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PASCAL BRONNIMANN interview
What's your background?
Born and raised in Switzerland. Traveled a lot with my windsurfing parents. Since 1996 residing on Oahu, Hawaii. Began windsurfing at the age of 9.
It started as a windsurfing club to bring windsurfers together on Oahu – Oahu doesn’t have too many windsurfers despite its great conditions – most windsurfers choose Maui over Oahu to enjoy the stronger and steadier trade wind of Maui. I wanted to create a network uniting people with similar interests, namely windsurfing. After a while I realized that I should include more than one sport into the network and began to expand the whole network to make it interesting to the international board sports community. Board sports enthusiasts usually travel a lot and can benefit greatly from the network.
What are your aims and objectives?
To make travelling easier and more affordable for board sports enthusiasts – to have online resources for members where they can get their equipment replaced or fixed, rent equipment, find suitable accommodations and transportation. Members not only have online resources but also get discounts with the affiliated businesses.
Additionally I’d like to unite board sports enthusiasts all over the world – we all have the same goals – to enjoy quality time in nature! To bring different sports together – I’ve seen too many different sports competing/fighting with each other instead of getting along – it’s ridiculous! Short boarders against long boarders, surfers against windsurfers, windsurfers against kite boarders, skiers against snowboarders etc… Get over it people!
 
What gives you the edge?
Being able to offer an affordable membership (only $ 35 for the first year) into an international club for board sports enthusiasts – the one and only of its kind in the world! Diamond Head Team has well over 100 affiliates (and counting) worldwide.
Your main products and services?
Membership card which offers discounts with affiliates, Diamond Head Team logo wear.
How do you feel about doing this interview?
Thanks for the opportunity! It’s really fun and will help to spread the word about Diamond Head Team.
Which windsurfers and companies do you respect the most and why?
Robby Naish, humble and modest despite his achievements; Peter Garzke, great friend and advisor from Germany; Most of the local Oahu sailors because they are my friends; Soul windsurfers, kiters, surfers, snowboarders etc. all over the world. By soul I mean people who do everything to be able to get out there and have fun – not to be the best or make a lot of money, but just for the sake of having fun!
I’d like to thank all of the companies who trusted me and helped me to be on the best gear available, namely RRD, Yes sails, Blue Planet Surf Gear, Da Kine, Proflex footstraps and Chinook.
  
Your favorite break and why?
My favorite breaks are anywhere on Oahu’s South Shore. Because they are uncrowded perfect waves with light to moderate side offshore winds.
Coolest places you've visited and why?
South Africa, Cape Town, for its beauty, people and great windsurfing conditions.
North shore of Fuerteventura for its epic wave sailing conditions and surfing and its unique desert landscape.
Oahu for its great year-around swells and warm weather/water.
I’ll need to travel more to find more great uncrowded spots!
What else would you like to inform our readers of?
Have fun and enjoy life every day – it’s the greatest gift of all. Be polite and respectful. Before travelling do learn the language at least a little bit. This will enable you to get around easier and to get involved in the local scene.
Have you ever been in big trouble in the water? What happened?
I’ve got to cross my fingers – I haven’t been in any extreme situations yet – not counting loosing sails and masts, swimming a lot and nearly drowning twice.
What kind of gear do you and your friends use?
Mostly wave equipment. 4.7 – 5.7 sails and floaty boards.
Is surfing/windsurfing too commercial these days?
Yes/No.
I think that surfing has been commercialized a lot lately – due to movies like Blue Crush and others – it’s been glamorized and the result is spots that are extremely crowded. On the other hand windsurfing hasn’t become a mainstream phenomenon yet.
Greatest surfer/windsurfer of all time?
Tough question – I guess I don’t really know – there are so many good sailors out there and I don’t want to discriminate anybody by mentioning names.
What's the biggest surf you've been out in?
About double-mast high waves. I’m usually searching for smaller but perfect waves where I can have fun without getting beaten up and breaking all my equipment.
  
Best surf/windsurf movie ever, and favourite?
Well, I guess I need to see more. So far I really liked “4 play” by Quatro – great vibe, music and footage. Total insanity isn’t bad either. I also liked “RIP” by Robby Naish. Lately, I haven’t seen any windsurfing related movies.
Favourite food?
Swiss cheese, Mexican, Thai and lots more.
What kind of music do you listen to?
All kinds, my favorite styles are Grunge, Trip-Hop, World music, Reggae, Metal, Ska, Punk – I am always open to new experiences and especially like when different music styles are getting combined and therefore creating a new sound.
Are you involved in any other sports?
I surf quite a bit when the wind isn’t blowing; back in Switzerland I was into Snowboarding, Skiing and Waterskiing.
What sucks about being a pro?
If I was a full-time pro: to travel to cold (but often cool) places to wait for wind and to compete in conditions that aren’t side-or side offshore. To barely have any time to feel settled down somewhere on this planet.
That I chose windsurfing and not a more lucrative sport like golf… just kidding… I’m having so much fun doing it that I’d do the same all over again!
What is the best thing about being a pro?
To be able to windsurf when the conditions are good. To have the latest and best gear available for use. To have the ability to windsurf in gnarly conditions without wiping-out and breaking stuff all the time. To have, to a certain extent, some more respect from fellow sailors.
Pascal Bronnimann - Diamond Head Team - 26th January 2004
This interview by Zoco Boardriding Adventures. Tap the source....
If you would like to be interviewed or would like to contibute to this site please email: info@surflanzarote.com
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