 De Vries was three years old when she started riding on skates on a small creek near her home, but first became part of a club in artistic gymnastics and athletics before becoming a member at a speed skating club in Noordenveld in 1991.In the Summer of 1992 she started inline speed skating in Leek.In 1996 she was asked to represent the national youth squad of her regional team and eventually represented the Netherlands at five Junior European Championships.