LiveChat with Andre Paskowski NOW
Name: Andre Paskowski
Sail no: G2
Hometown: Hamburg/Germany
Discipline: Freestyle
Results: 2x European Champion, 3x Vice European Champion, Top 10 PWA consistently
Sponsors: Fanatic/North/ION
Other: Producer of Four Dimensions and Minds Wide Open, two of the largest windsurfing films ever
cool. thanks to all. leaving to get my camera ready. there is the tow final in 30 minutes.
We are calling time there, thanks for all the questions everyone, and a massive thanks to Andre. Over to the EFPT now for some insane tow-in action. It’s going to be quite the show! We’ve already heard rumours from the riders of new combos….
Just a few minutes now, thanks for all the questions and last ones please as Andre must go on time. Remember to follow the action of the European Freestyle Pro Tour Tow-In Championships that Andre will be filming on the EFPT Facebook Live Ticker – http://www.facebook.com/EFPT1
Any new video projects in the pipeline?
I watched Minds Wide Open at work today. How have you managed to keep such a high standard through your projects? Do you come up with a story to tell then go and film it or is it the other way around and you just go out and film with a basic plan and see how it goes?
We have a basic plan on how the movie should look and how each sections should start and end but we cant really plan details. It is just so much depending on conditions that you have to stay always flexible – lots of waiting. So you dont have your long time to set up some scenes. Also the riders are diffecult to get motivated for that sort of work. So it is always a fight to get the right lifestyle shoots to create this look
We all have our heroes, sailors we inspire to be when kids or when just starting windsurfing! Who were/are your Legends? And how did you managed to get so successful freestyle??
Stone, Goya for there style and way of changing Wavesailing. Björn for being always in the top. He must be a mental super hero to stay focused for so so many years. I think he get way to little respect inside the world sports scene. And recently it is Ricardo and Kauli. The way Ricardo re invented Freestyle and create something no one has tried or tought of is unreal
I mean how the hell can you go out and say… now i learn a chachoo…
Who is your favorite freestyler right now ?
I again say Gollito. He is a great friend and we hang out. I believe his total style is unmatched. He is fast and going high. He is up to date but all looks to perfectly combined make it looks easy. I believe he dont know how good he really could be.
I love also watching tonkys lay back style. and Kiri getting some extra meters on most ducking moves. And steven… he really turned into a full pro which is great to see
Yes i think steven is quite amazing, the PWA is so exciting to watch right now, there’s so many good sailors! The heats are always close..!
What’s your favorite cheese??
my doctors forbid me to eat cheese. Only goat cheese. And thats not my taste.
looks like gollito is using a proto sail. any information on that?
Yes we are trying different sails troughout the year. He has a set of 4 button sails here in Podersdorf and he seems to like them quite a lot. They are super light and powerfull. I actually tried his 5,4 myself 2 hours ago.
As a Medical student and a windsurfer who loves freestyle, i must tell you that you are quite an example for all the persons that could suffer from a cancer or other diseases. You follow your passion and make epic windsurfing movies, i think that’s the better way to get better and fight against your cancer
Shaka flaka is good for life 
Keep windsurfing and loving it, you will be in windsurfing history for sure 
He, thanks. Dont know about the history. Would be a honour
What is your favourite sail and size in the North range use when freestyling?
4,7 and the 90. It was all i wanted to sail. Because you are still in full control of conditions but have the power to do quick, fast and high moves.
i guess you’ve been on fuerte a lot of times. do you have any tips on cheap accommodation?
Yes. Dont know what you mean with cheap but there are some appartment blooks right in costa calma which are quite cheap.
I hope so too. It is always good to have a good and friendly competition. That raises the level of every person
Just over 15 minutes left, get your questions in, Andre is happy for you to ask personal questions also
Editors note: but we all appreciate it and it’s certainly by no means anywhere near the worst
That’s OK, I’m English and I struggle with English.
by the way. Sorry for my english. Normally take more time for writting in english and still write bad…
what do you think of camocim? i heard lots of people say that they don’t want to stay there for longer than 5 days?!?! is there any other spot that offers such good conditions for freestyle?
Camocim is great to sail. It is flat and windy. But i prefer going for short trips and have my base in Jeri. I love the feeling in Jeri. It makes me feel alive. People are warm and nice.
Fighting cancer must put a real crimp on the windsurfing (at least you look good without the hair, I would look a total tit). How do you manage to keep windsurfing fit with all the time off the water?
Hi Phil, I had to decide quite early on my cancer time whish way i want to go. If i would follow the rules given by doctors I would hang out in my room staying calm to not go into any riscs. But that was not my plan. I want to be as active as i could. So i keep my body fit. So that i could restart sailing quickly even after heavy Operations or chemos. That was supper important. Without that i would probably being at home sleeping and that would depress me and finally i would give up.
What makes you stay passion and excited about windsurfing, especially after life battles you had to take on…????
Well. Easy. My Hospital in White, Smells like Anti Septic, It rains in Hamburg and is cold and right now i escaped for a few day. Being in the sun, just listen a live concert and having fun and nice people around me. Who would like to give that up without a big fight.?
Made me a little emotional now actually. But yes has been a long and hard fight. lots of up and downs. But the moments out of Hamburg give me the power to keep going.
ANDRE all the best to you! Your attitude and achivements are inspiring many of us! Keep the good will and we’re all here behind you!!!!!!
I saw your video posted today on Boardseeker with two moves from Gollito. Do you think his Flaka-Ponch would have scored highly in a competition? It’s difficult of course, but the ponch part ends up with the sail in the water. I worry that these combination moves end up a bit lame at the end. Shouldn’t you have to plane out of a move to score highly?
Yes i agree. 5 years back we all wanted to go High with power and speed. Unfortunatly the development was that riders want to score the technical moves higher. So guys are practising these combo moves. Sure it is super hard to do. Especially as he was on 5,4 and chop and gusty conditions. But sometimes I which this high shakas and air flakas back were we risc to come out on full speed.
hi andre, who do you think are the top talents in freestyle windsurfing right now? i mean not older than 18. are there promising freestylers coming out of europe? and what would the perfect year of traveling to practice freestyle look like for you, like where would you go in which part of the year?
I watched all contest yesterday and Youp, Rick, Dieter, Davy surprised me lots. There are the regular riders like Gollito, Tonky, Taty, Kiri, Steven but thoose guys are young and will get to the top!
Hi Andre, what do you think of the up and coming freestylers from the UK now? And how do you rate the difficulties facing the UK riders in terms of lack of consistent wind conditions to practise in?
Well I think that UK Riders have a good option for wind. I read updates from Timo on Twitter all winter long of sailing conditions. Thats pretty special. In Vienna or Germany you cant do that. I believe that there is some talent in the UK. Look at the riders right now they all are on a TOP 10 level. But having a World Cup also depends on luck and being in right sync with the Wind.
From selling my DVD i can say that UK seems really Pro inside the Windsurf Community and people being really into it and all seems Hip and Cool.
I think Kids in the UK have options to get into the Top
You know that this sport is lacking some serious coverage today?
Don’t you think that this event in Austria should be broadcasted live and without any big movie on the plan are you going to produce some stylus stuff like the 2 for 10?
Oh yes. 2for10 was a good one. Yes we are lacking coverage. But it is nowerdays the responsibility of all riders, to promote and market themself. And then Coverage gets bigger automatic. We cant believe, that we are still in the comfort seat and just wait for TV Crews to line up for interviews. It was like that years ago. Now it is us. I tried starting that. And more and more Riders have cameras now making their own clips. Which is a good development.
More or less you’ve raised the bar with your productions. Let’s hope that others will follow!
Do you think action sports movies will be relased online rather than on DVD in the near future? How do you see this working if so, have you thought about it for your next one?
Yes I do. But what people sometimes forget is, that i have to lisence all my music. So it is pretty easy to lisence music for a certain amount of DVDs and pay the price. It is harder to have a lets say ” unlimited, world, online distribution via Itunes”. The sport is small and big music labels mostly work with other numbers.
yes good point, it seems like licensing is holding up progress in this respect
Yes a lot. I paid 35.000EUR on music. So imagine how much struggle all this process means. Maybe one day everything is working on “flatrate” contracts…
What do you think of the whole freestyle scene at the moment?
It changed quite a lot in 2 years. I am missing all the older riders which i used to hang out with. In terms of level I can tell it never has been higher then it is. I think we just had a big change of people coming in new and all have to get contact again. I think contest wise there could be improvements done. We do have too little events. And we do miss the “2nd” league events. Like the old EFPT Tour.
Hey Andre, Are we going to play some BEER pong tonight or what???
max yes. We as a team. If we loose you drink. i stay on the water. just like the other night… you still remember?
I still remember just! Massive advantage having a sober partner!!!
Who do you think might win the tour this year?
Hi John, what diziplin you mean?
I meant freestyle. But I will ask about freestyle, and wave tour too!
I think there will be a battle for 1st with Kiri, Steven and Gollito. But to be honest. Yesterday Gollito won quite clear. And this was the Event were I would give him the “worst” chance for winning as he likes strong winds. I think in Fuerte we can tell. On waves it depends on the Tour and Conditions. It will be Philip if it stay that way. But Ricardo, Dani, Alex, Victor, Kauli and Marcilio seem hungry too.
How are you liking the event in austria?
Hi Peter, It is a great Event so far. I escaped Hospital for a bit and we have sun and some wind. Great to see all friends and people being happy and enjoying life. Also i work with Gollito and we got a great win yesterday. So good times here.
How do you think you will do on the tour this year? Are you competing in all the events?
Hi Tomas, I was out today on our Freestyle Board and right now I by far not on the level like the guys on Tour. It would be cool to do a event one year – for fun. But to go for Top 10 results seems not possible anymore.
I bet! The top guys improve so fast at the moment. What moves are you working on now? Did you find you could still do all the same moves after a while off the water?
No i dont think so. After having several operations i lost power and i am not as fast as before in my movements. So this new tricks seem not really possible right now.
Hi andre
what is your favorite section from one of your films?
Hi Ben, I really like the Gollito Section from Brasil in Four Dimensions as it gives really good feeling and you kind of know how it is there. And i like the Maui Section in Minds Wide Open with the slower Song. I feel this looks beautiful
Hey Andre, what are you plans for future videos? Will we see one this year?
Hi Josh, there wont be any big major DVD Project coming this year. But I am working on sevral smaller Clips that way i can be more reactive and quick with the release of something good looking
Hi all, we are sitting here with Andre Paskowski, ready to go for the LiveChat. It’s going to be a busy one for him as we are at the PWA Podersdorf World Cup… fire away when ready.