Michel, it's lockdown and you live far from the coast. How is the situation on the windsurfing front for you?
During the first lockdown, I was on the water a lot more. I was still at a different school then, there were tasks to organise yourself, no video conferences like now. I went out on the water every time there was wind and otherwise I did my homework. Now everything is on a timetable, so I only get out on the water on days when there isn't much school.
What does your everyday windsurfing life normally look like?
Foiling has really got me out on the water a lot in the last year or so. We often have three to five wind forces here on Lake Edersee, which is not enough for speed or slalom, but it's perfect for foiling. On good days with more wind, however, I like to grab a slalom board.
You come from a windsurfing family, your father runs the surf centre on Lake Edersee. Was that your ticket into the sport?
Yes, I would say so. I was put on a board when I couldn't even think. As soon as I could stand up, I started surfing and it went on like that. There was a phase between eight and ten when I wasn't so hot anymore. I didn't feel I was making any progress, so it wasn't so much fun anymore. But then I rode a tandem bike with my dad and it got really fast, that was the turning point. Since then, I've been on the water every day when there was enough wind.
When you got hooked again, had you already discovered a discipline for yourself? Were there any role models you emulated?
Philip Köster and Björn Dunkerbeck were already role models, but disciplines such as wave or freestyle simply don't work so well here. Slalom and speed work much more often, but the lakes here are really quite good. And since foilsurfing came along, everything has changed.
How much more do you get out on the water since you discovered foiling?
There are always windy days in spring, but in summer it's usually relatively mild. There used to be maybe four or five days with a gliding wind a month. Now, thanks to foiling, it's 17 to 18 days. The rate has increased dramatically, especially in summer!
What type of foiler are you? Do you cruise relaxed with a small sail across the lake or are you more into racing foils?
I tend to ride race foils, but when you've been on them for a week, you want to try out other things. Then I grab a smaller sail and ride foil 360s and duck jibes and so on!
What's it like at your spot - have more youngsters got back into windsurfing through foiling in recent years?
You can tell that many people think it looks cool. But you also have to say that it takes quite a long time for beginners to get there. That's still the problem so far. If you could get flying faster, then a lot more people would do it. But because it's also an expensive and time-consuming thing, the scene here is manageable.
Are you at home at Lake Edersee all year round or do you sometimes visit other spots?
I'm usually at the Edersee or Singliser See, and once a year I also go to the Speed-DM on Fehmarn. In the autumn holidays, I usually go to Herkingen on the Grevelinger Meer for speed sailing. It's also nice to have constant wind.
You are very successful at the German Speed King, where anyone can ride at any spot and then upload their times to the internet. How do you manage to set such good times on an inland lake?
There are of course much better spots, but you can't complain if you get out on the water so often. If you live on the North Sea and can get to a real speed spot more quickly, then of course you have a much better chance. In future, I'll also be travelling more to competitions in other areas! First I'll finish school, then maybe take a year off and surf a lot, followed by my studies - Michel Gutbier has a clear plan for the next few years.
What is currently preventing you from taking part in more competitions?
My dad is very busy at the surf station during the summer and I don't have a driving licence yet. Most of the slalom competitions are on the coast, where I would also like to go. That's why it's good if I get my driving licence soon, then I'll be more independent.
Do you want to surf in the DWC, or where do you want to go?
I'm not sure yet, but in the longer term I would like to get into slalom. Maybe go to Tenerife for TWS training in winter to see if I have a chance. I'm also thinking about trying to get to the Olympics with the iQFOiL. But there are already some extremely good riders in Germany, so that could be difficult. I want to graduate first, that will take another two years. I actually want to study after school, but my master plan would of course be to take a year off first, get out on the water as much as possible and gain competition experience.
FACTS
- Born: 12.12.2003
- Place of residenceEdertal
- ProfessionPupils
- Size/Weightt: 185 cm/77 kilos
- Surfing since... I can stand
- Regatta debut: Several small races at Lake Edersee and then the German Speed Championship on Fehmarn (2017)
- Successes2020: 1st place U20 German Speed King; 1st U20 Foil German Speed King, 5th overall Foil German Speed King
- Favourite spots: Herkingen, Fehmarn, Hvide Sande, Edersee, Singliser See
- Favourite moves: power jibe, foil 360, speed
- SponsorsStarboard, Severne, ProLimit, Windsurfing Edersee, Novanet Netzfabrik, Glinicke British Cars, Nordswell, Caravan Conrad, Autohaus Marc, Bootswerkstatt Edersee, König Sails, Bänfer, Glas Menzel, Elektro Laske
