Frank Spöttel's success story began 45 years ago in Seeshaupt on Lake Starnberg. The former 470 sailor learnt to surf on his parents' lakeside property and then worked as a surf instructor on Lake Starnberg and Lake Garda. His first regatta successes came quickly. At the windsurfing world championships in Greece in 1979, he came fourth, beating his idol at the time and three-time world champion Robby Naish for the first time, who came fifth. Further major successes followed in 1980, when Frank won the World Champion title on the Mistral Competition off the coast of Sardinia. Even in old age, the successes didn't stop - multiple Master World Champion on the Raceboard. Frank is without doubt Germany's oldest, most successful and still active regatta surfer, who has now switched to the Olympic iQFOiL.
You've already surfed almost all boards, from waveboards to all longboards, even tandem, so why are you switching to foilboards now? What motivated you?
After learning to kitesurf in Egypt over the last few years, which didn't really convince me, I started foiling in the windsurfing area. As I like to explore all corners of a spot and you can cover incredible distances with a foil, I immediately found it exciting. What's more, you can glide across the lake with a wind force of just under three, which is great in our southern German wind conditions.
Have you hurt yourself yet?
Last year, I tore my cruciate ligament at a Bodystreet company event while playing bubble football, as well as damaging the outer ligament and meniscus, but I managed to avoid an operation. Even when I'm foiling, where I usually ride with a helmet, there are still capital crashes where I've suffered bruises. Apart from that, I haven't had any major injuries apart from my back, which is always bothering me.
Foil regattas - will that also be an issue for you?
That could be good. But I still need to improve my performance. But what I'm missing out on is the tactical variant, which falls by the wayside in all fast boat classes. Because every manoeuvre costs time.
Will the long raceboard stay in the garage?
Yes, it usually stays in the garage, as I currently prefer to go out on the water with my new iQFOiL. Often on the Walchensee, which is a great thermal spot when the sun is shining.
How do you reconcile your job as managing director of several companies with your other sporting activities?
I have always brought committed partners on board at an early stage so that I am out of the day-to-day business and can organise my work quite well depending on the weather.
What do you take with you from your regatta life and your successes into your professional life?
Mental strength and composure when things don't go as planned, which is very helpful not only in times of coronavirus.
As a balance to your regattas, you regularly surf the waves on Tenerife. What excites you there?
I've had a flat on Tenerife for a few years now, right by the sea. When the conditions are good, I visit my friend Klaus Gahmig, who successfully runs the Playa Sur surf centre in El Medano with his family. There I get a small board with a sail and go surfing. It's completely uncomplicated, no stress about equipment, as always, just great. I love Tenerife because even in winter, when the weather is usually great, you can do everything from hiking and golf to surfing, kitesurfing, surfing and much more.
Are you also very successful as a golfer? Will that be your sport for the next few decades?
Well, if you want to call my current handicap of 18.4 successful. Golf takes a lot of time, but it's a fascinating sport, especially in old age. You walk through beautiful landscapes and I enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the stress of everyday life. But the sporting side is not to be underestimated either. On an 18-hole round, you walk around ten kilometres, sometimes up and down, and try to get the golf ball into the small hole over hundreds of metres of obstacles. It also teaches you humility.
Last question. How long are you still surfing?
Water has always been my element. Whether on or under water, I really enjoy it all. But swimming is not my thing. That's why I'll keep surfing as long as I'm healthy enough to do so. I've also just bought a "Windsurfer LT". This new standardised class has become popular worldwide. The 5.7 square metre "small" sail with the stable board, which is also ideal for stand-up paddling, is also predestined for older windsurfers. My wife also likes to surf it and I'm going to use it in one or two championships.
INFO-BOX
- Age: 61 years
- Born: 7.4.1959
- Place of residenceKrailling near Munich
- ProfessionCompany director of a media agency and three fitness studios "Bodystreet"
- Size/weight: 175 cm/68 kilos
- Surfing since: 1976
- Sail numberGER-114
- Regatta debut: 1977
- Successes1979 4th place European Championship and World Championship Windsurfer, 5th place DM Windsurfer; 1980 World Champion Mistral, 3rd place DM Windsurfer, 4th place World Championship Windsurfer; 1981 German Champion Olympic Class Windglider, 2nd place European Championship Mistral, Open Class and DM Windsurfer, 3rd place European Championship Windglider; 1982 4th place World Championship Windsurfer, 3rd place DM Windsurfer, DM Windglider, DM Open Class. Place European Championship Windglider; 1982 4th place World Championship Windsurfer, 3rd place German Championship Windsurfer, German Championship Windglider, German Championship Open Class; from 2008 4 x World Champion and 1 x European Champion Master/Grand Master Raceboard, multiple German Team Champion in the Surf Bundesliga with the RSC Chiemsee
- Favourite spotsLake Walchensee, Lake Garda, Tenerife, Hawaii
- Favourite disciplineWaveriding
- HobbiesSUPing, golf, cycling, table tennis, travelling
- SponsorsI've had it long enough, I don't need it any more...
