Those who wish to become watersport instructors have to be trained to a high standard. For our instructor training VDWS relies on a decisive, highly qualified Trainer Team . Those who aspire to joining the ranks of the team, must prove they meet the high criteria. A good teaching aptitude combined with an outstanding practical ability are the basic prerequisites. Passing on practical skills and experience are things one must easily and clearly demonstrate.
The associations leadership put particular emphases on the need to continually broadening qualifications and update with further training as Trainer Team member. Consequently to ensure the quality and high level of ability in the association can be sustained and extended in the future we investment in the further training of these instructors.
At the Trainer Team meetings new techniques are tried out and concepts for advanced training courses are developed. The VDWS -Trainer Team is presently comprised of members who are, sports researchers, teacher graduates, product testers, book authors, and physical education teachers. This mix guarantees stimulating course content and the optimal learning environment for course candidates. In order to deal with the wide range of demanding tasks the Trainer Team is organised as follows.
Martin, born in 1966, did not want the safe job as a geography and sports teacher. Instead of this, he associated his learned occupation with his hobby and is now running his own watersports center in Potsdam. The water sports teacher by vocation is VDWS-instructor since 1990 and member of the association’s trainer team since 1997.
Motto: Live and let live.
Windsurfing
Florian is a graduated sports teacher with a focus on recreational sports and adventure education. He began his water sports career in early childhood. In 1994 he became a windsurfing instructor and then worked as a teacher and school manager at various water sports centres in Europe and South America, as well as a lecturer at Saarland University and as a windsurf and kite trainer in Team Waterworld. Since 2005 he is the managing director of the Rügen Pirate Watersport School in Dranske/Rügen and is active in different ways of social projects. He is in the VDWS teaching team since 2005.
Motto: Pura vida ... don’t get stressed
Windsurfing | Kite | SUP
Whether the wind is blowing or just a gentle breeze is blowing: Mine (born 1980) is flexible, uses wind, kitesurf or stand up paddling material and conveys her versatile enthusiasm to her students. Since she learned windsurfing on Fuerteventura in 2004, water sports in all its facets have been a big part of her life, and so she quickly enriched her skills with kitesurfing and SUP. She discovered her passion for teaching when she travelled behind wind and waves for her water sport and curiously got to know different schools and focuses from rental and school classes to advanced training and events. With a lot of passion and organizational skill she quickly took over the station management. Since 2007 she has been part of the VDWS teaching team and returned to "good old Germany" after many years abroad. In 2018 she opened a SUP school on Föhr with a shop for functional and lifestyle clothing.
Motto: Only dead fish swim with the tide.
Windsurfing | Kite | SUP
Flo (born 1985) has been severely infected with the water sports virus since childhood. Windsurfing, sailing, kiting and SUPen are his sports. After half a year on Maui he got his first VDWS Instructor license at the age of 17 and discovered his passion for teaching. No matter what sport, no matter what level. Water sports and teaching - perfect! After completing his studies in sports tourism management and obtaining further VDWS licences, he worked for more than 10 years as the station manager of a water sports centre with all 4 sports and in 2018 was looking for a new challenge in the SUP sector. Flo has been on the VDWS teaching team since 2010.
Motto: Aloha and hang loose!
Windsurfing
Jens came as an alternative for snow sports to windsurfing. During his studies to become a certified sports instructor he was infected by the windsurfing virus and since then water sports have been his primary life. So it is not surprising that he already worked at the university as a lecturer for the water sports education, came over it to Rügen and meanwhile became resident there and co-owner of a Water Sportcenter.
Motto: Get action first and than rev up...
Windsurfing
Jens, born 1980, has been an enthusiastic surfer since the age of 15. With the beginning of his studies as a teacher for the upper secondary school (sport & geography) he bought the surf school in Grömitz with a friend. As managing station manager he extended the surf school to a water sports station with windsurfing, catamaran and dinghy sailing and opened further branches. In October 2012 he sold his share. Since April 2014, he has been Head of Water & Winter Sports at the Central University Sports Faculty of the Humboldt University in Berlin and lecturer at the HU for SUP and Windsurfing as well as at the SpoHo Cologne for Sailing and Windsurfing.
Motto: Accept or change!
Windsurfing | Sail | SUP
Jule, born 1985, got to know windsurfing in 1999, from then on water sports were her life. In 2004 she completed the windsurf instructor course, followed by 3 seasons with large groups in the surf school San Pepelone. In 2006/07 she trained as a water sports instructor (sailing and surfing) on the island of Rügen. Afterwards she took over the management of a watersport center in Pelzerhaken, where she is always to be found in summer. The kite and stand up paddling sport with the appropriate licence followed. Meanwhile she is responsible for crew trainings at Club Robinson. Once a year she accompanies the surf camp with Bernd Flessner and is allowed to train instructors in all sports in the VDWS.
Motto: There’s still one more possibility!
Windsurfing | Kite | Cat | SUP
Anika, born in 1986, went to Norderney after graduating from high school in 2006 to do a voluntary social year there and to learn windsurfing in her spare time - hoping to get a little closer to her dream job as a surf instructor. Her dream came true: In 2008 she attended the VDWS course on Norderney and has been working at the surf school there ever since. The original university plans turned into an IST distance learning course in sports tourism management, the grey winters in Germany into various stays abroad with sun, wind and sea. Since 2014 Anika has been a member of the VDWS windsurf teaching team. Four years later the next dream came true: the takeover of the station and the management of a watersportcenter on Norderney.
Motto: It is better to regret things you have done than things you have not done.
Windsurfing
Chris, born in 1975, rapidly switched from his job as management assistant to the profession of windsurfing instructor on the water. He is working for years now as a windsurfing, sailing and kiteboarding instructor around the world. Chris loves looking for new challenges at new destinations with unusual conditions. This is how he got to Costa Rica in the winter 1999 for instance. Since 1998, he brings youthful freshness with new ideas to the VDWS teaching team.
Motto: Not possible? Impossible!
Kite | Windsurfing | SUP
Seit ihrem Sportstudium in Köln, ist Jana begeisterte Wassersportlerin. Seit 2014 arbeitet sie hauptberuflich als Trainerin für funktionale Fitness, sowie Kitesurfen und Stand-up Paddeln. Aktuell arbeitet Sie für einen Eventveranstalter und kümmert sich dort um die Organisation und Durchführung von Wassersport, Fitness und Yoga Events auf der ganzen Welt. Mit Ihrer sportartübergreifenden Kompetenz steht Jana für neue Ideen und jede Menge Enthusiasmus.
Kite | SUP
Michael, born in 1973, runs the windsurfing and kiteboarding school Norddeich. This East Frisian by choice is a trained chef and hotel manager. Like every Austrian, Michael worked as a ski and snowboard instructor and has been involved in the kiteboarding workbook. Michael works as a freelancer (wave expert) for the Kitemagazin. Beginners appreciate his calm character, a guarantor for high learning success. He is also our expert for riding techniques in strong wind.
Motto: Not possible? Impossible!
Kite | Snowkite | SUP
Tom, born in 1977, completed his sports sciences degree at the Bochum University successfully in 2006. Already during his studies he worked as watersports instructor at a school in Holland, and as teacher for windsurfing courses at the University of Bochum. His degree dissertation was about "Learning successes in windsurfing." Since the completion of his studies he worked for kite events and as kite and windsurfing instructor at various stations.
Motto: You can’t change the wind, but choose the right size kite.
Kite | Windsurfing
Timo (born in 1982) has finished his sport science studies in 2009; focus on prevention and rehabilitation by physical education. During his studies he found enough time for trips to Venezuela, Brazil, Spain, Egypt and France, despite his job as a kiteboarding instructor in the Netherlands... Besides in the medical links between sports and health, he is also interested in the branches of training science and sports didactics. He is co-founder and former board member of the educational institution Paidaia e.V., which provides support to the socially disadvantaged youth. In addition to seminars in the field of team training, he directs instructor training and educational seminars for the regional NRW Sports Federation, among other. When the wind comes, he can be found in Holland/Ijsselmeer where he trains interns, helps enthusiastic people to take their first steps on the board or just plays "Looping Louie"…
Motto: Everything will be alright
Kite | SUP
During his child- and boyhood, Christoph, born in 1978, explored the Mecklenburg Lake District on the XYlon and became fascinated by the water. In the nineties, he became addicted to snowboarding, added kiteboarding in 2003. He practiced every minute of his spare time on water, land and snow and got the VDWS kitesurfing instructor licence in 2006. In 2007, he interrupted his studies in architecture to turn his passion into a career. Since 2007, he manages the kiteboarding school Rügen Piraten and travels across the globe as kiteboarding instructor for TeamWaterworld. The fascination for windsurfing came after kiteboarding and he passed his windsurfing instructor licence in 2011.
Motto: Seize the day
Windsurfing | Kite
Nils grew up in St.Peter-Ording and has spent most of his life until now on beach and water. During his teacher studies in Flensburg (physical education and mathematics) he worked as kiteboarding instructor during the holidays all over the world. In addition, he was a jury member for national and international kite competitions (races and freestyle) and has completed several teaching assignments in the water sports sector for the University of Flensburg. After successfully completing his studies in 2012 and completing his traineeship, he decided to dedicate his life to water sports. In addition to teaching at the VDWS, he works at Kitecity and is responsible for the planning and organization of worldwide training events. Furthermore, he runs the sales agency for Brunotti RDP in Germany.
Motto: Whoever wants will find ways. Whoever does not want will find reasons.
Kite
Claas, born in 1983, is fascinated by water sports since the age of 12. He started with sailing, then he discovered windsurfing and finally kiteboarding in 2001. In 2009, he interrupted his shipbuilding studies in order turn his passion into a career and became VDWS kitesurfing instructor. Since then, he is a permanent member of the Supremesurf Rostock instructor team. As an instructor, he has accompanied the retraining program for water sports instructors in the field of kitesurfing, of the German employment office, for the Waspo Academy. In 2010 he became head of the Supreme SURFBUS at Saaler Bodden. In 2011 he passed the VDWS windsurfing instructor licence. When the German season is over he trains at different places, like Brazil and the Philippines. He is member of the VDWS trainer team since 2015.
Kite
Dieter, born in 1958, makes his live with windsurfing, kitesurfing and catamaran sailing for over 30 years now. He gained his first experiences in his own schools in Kiel and on Sicily as well as jobbing in surfshops. Dieters windsurfing and kiteboarding location is the strong wind spot Tarifa, where he lives for more than 20 years. In the summer, Dieter returns to Germany and works since 1994 as school manager at Windsurfing Wulfen on Fehmarn. Since 1998, Dieter is member of the VDWS trainer team.
Motto: Never farther away from water than absolutely necessary.
Windsurfing | Kite | Cat | SUP
After a youth in the water (top swimmer), Mara got in touch with windsurfing board and catamaran in 1998 during her sports studies. Since then, she has been practicing both disciplines and started to teach them right from the start. Consequently, swimming is only on the agenda when she falls off the board! Since 2003, Mara works for Windsurfing Wulfen as alternate school manager. Fascinated by the transferability of the disciplines, she added kiteboarding to her range of sports.
Motto: Unquiet like the sea, turbulent, unceasingly.
Windsurfing | Sail
Thomas was born in Berlin in 1980 and he has made his first experience in the Optimist when he was 5 years old. He then continued with regattas in Pirate, Xylon, 470 and 11m One Design. In 2000, he won the 20 hours race of the Müggelsee on a Beneteau First 235. In 2002, he completed his watersport instructor courses. Since then he works on Fuerteventura as catamaran instructor. He is also in charge of the organization and the training during the Club Robinson catamaran weeks. Currently, he participates in prestigious regattas on his F18, namely the Kiel Week, F18WM in Hungary or Olympic weeks on Gran Canaria.
Motto: Rip the ocean and let the good times roll!
Cat
Franziska, aka Franzi, was born with watersports in 1983. At the age of five she got her first own optimist. She was an ambitious contest sailor until the completion of her degree in sports studies in 2008. In 2009, she started as VDWS sailing instructor at ALL-on-SEA in Leipzig. Now she is the manager of this watersport center, accompanies many beginning and advanced trainees, participates in dinghy and catamaran regattas and spends every spare minute on and around a second-hand 49er.
Motto: You should rather repent things you have not done than the things you have done."
Sail
As one of the SUP pioneers in German-speaking countries, he has been a major influence on sports since 2007. You could also call him "Mr. 1000 Volt", because you never know exactly if the man sometimes sleeps or non-stop for his subjects SUP, windsurfing, skiing or mountain rescue on the way. Not only as a promoter of the sport, but also for the distribution of one of the leading brands in SUP and windsurfing, Flo is deeply rooted in the VDWS and its SUP engagement.
SUP | Windsurfing
Predicate Stand Up Paddling 100%, SUPer the first hour, in all disciplines at home and to date the most successful male Stand Up Paddler in Germany. Analytically well versed, he brings all his know-how into the VDWS teaching team. The fascinating thing about Carsten is undoubtedly that he enjoys full acceptance across manufacturers and industries.
SUP
It was curiosity that made Chris try out windsurfing already in 1979. His windsurfing instructor career started ten years later at the Robinson Club Calabria. After four years of experience in windsurfing and sailing, he made the logical step towards school management. As passionate skier, Chris spent winters in the Alps. In 2000, it was time for a change; he started as product manager at Planet Allsports. En passant, he also completed his IST-degree in sport and tourism management.
Motto: Live every day as if it were your last!
Windsurfing | Sail | SUP
Marco geb.1974. Bis 2010 habe ich in Italien als Anwalt gearbeitet und von 1999 bis 2005 in der leitenden Position des Vereins “Legambiente Marche” (Verein der sich für den Schutz und die Wertsteigerung der Natur und Umwelt) einsetzt. Ab 2004 bis 2007 “Vorsitzender des Verbandes für den Rechtschutz der Bürger - Regionalkoordination Marche” tätig. Anschl. habe ich mich entschlossen mein Leben zu ändern und meine Leidenschaft fürs Segeln und Windsurfen nach zu gehen. Von 2011 bis 2013, nachdem ich an eine VDWS Ausbildung teilgenommen habe, habe ich als Windsurflehrer bei Vasco Renna am Gardasee gearbeitet. Seit 2014 arbeite ich als Schulungskoordinator bei “Europa Surf and Sail” am Gardasee und seit 2016 habe ich mich fürs Foiling interessiert und bin jetzt als Foiling Sail Instructor für das Waszp Test Center tätig. Das hat mich 2018 bewegt Vorsitzender des Italienische Waszp Foiling Sailingboat Association zu werden. Im Winter arbeite ich als Fahrlehrer und kann kaum erwarten wieder aufs Wasser zu fliegen!
Motto: Foiling ist meine Leidenschaft. Mein Ziel, höher “Fliegen” um immer schneller zu sein!
Surf | Sail | SUP
Born in 1973, since 1997 ski instructor/coach
Waterman (windsurfing - kitesurfing - sailing - wing foil)
His passion for water in the form of snow or sea led him to turn his sporting passions into a profession.
He started teaching windsurfing/sailing at the age of 18.
Since 2001 worked as an instructor at the Surf Segnana Center in Torbole on Lake Garda.
From 2005 to 2013 he moved on to the position of personnel and management director of the school itself.
In 2011 he took a step forward as an entrepreneur by creating a Kitesurf school to which he now devotes his energies with satisfaction.
Always attentive to new developments in the sector, he has recently enriched his practical and professional experience with Wingfoil.
The desire to pass on his passion for these sports makes his professional life exciting and motivating.
Kite
Giovanni grew up in Trentino amidst the Dolomites in the snow.
Even as a small child, his uncle taught him many water sports and windsurfing on Lake Garda.
He soon learned to love windsurfing and the wind became a real passion.
After finishing high school, he worked for several years as a windsurfing instructor in Torbole on Lake Garda.
Lake Garda.
For a long time he managed the windsurfing centre until the desire to start a new adventure in sailing arose.
In 2017 he becomes a catamaran and sailing instructor
In winter he works as a ski instructor in the mountains of his homeland
Windsurf
Piotr, born in 1961 in Warsaw, passed his windsurfing instructor licence in 1984 during his degree in recreational sports and tourism at the Sports University. He gained many experiences as windsurfing instructor and school manager at Poland’s most important watersport centers. In parallel, he also worked as a sports teacher. Since 2000, Piotr is member of the VDWS trainer team. Watersports and teaching are his passion. In 2010 he passed his VDWS kitesurfing instructor licence.
Motto: If you stop learning, you stop growing.
Windsurfing
Muzo, born in 1976 in Ludwigsburg, left Germany at the age of 14 and went back to his home country, to Izmir (Turkey). Shortly afterwards he started his windsurfing and sailing career. Despite the fact that he has been working in the textile sector: he was not made for this – the sea was calling. He started working as windsurfing and sailing instructor in different countries, among others in Egypt. Since 2009, Muzo works as head of the watersport department at Robinson Club Sarigerme Park.
Motto: As soon as one has become Master in a discipline, one should become disciple in a new field.
Windsurfing | Cat
Hugo was born in 1967 and got in touch with windsurfing in 1982 in Harderwijk / Veluwemeer. During his degree in physical education teacher, which he finished in 1989, he specialized in outdoor sports such as canoeing, skiing, skating and windsurfing. He worked in Austria, France and Luxembourg in the fields of rafting, climbing and biking. In 1991, he was sports trainer military task forces. After another degree at the Sports Academy in Zwolle, he was a full time trainer at several sports educations and schools for teacher training. Since 2008 he is a stockholder and CEO of a private, governmental approved, Sports Academy. He still works for a great part as trainer in the different disciplines as well.
Motto: Dead fish are swimming with the current.
Windsurfing
Fabian Naerebout
Fabian (born in 1980) has studied outdoor sports and sports tourism at the Cologne Sport University. He learned swimming at the age four and from then on he spent all his time watersporting or on the beach. Already during the '90s, he experimented with the combination of hang gliding and surfing. In 1998 he started kitesurfing, and since 2000 he is the owner of a kitesurfing school, which he has transformed into a complete watersport center. Since 2004, Fabian is trainer for kiteboarding instructors in Holland and since 2011 also at VDWS.
Motto: Every wave is different; I‘d like to know them all!
Kite
Willem, born in 1986, has started windsurfing at the age of 7. It got his passion right from the start. At the same time, the hours he spent on the water were always like therapy against asthma and allergies. To spend even have more time on the water, he has also added kitesurfing, stand up paddling and catamaran sailing to his disciplines. At the age of 15 he started to teach windsurfing at different clubs. After his psychology master he spent several seasons abroad as a water sports instructor in different centers of Robinson Club. In 2012 he has come home and, 26 years old, founded the water sports center Windy Waters on the Veluwemeer together with his father. Aim of this center: make people discover their passions.
Motto: Powered by Passion
Windsurfing | Cat