Cult figure: "Euro Paule" Paul Effner - 85 years old and not a bit quiet!

"Mikel, I've cancelled Westerland this year. I'm going to Fehmarn for a fortnight instead.""Why?" "It's getting harder and harder to get out in Westerland, my strength is waning. It's easier to get out on the water on Fehmarn." Phone call from Euro, early January 2022.

Old love never rusts. That certainly applies to Paul Effner's relationship with windsurfing. Or rather Euro Paule, as the scene affectionately calls him. The love has lasted longer than 40 years and the fire is still burning.

Hmmm. How old is Euro actually? Gosh, he turned 85 in July, which is amazing! Paul is a veteran of windsurfing and everyone just calls him Euro. He's been there from the very beginning. I've been surfing for over 40 years myself, but Euro has actually always been there. There are so many stories and experiences with Euro that now, on his birthday, would be a good time for an interview about his life story.

We meet for an interview on a gloomy day in January, and I realise that Euro is already looking forward to the next Fehmarn trip in spring.

Mikel: Hi Euro, what's the situation?

Euro: Everything is fine.

Why don't you tell us how you got into windsurfing back then?

That was in the seventies. I was already involved in water sports back then, initially with diving. But then there was a small problem: as a heating engineer, I had to weld overhead time and again. In the middle of welding in a large pipe, I suddenly heard a pffffffffft in my ear. A bead of sweat whizzed through my eardrum. I then had it treated by an ear specialist, but that was just before our diving holiday in Tenerife. I probably went diving again a little too early. Because as soon as the first pressure equalisation was due, the air bubbled out of the ear again. After a few days off and being bored on the beach, I saw someone standing on a surfboard. I went straight there, stood on it and knew that this was my future sport! However, I had to be pulled back to the shore in a pedalo (laughs).

Between then and now, there have always been meetings with the windsurfing heroes Robby and Björn on Sylt. I remember how you said to me at the Sylt World Cup in 1987: Come here, let's go and see Robby Naish. At the time I thought: Of course, as if we can just go there. He was already the hero par excellence. But you already had a good connection with him back then.

Well, we've had a few encounters at Hans and Trixi's surf hut up on the promenade in Westerland. I used to do small repairs for Hans and then have dinner there with the World Cup guys in the evening. That was the paddock back then and the central meeting point for all the cuppers. It was always packed there. Late at night there were many a story and sometimes even table dancing (laughs). The first time I met Robby was on the water in Westerland in 1984, when we were both travelling with giant rags. Robby was always gliding that day, but I couldn't really get going. In the evening I philosophised with him at Hans and Trixi's about the further development of sailing in windsurfing. Later, I was at the World Cup near the Hotel Miramar when Robby suddenly came round the corner and someone handed him a big bag with contents. It was his birthday - and inside was his daughter! It was of course a huge surprise that we talked and laughed about for years afterwards.

You're a passionate tomato grower, and your legendary barbecue sauce for tasting at the surf spots is well known. So, just for us youngsters: what is the secret of your physical fitness?

Raw food, tomatoes and sex (laughs). Nah, I was actually always travelling a lot in my job as a plumber and enjoyed working. I still take care of what feels like all the dripping taps and minor repairs in our housing estate. I still have a lot of developments and test projects in windsurfing, which keeps my head in good shape.

How did your nickname Euro actually come about?

Oh, that was sometime in the early seventies in a pub with my mates. We'd already had a few beers and then we introduced ourselves to the girls and I spontaneously said: Hello, I'm Europa. Later it became Euro. But that was long before the euro we know today.

Then one day there was the infamous meeting with Victor Fernandez and the other Fanatic/North team riders.

Oh, you mean the autograph session? Yes, there was a long row of seats with tables where all the Worldcuppers and Victor Fernandez were sitting. There was an empty seat next to it, and an old man has to rest sometimes.

But it didn't stop there, did it?

The posters were then passed round the table for the fans to sign. At some point, the poster also passed me by. I spontaneously pulled out Victor's pen and scribbled a few autographs on the posters - and of course signed them with euros. The team riders only noticed after a while and just grinned. We all had a lot of fun. The audience probably thought I was the manager (laughs). There should still be one or two team posters with the Euro signature in circulation.

When people go out with you, there's always something curious to learn from you - like the story about your shoulder. When you were taking off your Neo, one of us once asked you what that dent in your back was.

Oh, I was shot once! I had emigrated to Australia in the sixties and was hunting with my mates in the outback one day. While cleaning the rifle, a shot accidentally went off. I didn't notice anything at first. Until my mate kept shouting: You've been hit! I had only noticed a slight pulling sensation in my shoulder. We went to the hospital straight away, but the police were already waiting in the emergency room. Because every gunshot wound had to be reported immediately. It was quite tricky to explain the whole thing.

Especially in the early days of windsurfing, you were always quite creative in improving and realising your ideas.

I built my first Speedmachine right after the first building instructions appeared in surf magazine. Shortly afterwards, I built my second board. In 1984 I made my own board bag for the first trip to the Canaries with the Hifly 333. There was nothing like that yet. At that time, with the board sizes and luggage such as the one-piece masts, transporting them was quite an adventure.

I also remember this fantastic aluminium delta fin.

It was created out of necessity - for extremely shallow water. I modelled it on the first Windglider fins and modified an old fin a little. I also had an idea for the forerunner of today's foils: my shark fin with a bar around it. Another improvement was my harness hook plate, which not only keeps the harness hook up at all times (laughs loudly).

But you didn't build the other boards yourself later on.

That's right, that's when the first good production boards from many manufacturers started to appear. But there was always something to improve. I made modifications from time to time. For example, I cut off the back of the Hifly333 to optimise the weight. Unfortunately, that backfired - not everything you think up always works.

During our April-May sessions on Fehmarn, you're still sleeping in your estate car. Much to the chagrin of Hanni, your wife.

In the beginning, I had to use my Honda Akkord with the seats removed. Only later did the estate come along. I always need a little bit of a thrill. So that you know you're still alive - and can then enjoy the luxury of a fixed roof, a warm shower and so on.

And for the morning wash, we always go barefoot into the still cold Baltic Sea. We were last on Fehmarn at the beginning of May when the temperatures were, let's say, very manageable.

I like being outside in the wind and weather, and it's great to have a nice cat wash in the cold Baltic Sea in the morning! And then I look forward to civilisation at home even more. Chatting with the other surfers during the day, sitting around the barbecue and having a few beers - in the evening after surfing, of course.

What is your current material?

I bought my last new board in 2020, a Gecko 133, and Basti from Surfshop Fehmarn told me afterwards: That's the first new board we've sold to an active windsurfer over 83 years old. My biggest sail is a 7.5, the smallest a 5.5. Oh yes, and then I also have the 113 code from Starboard for when it's particularly windy.

And then there's the board from the World Cup.

That was the day after the World Cup, when all the stands were dismantled. The board belonged to the main sponsor and the haulage company didn't know how to pack the board without damaging it. I then suggested that I take the board with me and make a donation to the coffee fund.

Let me guess - they did that too?

Yes, exactly. That's how I ended up with an almost brand new 125. However, I later repaired two small dents.

You like to approach people, laugh a lot and spread a lot of positivity, not just on the beach. And if someone has a problem on the beach, you're always there to help.

Of course, what do you think? As a heating engineer and locksmith, I always have a pair of pliers and a hammer with me. Most problems can be solved very quickly with these.

What are your favourite surfing spots?

My brother Fips emigrated to Australia near Brisbane at the end of the sixties. I now fly to the Pacific for a while every year or two and also have two boards there. I still go to Fehmarn and, until last year, Sylt in summer - and in autumn for the World Cup. From time to time I also go to the Steinhuder Meer and Lake Garda.

You were also a constant source of inspiration for windsurfing on the beaches. Today you would probably call that an opinion leader.

Yes, my first windsurfing pupil was our apprentice at the time, Peter. At work, I kept telling him about this new water sport, windsurfing, until he took a look at it and has been an enthusiastic windsurfer ever since - and a good one too. Which you can't always say about me. I just always have a lot of fun on the water. I taught Peter how to windsurf at the Vienenburg quarry pond. He's been retired for a few years now, though. Man, man, how time flies.

And at the beginning of the eighties, you were still on the water until just before Christmas - and started again right at New Year.

It was a bit crazy back then. We were often out on the Steinhuder Meer or the Salzgittersee until just before Christmas. People must have thought we were crazy back then. Today, with modern suits, it's nothing special any more. But back then it was still pretty sporty. Of course, we made a few adjustments to the diving suits. The gloves in particular were always a problem. But household gloves and tape worked, at least for a short time.

Let's go back to the annual World Cup Sylt, where you've been almost without interruption since the first event. I remember that you were once suddenly on stage with Philip Köster.

Philip was already standing on the World Cup stage in Westerland waiting for the presenter Ingo Meyer. I thought I could say a quick hello to Philip before he disappeared again.

But that wasn't all. You went on stage and started moderating. So it was a completely normal Euro experience.

Yes, why not (laughs)?

Beach and water starts and jibes are still possible. But since I turned 80, I've only ever renewed for a year.

You used to say that you wanted to windsurf until you were 80. Many people just smiled at you back then. That was a few years ago now. And today, many people are amazed at how fit you still are. And that you go windsurfing regularly.

Well, it's not quite as long as it used to be. But when the conditions are right - between four and six Beaufort - I like to be out on the water for an hour or two. Beach and water starts, jibes and so on are all still possible. But since I turned 80, I've only ever extended for a year (laughs). And if windsurfing doesn't work out, I build lighthouses and birdhouses next to the tomato farm.

Your home-made tomato barbecue sauces are legendary.

Anyone who wants to try something should come to the Wulfener Hals on the Surferwiese. I'll be happy to give you a taste at the barbecue (laughs).

You really are an inspiration to young and experienced windsurfers alike as to what is possible in the rest of their surfing lives. Thank you very much, hang loose. See you on the water.

Over and out..... Euro!