Young racer: Who is Erik Telser?

Anyone who has ever been windsurfing on Lake Garda may have seen the sail number GER-148 approaching from behind and then quickly disappear into the distance. This is the training ground of Erik Telser, one of the young up-and-coming racers who have dedicated themselves to windsurf foiling. Erik wants to gain a foothold in the PWA - just like his "come hell or high water" style. Preferably on the foil, but also in slalom-X. Because of the fascination on the fin and because of the rules.

You're often seen at the lake. Do you train in addition to windsurfing?

I often go to the gym. I'm also trying to get heavier, because at 84 kilos I'm still comparatively light.

What is your target weight?

My mum can't hear that now. (Laughs) But 95 kilos would be good.

That sounds like quite a lot for light wind foiling.

You might think you need to be light in light winds, but the opposite is the case. Flying stable is very important when foiling. The mass helps to stabilise the entire system. In addition, you have more leverage for the large sails and foils and can apply more pressure. At the lower limit, weight is even more important than in strong winds. I also want to ride more on the fin again, and 95 kilos is perfect for that.

You might think you have to be light in light winds, but the opposite is the case."

Does this apply to all classes?

With the iQFOiL, there is a risk that riders who are too heavy will no longer fly in very light winds. But in the PWA we have a higher wind limit. At ten knots over the entire course, it's no problem if you weigh 100 kilos.

Where does the new interest in the fin come from?

On the one hand, the PWA rule changes with the change from foil to fin from 15 to 17 knots will ensure that foiling will become secondary from 2026. On the other hand, surfing on the fin is great fun. And I've realised that I'm still fast there. I've been particularly interested in the Slalom-X with jumps and different race formats for a long time. And last but not least, the sponsors naturally want to push what the masses are doing. And unfortunately that's not windsurf foiling.

How did you originally get into foil racing?

At first I only got into foiling for fun, I didn't really get into regatta surfing until I was 18. My father supported me a lot before that. But competitions that were further away, France, Tenerife, that wasn't possible. Until then, I only had experience of smaller regattas or the One Hour on Lake Garda. However, I had already realised that I was closer to the pros on the foil.

So your PWA debut came early?

My first race in the PWA was in Croatia, and that was a lot of fun. I already had the right group of friends for foil training on Lake Garda back then - Tim Kröner and Maxi Raeuchle.

Many windsurfers are now switching from fins to wingfoils.

When I started foil racing, there was no serious wingfoil slalom. That has only developed in the last two or three years. I'm actually thinking about putting my foot in it and then concentrating mainly on the fin in the PWA.

You don't like the new regulations very much. What would you like to see?

Like last year, then you can foil from 8 to 45 knots. I enjoy it most when the conditions really challenge me. Conditions that not everyone can sail in. In my opinion, that's what the professional competitions are for.

Would you also like to foil in strong winds?

I would definitely like to see more events where you can also foil in really strong winds. I was there in Fuerte in 2024 and that was my favourite event experience so far. Because it was just extreme.

I've heard that you often act according to the motto "Do first, then think".

In any case. I like to take risks. In my sail and on my board it says "No Mercy". That's what I sail by. I like close and risk-conscious racing - without consciously putting anyone else in danger. But when I see the videos of the races afterwards, I sometimes feel queasy.

My sail and my board say 'No Mercy' in big letters. That's what I ride by."

Do you sometimes overdo it?

I actually think about it a lot. I've also heard this a lot from my girlfriend and my mum. (Laughs)

You're already doing the speed loop with the Racefoil anyway.

The idea came at the World Cup on Fuerte. I saw Balz Müller jumping backloops on the freestyle foil and thought: I can do that too. I tried the first backloop straight away with my racing equipment. I was amazed at how softly you land in the water with the foil. Every catapult in strong winds has more impact on the body and the material.

Last season, however, an injury put you out of the race for a long time.

I had two operations and metal parts in my foot. Before the Défi Wind, I tore the syndesmosis ligament, the outer ligaments too, and a few bone splinters were found. Andy Laufer drove me to hospital in France. There were no races anyway due to lack of wind. The real diagnosis only came later, when I wanted to surf again on Lake Garda and realised that it wasn't possible.

How did you get your sponsors as a young rider without much World Cup experience?

I had an academy in Sardinia with my long-time sponsor Surftools, and Manfred Rassweiler, the boss of NeilPryde, asked me if I wanted to become part of the team.

What is more important for a team rider: success on the water or social media?

I have various commitments. I test a lot of material, but social media is increasingly important. I have to post regularly. But you should also produce results. However, I'm glad that my sponsors continued to support me when I was out due to injury and had no results. Or even when I don't post anything for a few days because I'm on the water training.

How does so much commitment fit in with your professional career?

I'm currently at master craftsman school and I'm very busy for another year. After that, I want to concentrate even more on surfing. Maybe even continue studying, because windsurfing isn't Formula 1 where you can earn millions.

What would you like to give windsurfing beginners?

Don't let it get you down. It's very hard at the beginning. But after the first few difficult steps, it gets faster and faster. And it's simply the coolest sport in the world.

Thank you, Erik. Have fun and continued success!

Facts Erik Telser

• Age: 23
• Place of residence: Munich
• Profession: Student
• Size/weight: 186 cm/84 kilos
• Surfing since: the age of 11
• Regatta debut: One Hour Classic 2019
• Disciplines: PWA Foil Slalom, PWA Slalom-X
• Hobbies: Wakeboarding, motocross, mountain biking
• Successes: 16th place overall at the One Hour Lake Garda, Bavarian champion, fourth, fifth and sixth place at Austrian championships.
• Sponsors: JP-Australia/NeilPryde, F4-Foils, 4AM
• Favourite spots: Torbole, El Medano
• Instagram: eriktelser_ger148