Flo Jung first caught David Jeschke's eye in 2012 at his "talent factory" in Morocco. The then 19-year-old from Lake Constance was voted "Rookie of the Week" and stood out above all for his uncompromising and radical riding style. A professional career would certainly have been on the cards, but David decided to support the local surf school in Wasserburg. Today he owns half of it. In the winter months, however, his radical streak comes through again on his trips to South Africa, Hawaii or Mauritius - not always without loss.
You are still a relatively unknown quantity in Germany. However, anyone travelling to Cape Town in winter will have heard of you before. Why is that? My mum and sister have lived in Cape Town for over ten years. So I was in South Africa for the first time at the age of 13 and started surfing there. However, as I live in Wasserburg on Lake Constance and my surf school is based there, I spend my summers at Lake Constance and my winters in Cape Town. Mauritius has now also become an important part of my winter holidays.
How did you get into windsurfing? Is there any wind at Lake Constance? Yes, there is wind on Lake Constance - but unfortunately far too rarely. And, what hardly anyone thinks is possible, we also have waves. You can even go surfing here after a good windsurfing session. If you have learnt windsurfing on Lake Constance like I did, then you definitely appreciate it, because the really good days of the year can be counted on one hand. I got into windsurfing through the Wasserburg surf school, which I now own half of. Back then, all my friends started windsurfing at the same time and enjoyed every storm together.
I've known you for a relatively long time now and you've improved a lot over the last few years. Is that because you simply want to approach the whole thing more professionally now or should it still remain a passion? I think several factors come together. Since I've been self-employed, I can afford to spend several months in the winter months just windsurfing. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible when I was a student or trainee. Another factor is probably that I don't get wiser with age - as is often claimed - but rather a bit more radical. I try to set myself new challenges every day and am always on the lookout for the perfect waves and the best wind. I try to give my all in every session.
What are your favourite conditions? Watching you in Cape Town, one might think that twelve metre high pushloops are your favourite discipline? The wilder, the better. No matter whether it's thick ramps to shoot out or fat lips to attack! That's what makes it so exciting for me.
Are you sometimes scared when windsurfing? As soon as you start thinking about what you're actually doing while windsurfing, it's already too late. That's why I rely on my intuition and enjoy every moment on the water.
During the Gun Sails photo shoot in Mauritius, you proved that you can party for four days in a row and still get up on the mat in the morning and go full throttle on the water. How do you keep that up in the long run? If you can party, you can work - I was taught that during my bricklaying apprenticeship!
What does a day (winter/summer) in David's life look like? Summer: Getting up, working, barbecuing, sleeping. Winter: Get up, have breakfast, surf, eat, surf, eat, party, sleep.
I know few other riders who have such a high level of material wear. Why is that? Hahahahah, yes that's right. So sometimes the timing isn't quite right or the waves are more powerful than initially thought - but no risk, no fun! But I'll try to approach things with a bit more feeling in future.
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
