groups; directly overlaps Ripstar on Benelux customer base, multi-sport portfolio, and packaged trip structure.
• Sunday Travel: Dutch tour operator focused on youth snow trips and school ski camps, comparable to Ripstar's Young Snowcamp and Group Trips lines; competes for the same Dutch school and 14–18 year old segments.
• Surfana: Dutch surf travel company organizing surfcamps in France, Spain, and Portugal for adults and families; directly comparable to Ripstar's Premium Surfcamps and Surf & Family products on customer profile and pricing.

Others

• ORTOVOX: German mountain safety and apparel brand already partnered with Ripstar; included as an adjacent ecosystem player and equipment partner that shapes the freeride and snow instructor segments.

Regional players

• Snowtime (Belgium/Netherlands): Benelux-based snow trip and ski course operator offering group ski trips for schools and youth; comparable to Ripstar's Snow & Family and Young Snowcamp lines on geography and customer.
• Waterproof Surf Competence Center: Dutch surf school and ISA-certified instructor training provider; adjacent peer in surf education and certification, overlapping with Ripstar's Surf Academy and ISA Level 1 program.

Emerging players

• World Surfaris: Australia-rooted surf trip operator with global destinations; comparable to Ripstar's Premium Surfcamp and Surfcoaching Week offerings in surf-only packaged trips for adult enthusiasts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ripstartravel
• Instagraminstagram.com/ripstar_travel
• TikToktiktok.com/@ripstar_travel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ripstartravel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ripstar