Gran Canaria seems to “produce” a never ending series of top wave windsurfers: living legends like Dunkerbeck, the Moreno Twins and Köster call Pozo and Vargas their home spot. In spring and summer the entire wave elite of the PWA tour is preparing here for the season, showing a firework of the most radical jumps: double forwards, super high backies, push forwards and onshore wave moves on each and every ramp. Some say windsurfing is dead… they are wrong! The next generation is ready to rock. We are very excited to present our new young talents, who will test and develop the NorthSails NOW range with us and the 60l Grip for Fanatic:

Alexia (13) and Carlos (11) from Gran Canaria.

Alexia and her younger brother Carlos grew up in the south-east of Gran Canaria and went to the German School in the capital Las Palmas. Their mom – una canaria – and dad – German/Romanian – are passionate windsurfers, too. Can you imagine a better environment to master the art of windsurfing? Before getting infected by the windsurfing virus it was all about music: they even won prizes in urban dancing and Alexia played the drums in a kids’ band. Then they discovered windsurfing, surfing and wave SUP, which then took most of the time – with success! Those two rookies already show a style lots grown-up windsurfers are dreaming of! Time to find out who these fabulous kids are!

At what age did the kids start windsurfing?Florian, dad: Alexia started when she was 10, Carlos 8 respectively. Two years later they began to conquer Pozo. This year we will try to take part in the PWA Juniors competition in Tenerife and Pozo, as well as at the GPS Dunkerbeck Speed challenge in Fuerteventura – ojalá [hopefully].

Are you coaching them, Flo? Is your dad a good coach?Flo: I taught them how to sail, but now they are better than me and we need professional coaches. Jorge Vera gets along well with the kids and accepts the challenge.Alexia and Carlos: For me my dad is the best windsurf coach, because he always has time and we can talk about windsurfing the whole day long.

What do you like most about windsurfing? Favourite Move and Spot?Alexia: Riding waves I love the most. My favourite trick is the Wave 360, but I’m not landing them yet. Pozo is the best spot, because it’s not too far from home and there are showers, restaurants, shops and toiletsCarlos: When I see a wave, accelerating and going from the ramp with full speed is the best! My favourite move is the Shaka, but I can’t do it yet. My favourite spot is Vargas because the wave is better than in Pozo

I am pretty sure you will master it one day… Which move do you want to land this summer?Alexia and Carlos: the forward!

Good luck! What’s the plan for the few windless days?Alexia: We go Stand-Up-Paddling in waves, surfing, skating with the Carver or the stunt scooter in the skate park. Sometimes we practice light wind freestyle to understand the manoeuvers.Carlos: And we try to go windsurfing like 3 times a week. That’s impressive! Is there any space in your car left?Flo: Windsurf boards, surfboards, SUP equipment for the whole family – it’s completely chaotic! No there’s no more space left.

How do you like the North Sails NOW?Alexia: It’s a fast and very light sail, which works perfectly in the wavesCarlos: I like the design, it looks so nice

Who is your idol and who will win the PWA wave contest 2018?Alexia: My idol is Antoine Martin, but the best windsurfer is Phillip Köster. He will win.Carlos: My idol is Riccardo Campello, the best windsurfer is Phillip Köster without any doubt.

What do you think about kiteboarding?Alexia: Kiteboarding is not as cool as windsurfing. You need another person to start and land the kiteCarlos: I really want to try kiteboarding! I guess it’s amazing when you don’t have a sail in front and you can see better

Good girl Alexia ! Do you have a funny windsurfing story for us?Alexia: Once I was windsurfing, a good wave built up and I was very concentrated for the frontside cutback. In the bottom turn I didn’t see the person laying in the water. Luckily nothing happened, I just ran over Gunnars kit. Now we can laugh about it. Even though somebody else hit me in Pozo as well – in full speed – I will always look three times now before changing directions.Carlos: One day in Vargas – when I was 10 years old and my dad still had to bring my kit over the shore break for me – someone was watching us, came towards us and told us completely frightened that this is not a good place for learning and for kids. I took off with my 1,5 sail and landed a nice jump straight on the first wave… luckily I had a good flow that day.Flo: Carlos’ first wave board has an interesting background: it’s the 47l TwinFin, Moritz Mauch sailed when he was 11 years old. Moritz gave it to Marino Gil, when he was 11. Apparently the board knows what to do! Alexia sails on a 52l Custom Quad, kindly lent by Pozowinds. Recently she received the Fanatic Grip with 60l, which will be her board from now on. Thanks a lot to Pozowinds, Fanatic and NorthSails for the great support with high wind gear for my kids!

Thanks for your time! Take care and have a fantastic time on the water!

Alexia and Carlos