The all-rounder from Kleve in North Rhine-Westphalia is a woman of action: she commutes from city to city for her studies and job and from beach to beach for surfing. All in her self-built campervan. The centre of her life? She doesn't really know - a flat in a fixed location doesn't make sense for her at the moment. After her third place on the Freestyle Pro Tour last year, she is hungry for more - and not just in freestyle.
Elena, how do you make it from Kleve to the podium of the Freestyle Pro Tour? Where and when did you start and how did you get to such a high level?
I don't really remember where the desire actually came from - I honestly think I was watching too much Blue Waterhigh on Kika - but at some point I really wanted to start surfing. Because there aren't really many waves in North Rhine-Westphalia, my dad signed us up for a windsurfing course together on the Xantener Südsee. I had a lot of fun straight away and the owner of the surf school, Georg, gave me a lot of support at the time. Whenever my father had time, he took me to Holland at the weekends, no matter how bad the forecast was.
I don't think I can thank him enough for that. At some point, I also met my friends Shanny (Raphael) and Lisa (Kloster) there. They taught me so much, from water starts to chop hops. But I didn't really start freestyling until I finished school and got my driving licence. In 2018, I moved to Kiel to study - and of course to finally get out on the water more regularly. In 2019, I travelled to Tarifa with my van for the first time and did my first air jibes there ...
At the end of the day, I think it was really all the windsurfing friends you've met over the years who were not only able to give you super valuable tips, but also made sure that your motivation always stayed high.
You live in your van full time, don't you?
At the moment, yes! In the long term, I think I'll be drawn back to Kiel. But at the moment I spend very little time in one place and try to take every session - wherever it is - with me or take off for longer. A flat just isn't worth it.
Cool! So you've completed your studies in Kiel?
Yes, after last summer, which I spent in the Canary Islands, I started a Master's degree in TV journalism and documentary film at Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts and I also work as a writer for a film production company in Kiel. The fact that I can still go out on the water or to events so much is definitely thanks to my colleagues and bosses, who really give me a lot of freedom so that I can keep doing this.
Would you like to compete internationally again this season?
Yes! I'm not quite sure yet which events I'll be able to make it to, but the World Cup in freestyle on Fuerteventura and Wave in Pozo are definite; depending on the forecast, I could also imagine travelling to Sylt. If I can fit in a few more stops on the Freestyle Pro Tour, I'll be happy for this year.
What do you enjoy more, wave or freestyle?
Difficult question. I have to admit, last year I was also really into the wave discipline! But I don't think I can commit myself - it's the mix that makes the difference.
Whether it's summer or the depths of winter, no matter how rough the conditions - you're always on the water when you can be. You're not afraid of challenges, you're not a fair-weather surfer. Can you transfer this to other areas of your life?
I like to take on challenges, maybe I even need them to a certain extent. This can definitely be transferred to work, I usually say yes to every challenge. Sometimes I curse myself for it, but for me there's nothing better than being happy afterwards that you've somehow managed it. Especially if no one believed in it beforehand. It's the same when you peel yourself into your wet wetsuit in December. It's not really that much fun, but afterwards you're always glad that you did it!
You and Lisa Kloster are a pretty successful German freestyle duo on tour at the moment. You're best friends and really push each other, don't you?
Absolutely, yes. Lisa is definitely the person I love surfing and travelling with the most. I've learnt sooo much from her and Shanny over the years. And without Lisa, I almost certainly wouldn't have started with the contests. It was all super intimidating at the beginning - and still is to some extent. Being able to experience all of this together with my best friend is really valuable. And yes: I think we both encourage and push each other quite a lot when we're out on the water together.
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
To be honest, I'm asking myself that every day at the moment. I would prefer to continue living the best of both worlds: travelling as much as possible and windsurfing, and I definitely want to continue competing, which is super fun for me. To be honest, though, I need the balance and I'm happy to occasionally get involved in things other than windsurfing. My goal is definitely to do more tour stops and still pursue a career as a TV journalist. I'll be able to tell you in a few years how well that can be combined.
Facts Elena Dominick
- Age: 24 years
- Place of residence: Kiel (more or less)
- Profession: Author in a film production company
- Size/weight: 165 cm/ 63 kilos
- Surfing since: the age of 12
- Sail number: G-1309
- Contest debut: 2021 at the GFB, 2022 on the Freestyle Pro Tour (Neusiedl)
- Discipline: Freestyle and Wave
- Successes: 3rd place Freestyle Pro Tour 2024
- Favourite spots: Büsum, Ouddorp
- Favourite moves: Shaka, Frontloop
- Hobbies: Windsurfing, road biking, skating
- Sponsors: Severne Germany
- Instagram: @elena_1309
