In Philip’s case there is not really a downside being German because he grew up and lives right on the beach in one of the most consistent places in the world. When you are actually from Germany, wave sailing opportunities are few and far between. Half the year is freezing cold and in the other half the wind is light in the summer. We have to drive a lot as well; in Germany when you are young you need to be lucky and either live on one of the islands or have parents that drive you around the whole time. That makes it pretty much impossible if you want to get into wave sailing. Freestyle and Slalom is a bit easier but wave sailing when I was young was kind of restricted to holidays. I did not live on one of the islands so could only really start being serious once I had my driving licence and I finished school. So that was quite a disadvantage compared to guys who were brought up at a windy, wavy location. I did my first forward loop when I was eighteen and it was not until I was nineteen that I properly got into wavesailing. I started on the PWA world tour when I was twenty, which was quite late for my first event. Being forced to travel can also be an advantage though, making you a more complete sailor, as you sail a greater variety of conditions to those just sailing the same consistent spot all year round.