I'm Linus, I'm 15 years old and I come from near Hanover. I have to say, it's very difficult for me to find a good spot here. But from the beginning. I did a taster course with my dad at a local surf school in 2019 and didn't really want to get off the water after the lesson. I hardly had any school during the coronavirus years and was able to surf a lot. I'm lucky that my father also windsurfs, so he always took me to other spots.
But in 2022, I asked myself whether I should enter a small competition. I took part in my first regatta at the surf festival, but it wasn't easy for me to understand how something like that works and I didn't have anyone to explain it to me. That's when I realised that entering a regatta wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. The bigger problem is financing the equipment, although I've always had a lot of support from my parents, the costs have slowly gone over our heads. I was lucky to be accepted into the Windlounge/Jibe Wear team in the summer of 2022. As far as possible, they helped me to optimise my equipment to suit me and my ability, and they explained the basics of regatta surfing to me.
During this time, I realised that it was not only very difficult to finance my equipment, but also to get out on the water and train enough. But there is another problem that still stands in my way today. That is juggling school and windsurfing. When you're at an event, you often have to take a day or two off from school and don't get to learn much. But what about other youngsters who are my age and also want to get into regatta surfing?
I spoke to a few other up-and-coming surfers from different disciplines at the surf festival and asked them about their worries and hardships.
Leander Halm, GER-437, 13 years old
Hi Leander! Thank you for taking the time for a little interview. How did you get into windsurfing?
My parents and I used to go on holiday to Corsica. I always saw the surfers from the beach and tried it out myself, but unfortunately I fell ill on holiday afterwards. However, I enjoyed my first session so much that I went windsurfing again on the last day of my holiday with a fever.
Do you come from a windsurfing family?
Not really at all. My mum used to windsurf a bit. When we used to go on holiday to windsurfing spots after our holiday in Corsica, my parents started to get bored. My father also started windsurfing three years ago. I actually got the family into surfing (laughs).
Since then, you always seem to go on holiday to windsurfing spots. What about further flights for you?
We fly to Bonaire almost every year in winter for three to four weeks to go windsurfing. My parents are always behind me and pay for these trips so that I can train with other freestylers.
You just mentioned the financing. Who finances your material or do sponsors help you out?
My parents mainly pay for it. But I get a few per cent off at Windkraftsports, Starboard and Severne.
Are you active on social media yourself or do you get help there?
I have an Instagram channel where I post something from time to time. My mum usually edits the videos and I then post them and write a little text about them. In the near future, I would also like to start a small YouTube channel where I would like to post a few videos and tutorials.
Which contests are you planning to take part in?
This year, I want to compete in the EFPT in particular. Since this year, there have been rookie camps before the events where they explain how a heat works. I'm also taking part in the EFPT event at the surf festival and hope that it will be a great event.
Speaking of the pros. Do you have one or more of the top riders as a role model or idol?
Lennart Neubauer is my biggest role model, he's actually the reason why I started freestyle (laughs). I'm also a bit fascinated because he also started riding his first competitions as a little boy, around my age, and today he's one of the best freestylers on the planet.
What goals do you have in your still very young windsurfing career?
First of all, I want to gain a foothold in the EFPT Tour and get better. Next year, when there are more youth rankings and events again, I'd like to climb up the rankings a bit more, but I don't have a big goal in my career yet. My main priority is always to have fun on the water.
Jesse Richter, GER-180, 17 years old
Hi Jesse, thanks for dropping by for a little interview. How did you get a windsurfing board in the first place?
My whole family windsurfs and of course I was put on a board for the first time when I was three years old (laughs). I've been actively involved ever since and kind of slipped into it.
You are also actively involved in the German Windsurfing Cup, so who always takes you to the events?
I'm only 17 and of course I'm not allowed to ride on my own yet. My dad is always on hand to take me to events and spots. My older brother sometimes takes me to the Steinhuder Meer after school, for example, but my dad does most of the driving.
You talk to your parents, do they also pay for your equipment or do you have sponsors who support you?
The Windlounge gives me a few percentages, but there are still very large amounts left over, which my father usually takes over.
How did your sponsors become aware of you?
You can't say that they took notice of me. When Mario Kümpel said in one of his videos that he wanted to build a team of youngsters, I created a PowerPoint presentation with my father about my windsurfing life and sent it to Mario. And luckily they accepted me.
Do you also have a social media channel?
Yes, I have a little profile on Instagram where I post a few things from time to time to keep the people who follow me up to date. I'm not on YouTube, that would be too much work for me (laughs).
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Which events did you start out at and which ones could you recommend to other youngsters?
I had my first regatta in 2021 when the surf festival was moved to the autumn. Once I had tasted blood, I did the entire DWC tour the following year. The regatta I can recommend to every youngster is the Racer of the Sea. The rules there are simple and there is no confusing heat system like at the DWC.
What other goals do you have in your windsurfing career?
My biggest goal is to keep having fun, but I want to keep climbing up the DWC rankings. That's why I'm on the water and training as often as I can at the moment.
What kind of training do you do out of the water to stay fit?
I play floorball three times a week at Hannover 96, which is the perfect balance to windsurfing, but I also plan to go to the gym a bit and train my strength.
Mika Henning, GER-64, 12 years old
Hi Mika! Thank you for taking the time for my interview. How did you get into windsurfing in the first place?
My father taught my brother how to windsurf and that made me want to give it a go. So I grabbed the old equipment from the garage and went out on the water.
How did you get to the water or do you live right next to a spot?
I was lucky that we had a motorhome and my father always travelled with me to good spots in Holland. So I was able to progress quickly.
As you got better, did you always buy new material that was tailored to you and your skills?
In the beginning I had a small 1.5 metre children's rig. Later we switched to Gaastra until I bought sails from Ezzy.
How do you finance your equipment? Do your parents or sponsors help you out?
I get a few per cent from Ezzy Sails and my dad pays the rest. Sometimes I also spend my pocket money on new equipment.
You have a YouTube channel and are also present on Instagram. Who manages these channels?
When we're at a well-known spot or we're at an event, like here at the surf festival, we get the camera and microphone out and film a bit, which my dad later edits together for my channels.
You also take part in regattas like the Racer of the Sea. Was your father able to explain to you beforehand how something like this works?
My father had never raced before. So we learnt together.
What advice would you give other youngsters if they also want to take part in a regatta?
I would recommend them to gain experience and just ride along. The "ROTS Academy" from Racer oft the Sea also helped me a lot, I learnt a lot of tactical things there. I can really only recommend it.
You've also competed in the PWA World Tour before. Was that successful?
I finished in 7th place in the U16 category. Unfortunately, I had to compete against the second-best rider from Gran Canaria in my classification. That wasn't so good (laughs).
What kind of training do you do out of the water?
I have a lot of hobbies in team sports. I go there almost every day during the week and we often go surfing in Holland at the weekend.
Do you have a role model or idol?
I've been a fan of Robby Naish and Mario Kümpel from the very beginning. The two of them are my role models in windsurfing.
What goals do you have in your still young windsurfing career?
I still have a lot of plans (laughs). I want to be on the podium in the U19 classification and also in the normal classification at every event. But my biggest dream is to win the PWA one day.
Also interesting:
- Everyman regatta: The organisers of the "Racer of the Sea" on the fundamental right to compete
- Regatta classes: What do PWA, IWT, IFCA and co. actually mean?
- "boot Cashback Campaign" promotes young talent at the Windsurf Cup
- Sponsorship deal, sails, camp: special prizes for the next generation at the Racer of the Sea
