When I started kitesurfing in 2010, I might have been the most hopeless beginner imaginable. I still feel bad for my instructor back then for he must surely have been crying in frustration. The only things that kept me from quitting were the fact that I’d already invested in the gear, had something to prove—and, if I’m honest, I’m incredibly stubborn. Even after two weeks of lessons in perfect wind conditions, I could barely ride 50 meters. But I was having so much fun that giving up simply wasn’t an option. Since I was working nights back then, I spent almost every single day of that summer on the water. I must have done the walk of shame back from Schweinebucht every few sessions and untangled my lines at least once a week. By the end of the summer, I went on my first kitesurfing trip to South Africa—and from that point on, I was well and truly hooked (pun intended).
In 2011, I started working as a kitesurf instructor during the summer at Swiss Kitesurf. In 2014, I had the chance to learn the basics of kite repair from a professional sailmaker, and I’ve been developing those skills ever since. Since 2019 I've been working at the school full time and, as time has passed, I've become more and more involved in the day-to-day business of the shop and school. These days, I spend a good amount of time in the office running the online shop together with Simon—I’m the one packing and shipping your orders and helping you choose the right equipment. I’m also heavily involved in planning and organizing our overseas kite camps. Still, my absolute favourite part of the job remains teaching what I believe is the best sport in the world.
Over the years, Yannick, Simon, and the rest of the team have become like family to me. Even when we’re not working together at the lake, we often spend evenings, days off, and even holidays together. As a team we push each other into expanding our skills, be it simply figuring out new tricks, to learning whole new disciplines of the sport like foiling or riding in waves. At some stage I was almost bullied into learning to Wingfoil, and now I begrudginly have to admit that I spend almost half of my time on the water with a wing in my hands with a giant smile on my face
What I love most about kitesurfing (and now winging) isn’t just the sport itself, but the community that surrounds it. It’s something I truly wish everyone could experience: people from all walks of life united by a shared passion. Out on the water, you’re alone—yet never really alone. The shared stoke after an incredible session is hard to describe. Evenings spent exchanging tips, tricks, and stories over a beer. And no matter where you travel in the world, you’ll always find a friendly face—someone just as wind-obsessed as you are.
