International Trainerteam

Gunther Baade
Gunther started his windsurfing instructor career in 1981 in Kiel. His work has taken him around the world: Kurumba-Island, surf shop in Flensburg, Turkey, Hurghada, El Yaque. In 1993, he opened his own school on the island of Norderney. The same year he became member of the trainer team, where he distinguished himself as a pure strong wind surfer. In 1994, he started to work as tester for the German surf magazine. He is the author of various windsurfing technique series and part of the magazine’s staff. In the meantime, he got bitten by the kiteboarding bug – with unforeseeable consequences ...

Motto: Put your feet in the sand, instead of under the desk

Hans Peter Lange
HP, born in 1955, has a degree in sports of the Sports University Cologne. The former top rower is a sailor for over 30 years now and started windsurfing in 1977. He works as trainer and instructor (in the trainer team since 1982). Since 1995, he is the board member in charge of training and examination concerns. He has conceived regatta camps, supervised Team Germany, headed the training of the German Olympic team and he is now in charge of the education of the Robinson Club watersport instructors. HP has participated in the design of the B-and A-trainer educations of the German sailing association DSV. He has produced different videos, written various books and has published numerous articles in different windsurfing magazines.
Motto: Enjoy life and make the unusual possible.

Martin Klintz

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.

Florian Krämer
Florian is degree sports teacher since 2003. His focus is on recreational sports and experiential learning. He started his water sports career in the earliest childhood and passed his windsurfing instructor licence in 1994. Since then, he has worked as instructor and school manager in various watersport centers in Europe and South America, as well as a lecturer for windsurfing at the University of Saarland. Since 2004, he works as windsurfing and kitesurfing trainer at Team Waterworld and since 2005 he is the owner of the UST watersportschool in Dranske / Rügen. Other activities include work for the VEJ, the Association for Experiential Education, and lectureship in the field of snowboarding at the University of Saarland.
Motto: Pura vida ... don’t get stressed

Jessica "Mine" Backhaus

Mine," born in 1980, made her first water (sport) experiences as hotel manageress on a cruise ship. As she prefers waves to wellness, she started windsurfing in 2004 on the island of Fuerte 2004. Since then, she follows the wind around the world, be it as windsurfing instructor, kitesurfing instructor or school manager. In 2007 she has joined and rejuvenated the VDWS trainer team.

Flo Kirstein

Flo, born in 1985, started windsurfing at the age of 10. Since then, he spends every free minute on the board. After six months on Maui in 2002, he participated in a VDWS windsurf instructor course. Since that time he is working as school manager and North Frisian by choice in Wyk/Foehr. Flor has completed his sports tourism management studies and is member of the VDWS trainer team since 2010.
Motto: Aloha and hang loose!

Jens Wüllenweber

During his studies of physical education teacher, orientation recreational sports, he got in touch with windsurfing in 1999. He passed his windsurfing instructor licence and, thus, he educated not only snowboard instructors to be but also windsurfing students as from 2002. In 2001 he started to work at the UST-Wassersportschule on Rügen. In the meantime, he has become the manager of this school, which is now called Rügen Piraten Wassersportschule. Since 2002, he works also as windsurfing and kitesurfing instructor for Team Waterworld.
Motto: Get action first and than rev up...

Jens Tiedjen

Jens, born in 1980, started windsurfing at the age of 15 and is a fanatic windsurfer ever since. At the beginning of his teacher training for the advanced high school level (physical education & geography) he acquired the windsurfing school Grömitz with a friend of his. In his capacity as manager he developed the school into a water sports center for windsurfing, catamaran and dinghy sailing. Furthermore, he opened two more branches. Anticipating new professional challenges, he sold his share in October 2012. Since that date, he supports different Clubs. Motto: Accept or change!

Julia Bleich, Candidate
Jule, born in 1985, made her first watersport steps in 1999. Since then, water sports are her life. In 2004 she passed her windsurfing instructor course. This was followed by 3 seasons of accompanying large groups at the windsurfing school San Pepelone. In 2006/07 she completed her water sports instructor education (sailing and windsurfing). Subsequently, she assumed the management of the nautical location „Sail and Surf Pelzerhaken“. Kiteboarding and the respective licences were the next steps. During the winter she has acquired many experiences on Fuerte and in Egypt, at different spots/conditions, independent schools and at the Robinson Club.
Motto: There’s still one more possibility!

Anika Junge, Candidate
Anika, born in 1986, went to Norderney after secondary school. Her aim: to accomplish a voluntary social year and to learn windsurfing during the spare time – in order to come nearer to her dream job of a windsurfing instructor. The dream has come true. In 2008, she completed the VDWS windsurfing instructor course on Norderney where she is working ever since. She abandoned her initial High School plans for a correspondence course degree in sport tourism management and exchanged the cold and grey German winters for different stays in sunnier and windier climes at the sea.
Motto: It is better to regret things you have done than things you have not done.

Dirk Muschenich

Dirk, born in 1966, was elected in 1999 in the VDWS Board. He has earned his spurs in international regattas (1983-94). It was not until 1988 that he discovered his interest in acquiring and communicating further background knowledge (sports degree). Since then he worked as a trainer for the Surf Academy and Happy Surfing. After 6 years as manager of a travel agency he founded his own watersport agency. Dirk is known as a specialist in the fields of funboard training and kitesurfing.
Motto: Unlimited fun in kiteboarding and windsurfing!

Jörn Kappenstein

Jörn, born in 1975, has a degree in sports science and Spanish studies from the Bochum University. He works as sports teacher and watersport instructor in different watersports centers in Germany and the Netherlands. He works also as stringer – tester and riding techniques expert - for the Kite Magazine and is member of the Kitecity-LearnEvents trainer staff. Jörn has a teaching assignment for “Trend Sport Kitesurfing” at the Sports

Faculty of the Ruhr University of Bochum and if time permits, he also participates in competitions.

Chris Ziaja

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!

Michael Vogel

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!

Martin Böneker

Martin, born in 1963, grew up in Hamburg and began windsurfing at the age of 13. He tried out different disciplines, but finally it was the water that remained. In 1996, Martin became the associate of a Bavarian watersport station, which he is running on his own now. Kiteboarding is his current passion. In his function of event manager he organizes inline skating events and marathons, so that he is correctly busy even on windless days.
Motto: Every day with friends is a felicitous day

Tom Backhaus
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.

Bernd Panusch

Bernd, born in 1980, is skilled electronics technician. His kiteboarding career has started in the Netherlands in 2001. Since 2004 he travels around the world as KiteCity-trainer; before this he worked as school manager in Egypt (El Gouna) for several years. Since 2005, Bernd is part and parcel of the Kite Magazine’s expert team, to which he contributes as writer, specialist book author, test and riding techniques expert. Bernd communicates his knowledge to trainees and customers with lots of enthusiasm. This explains why he is in charge of the KiteCity -organization, -scheduling, -booking and run since 2006 and why he is the popular contact person for the most recent products at surfshop Laupheim.

Timo Sternemann

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"…

Rollo Beckmann

Rollo was top swimmer and high level sailor for several years. He was also member of the national and Olympic Tornado team. During his studies (teacher certificate and business administration), Rollo opened his first windsurfing school at Lake Dümmer as early as in 1980. In 1989, he expanded his business by a guest house. He then launched a new company, canoe tours, and two years later he added a sailing school and a charter company. From 1990 to 1998, Rollo was VDWS board chairman for schools and since 1992 he is member of the sailing trainer team.
Motto: Don’t chat, just do it!

Dieter Scholz
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.

Axel Schmidt
Axel, born in 1967, was eight years when het got member of a sailing club; no wonder, his father was a sailing coach. He completed his sailing training in all boat classes and participated very successfully in regattas (including GDR Champion 420). After his graduate teacher studies, he worked as trainer, race director and sailing instructor. On Lake Scharmützel he is still active as a trainer and coach in the fields of top sports and

youth. Axel is the owner of the Yacht Academy in Bad Saarow and together with VDWS partners in the education initiative watersport.
Motto: Deep inside you're a surfer, too....

Knut Kuntoff

Knut, born in 1969, began his sailing career as an 8-year-old boy in Optimist, Cadet and 420. Later on, he sailed on a cutter and on various yachts along the coats of Rügen. In 1988, he started his shipbuilder apprenticeship and after the fall of the Berlin wall, he acquired his first Hobie in 1990. In between the sessions on the water he followed his engineering studies. In 1996, he opened his first windsurfing school inn Thiessow. In 1997, the company expanded by the sailing school in Altefähr. Knut now runs several water sports stations, organizes group tours and yacht charters.
Motto: Sailing is the most expensive way to live uncomfortably.

Mara Zapp

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.

Thomas Haupt

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!

Christian Bartesaghi

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!

Michele Poli

Michele was born in 1975 in Bozen, where he also grew up and graduated from business school. Already as a child, he was fascinated by water. In the summer, Michele lives at Lake Garda, the rest of the year he spends in warm maritime climes. He discovered kitesurfing in 2002 in Greece – he got fascinated immediately, passed the instructor course and quit his job in order to dedicate his life to kiteboarding. He worked as kiteboarding instructor at different spots in Venezuela, Brazil and Egypt. Since 2009 he runs his own VDWS kiteboarding school at Lake Garda, where he has become a motorboat teaching specialist.

Piotr Golba

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.

Mustafa Celik

Mustafa Celik was born in 1972 in Antalya. At the age 10 he learned sailing in optimists, at the age of 14 he got acquainted with windsurfing. He passed his windsurfing instructor license in 1996, followed by the catamaran instructor licence in 1997. Mustafa has worked in several countries as watersports instructor, including in Senegal, Djerba and Fuerteventura. He is currently school manager at the Robinson Club Nobilis in Belek /

Turkey.

Muzo Ercetin

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.

Hugo Doornhof
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.

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.