Laughing against the bastard

How do you think racing has developed?

There are more people who train regularly these days, and the competition among the men is already fierce. These are all paddlers who are in full training and are well equipped with material. If you're in the upper midfield, you're very good. It's a bit different for the women. It's a shame that the number of participants has continued to fall. Five or six years ago there was a boom when a lot of women got involved. Now there are just ten women in many races, and that's a good thing.

You weren't at the top of your game right from the start, but you were committed to racing a lot. Can you remember your first race?

Yes, very good, that was in May 2012 on Lake Neusiedl and was called the SUP Marathon. We paddled around the lake as a team, it was the only race I've ever done together with Etienne (editor's note: Etienne Stander is her partner and runs the Munich Stand Up Paddling shop in Munich). Everyone had stages of between five and ten kilometres. Then my first individual race at Brombachsee. I was second last there.

Had you trained beforehand?

At least I thought I had trained. We just went paddling regularly with our all-round boards. When I did my first paddle training on Lake Wörth, once to the island, I thought I'd done a lot of training - the two kilometres (laughs), it had nothing to do with training. That's why it was more like riding along in the races back then.

Where does training start for you?

If you are on the water three or four times a week and do regular endurance training, i.e. every second or third day at the latest.

Do you have a plan for this?

I'm more the organisational and planning type. I always make a plan. Whether I can stick to it is the other question. It's also a question of time.

Where did you get the expertise for your plans?

Unfortunately, I don't come from a racing or competitive background, but I've always done a lot of exercise and endurance training. There is a SUP training book - "Riding Bumps" - otherwise I have orientated myself towards triathlon.

Was there a point when you said, now I really want to know?

In the beginning, I just went along for the ride. But I'm also the type of person who likes to set goals and then achieve them. I'm less interested in the races and more in the journey and training for them. When I ended up on the podium at some point, I had another incentive. You can't win a lot of prize money or anything like that, you do it for yourself. I then made a leap with regular winter paddle training in a training group.

Do you also go out on the water in the morning in winter?

Going paddling in the morning and then to work gives you a boost of motivation for the whole day.

Is paddling a stress relief for your job?

Definitely. I'm Head of Purchasing at ADAC and it can get stressful. When I go paddling before or after work, it definitely has something meditative about it, like swimming laps. Some people find it boring. I find it totally relaxing when you concentrate on this steady movement. It brings me down relatively quickly after work.

You founded the "Munich SUP Maniacs" with Etienne?

It's a Facebook group in which we also organise the training sessions. In the beginning, it was the only thing in the Munich area. There's not enough time in the summer, Etienne also has the SUP shop here in Munich and he does the least paddling and I do the races. Our time together on the water tends to be in winter.

Etienne is more of a surfer, you're a racer, how do you get that together on the water?

We are very different in terms of our orientation, I tend to paddle long distances, he prefers waves and rivers. But he also comes along on long trips and then we go to the waves on holiday. However, we simply enjoy paddling together.

You say that "unfortunately" you don't come from an endurance sport background. Would you have got any further otherwise, including internationally?

Maybe. However, I've seen that many people who used to be active in other competitive sports then experience a drop in motivation. I started later, came into it fresh and happy and really enjoyed it. Maybe that just pushed me further, where others had already had many experiences.

How much material do you need?

I haven't changed raceboards much at all. I'm not someone who buys a new board every year. In terms of racing, you have to get used to a board a bit. It's difficult for women to find a good board because most boards cater for the male market.

What would you wish for in a women's board?

Most boards are oversized for women.

What width are you riding?

21.5 inches. My first board was 28 inches. Then it went down to 25 - back then everyone thought it was too narrow and tippy.

Have the boards improved or the paddlers?

Today, better stability can be achieved with narrower boards, but the skills have also improved significantly. When I get on my former Mistral board today, I no longer find it very tippy, whereas everyone used to think it was incredibly unstable.

How much time do you spend training?

In summer, five to six times a week, one to two hours each time. A little less in winter.

What is your pain threshold in terms of weather?

I love paddling in winter because you're on your own. Our limit is minus eight degrees. It gets too hard below that.

What do you say to people who say you're crazy?

Paddling is similar to jogging. And many people also go running in winter. With the right equipment, dry suit and shoes - that's the weak point - it's not an issue.

Where does the motivation to push yourself to the limit in a competition come from?

Before the competition, I regularly ask myself why I'm actually doing this. I could just watch or paddle in a relaxed manner. But the feeling afterwards, when you cross the finish line and have exhausted yourself, the feeling of having given everything, regardless of your placing, that's great.

Do you ever go SUP sightseeing?

We sometimes go on river tours, the Isar from Schäftlarn to the Zoobrücke bridge, for example. That's not really wid water yet, it's more relaxed.

Does white water appeal to you?

I'm realising more and more that I enjoy paddling with wind and waves. I used to only want flat water and long distance. Now I'm happy about wind and side waves to have a bit more of a challenge. Paddling in the sea and in white water is perhaps the next level.

What are your goals on the raceboard?

I would like to see a German championship not so far from Munich. A place in the top three would be a goal.

What advice would you give to newcomers to racing?

I would definitely start with an amateur race. The longer races of ten or twelve kilometres are not something you can just do as a beginner. However, most events also offer a shorter tour of three or four kilometres. That's a great way to get started.

Do you need a raceboard?

Not mandatory, but it's more fun. You don't have to have a super narrow board, but a race board is recommended.

What are the races that you remember most fondly?

I was Bavarian champion several times and the 18-kilometre race at Brombachsee was always particularly great, as it pushed you to your limits. It was all about overcoming your inner bastard.