SUP package at Old Bulli Berlin: A SUP tour in the iconic Bulli – five questions for Lucas Kohlruss

Cool vintage VW campervans available to hire, complete with SUP boards – what’s the idea behind this?

We try to make everything possible that’s even remotely feasible. We’ve got a total of four SUPs from Kajakprofi here, in case anyone wants to combine their campervan trip with a paddle tour, plus two kayaks. If you’ve got a date or any other ideas for a trip, it’s easy to combine them with water sports. It’s all in a 70s style – we always try to bring that vibe across too! We’ve got two vans that can fit the boards even when they’re inflated, and a great hidden gem as a destination: Stienitzsee, which is still a bit of an off-the-beaten-track lake, about half an hour away – you can’t even get there by train. A mate of mine runs the lido there; you can stand right by the water’s edge, go for a paddle and then enjoy a sundowner. We’re hoping to be able to offer an overnight stay there as part of the trip next year!

And what models of the Bulli do you have in your fleet?

For us, it’s really all about the T1 and T2! Over the last twelve years, I’ve really got into these first two model ranges. We want to stay true to the sixties and seventies, including when it comes to camping style – no electricity, no gas, you have to pump the water yourself – really ‘low budget’ and as minimal as possible. I also keep a map in all the VW campervans, so you don’t have to rely on your mobile phone to find your way, but do it just like they used to. Some customers turn up wearing hippie clothes and with flowers in their hair. The emotions we get in return and the stories people tell us – it really gives you goosebumps. With the VW Buses, you often get chatted up at the petrol station and people are always giving you the thumbs-up; everyone’s sharing in your joy. For many, it’s a very emotional experience; they don’t even want to get out of the bus in the evening. It really is a labour of love, keeping these cars on the road for something like this.

How many VW Buses do you have in total?

I’d say 15 are generally ready for various purposes. We have cars for self-drive hire, then we have the wedding cars, which we only hire out with a chauffeur. And then we’ve converted some into photo booths; we’re often out and about at festivals, or at birthday parties, weddings and corporate events. We have about eight to ten self-drive coaches.

Will I then be able to choose which campervan I’d like to drive for the SUP tour?

If someone wants a specific colour or a particular VW campervan, it can sometimes be tricky. I always have to go by which van is currently in the best condition to drive, because every campervan comes back with one ailment or another. I always try to fulfil everyone’s requests, but I have to check which one I can send out without worrying. With the SUPs, I make sure I know where they’ll fit in easily, where there aren’t any headrests in the way, and where I can slide them in without causing any damage.

And how did the link between Bullis and SUP come about?

I try to go paddling once a week myself – because it’s just so simple: just pop the board in the car and off to the lake. I started doing this fairly early on, and at some point the idea came to me to combine the two!

Thank you very much, and I wish you continued success!

• ​Find out more at oldbulli.berlin

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