The background actors enter the set. The 70-year-old, red haired lady Sigie acts about 40 years younger – she knows exactly how to hit on the surfers. Bertl, the 60-year-old housekeeper looks like he’s spent his whole life sunbathing but also happens to be the most important man on the block. They are both Alt Erlaa veterans and look and act just like my desired characters. More and more people arrive at the set: cameramen, technicians, helping hands, and also some officials from the building management. Excitement is building.
08:00 AM – I take out my last special ingredient for the perfect True Wind recipe: washing up liquid is key! I squirt it on my board and runway. Hopefully the surface will be slippery enough for me to gain plenty of speed. The winch speeds up to 50 km/h in a matter of seconds. The worst-case scenario flashes before my eyes, what if I get stuck on the runway and crash? Getting my feet stuck in the fin-slot would be a sure bone breaker.