Before the PWA/WWT start: "I'm enjoying the fact that it's a bit quieter today" - Interview with Philip Köster
Tobias Frauen
· 24.01.2026
Philip, all in all it was a very successful season for you: third place in the World Championship, victories in Australia and Pozo, plus second place on Sylt. Were you satisfied overall?
Yes, I was satisfied. Of course, the tour could have gone even better, but there were a few events that were really, really good and others where I was simply unlucky. Chile in particular was extremely important for me, and unfortunately things didn't go in my favour there at all. I had the last heat of the day, there was almost no wind and they still sent us out. The next day there was a really good forecast, they went to another spot and everything went perfectly. In the end, this result was all I needed to move up even further. I don't know if it would have been enough for first place, but it would definitely have given me more chances. It's little things like that that make the difference. And Maui is a place where I've never really had a good result anyway.
You have also criticised the judges in the past. How do you see it today?
Sometimes I'm not entirely happy with it, yes. It's a sport with judges, it's not a slalom where time is the deciding factor. I sometimes have the feeling that my training even gets in my way a bit, because a lot of things look too easy for me. If a trick is very clean and controlled, it might seem less spectacular. If a double loop looks perfect, for example, you sometimes get less of a score than you would expect. But that's just the way it is. Every sport with judges has these discussions. Nevertheless, I still really enjoy the whole thing and I love being on tour!
I sometimes have the feeling that my training even gets in my way a bit, because a lot of things look too easy for me."
Your second child was also born this season. Has that changed your everyday life as a professional?
Not so much, actually. My wife is a sportswoman herself, she understands it all very well. Of course things are changing, but I already have a daughter, so I already knew what to expect. You simply know better how everything works, how much you can train and how to organise trips. In terms of timing, it all fits in quite well.
On Sylt, one could get the impression that you were withdrawing somewhat. Fewer interviews, less presence on the beach. Was that deliberate?
I actually had a lot of media appointments, just not directly on the event site. I was travelling all over the island for interviews. And when the forecast for the second weekend looked good, I prepared myself and my material. But yes, I also enjoy the fact that it's a bit quieter now than in the first few years.
After your first World Championship title, the media hype was enormous.
Exactly. 2017 was mega, but also extremely exhausting. It was fun, but it was difficult to combine it all with the competition. I had so many appointments that there was hardly any time to prepare.
At boot, you also talked about big wave plans - Jaws, Nazaré. How concrete is that?
Jaws is rather unrealistic for me, it's extremely far away and very full of locals. Nazaré is much easier to plan, also in terms of forecasts. It's definitely something I would like to do.
What's next on the agenda?
I'm flying to Australia for a fortnight, mainly for the World Cup in Margaret River. Ben Severne lives there and we'll go out on the water together and develop a few things further. I now have my own harness and my own board, and maybe there will be more products to come. It's a lot of fun for me.
