Philip Köster – Interview

Philip at the Supreme Big Days 2011 (Pic: Markus Adrian).

C7: Are you back in Vargas on Gran Canaria again?

Philip Köster: Yes, I’m back in Vargas. There is not so much wind right now, but we have some good waves for surfing or SUP.

C7: How does it feel to win also the Supreme Big Days?

Philip Köster: It feels great to win an event that is a stand by event. The organisers had to wait for the best conditions. So it´s a special win for me.

Always ready for the next heat (Pic: Timo Roth).

C7: How many heats did you sail and which one was your hardest?

Philip Köster: I sailed 5 heats and the hardest heat was the final against Lars Gobisch. It was super hard, because it was freezing cold and after a couple of heats your body is super cold and it´s so difficult to sail.

C7: Got it colder and colder while the day (guess you did not use boots, gloves or a hat)?

Philip Köster:  Yes, it got colder and colder! I brought boots, gloves and a hat, but I didnt use them, because I’m not used to sail with them. Finally it worked well without and I won the event, but I think the best thing of the event was, that they’ve had a sauna right on the beach, just for the sailors to get warm after their heats.

C7: How strong was the wind and which gear did you use?

Philip Köster:  The wind was very strong, up to 50 knots and I used 4.2 and 81 liters in the first heats and in the last 2 heats I used 3.7 and 76 liter, even a bit overpowered.

Backside action like on the Canaries, powered up with 3,7 (Pic: Markus Adrian).

C7: Delivered the spot at the Baltic sea, Ahrenshoop, conditions like in the worldcup or even better?

Philip Köster: Ahrenshoop is a good place to sail. It´s not as good as the conditions of the worldcup, but still very good. I think it has its days. The wind was side, side onshore 50 knots. So nothing to complain about. But the waves were very small,

but all in all it was a great competition.

C7: How important was this victory for you?

Philip Köster: When I compete in an event, I wanna win!

C7: This was your first event as a world champion. How did this feel?

Philip Köster: I did not feel different and the other windsurfers treated me as always the same way,very friendly. I felt welcome as a windsurfer, who wants to compete in a cool event. It´s the third time I am in Germany for the big days , as world champ or newcomer , it´s always amazing.

Philip starts to rotate into a double Forward (Pic. Markus Adrian)

C7: Did you feel more pressure due to the fact that your are the Champion now or does this give you “extra wings”?

Philip Köster: I don’t feel more pressure. I still sail how I want and where I want. I enjoy it so much that I forget everything that happens out of the water.

C7: If you would compare the level of German waveriding compared to last year or two years ago: has the level increased?

Philip Köster: Yes, the level increased a lot. I saw some really good jumps and waverides from some of them. I was impressed!

Lars Gobisch, Philip´s hardest opponent at the Big Days 2011 (Pic: Markus Adrian).

C7: What your plans for the upcoming months now?

Philip Köster:  I think I will go somewhere to train a bit more starboardtack jumping and waveriding.

Thanks a lot Philip for the cool and quick statements. Good luck with your upcoming trips and see you on the water!

© continentseven.com 2011, Philip Köster