Go with the flow: we surf with Katharina Sachs

“Whenever I’m on or near the water, I experience a deep sense of calm and clarity,” says Katharina Sachs with satisfaction in an exclusive interview with ramp Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director Michael Köckritz. This also has a positive effect on her work. What does that mean? ‘Surfing isn't just about riding waves, it's an entire lifestyle that has a strong influence on your personal mindset - also because you have to face new challenges every time you go into the water,’ she explains. You never know exactly what you're going to face. That's why you're constantly dealing with new things. Patience and perseverance then come naturally, as does success. Katharina Sachs reveals a few tips on how this can work for you too in an exclusive surf guide.

Sachs' surfing tips for beginners:

• The right spot, for example a sandbreak, and the right board, are the key to early success. A larger, more stable board is ideal for beginners, for example.
  
  
• Never go out into the surf alone without experience - on the one hand, this is simply dangerous, and on the other hand, you learn best from other surfers. So watch experienced surfers and then ask for tips and advice in a friendly manner. Alternatively, private lessons are also an option.
  
  
• Surfing etiquette and safety knowledge  are absolute basics.
  
  
• Patience and perseverance pay off: It takes a while to get used to the feel and techniques. Don't get discouraged. Get out on the water at least four to five times to get a feel for your progress. And perhaps most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process.

Sachs' surf tips for advanced surfers

• Improve your own technique: What may not sound ground-breaking at first is the key to everything you want to achieve later on. Work on advanced techniques such as manoeuvres, turns and carving, and it is also advisable to increase your fitness and stamina. It is then only logical to supplement your training with specific fitness exercises for surfers.

• If you improve your breathing technique, everything becomes much easier when surfing. For example, longer dives: Good breathwork here can improve your ability to stay underwater for longer, which is very useful in wipeouts (falling off the board into the water) and difficult conditions. Reducing anxiety and stress is also a pleasant side effect: panic in unexpected situations can be avoided by putting your body in a relaxed state with conscious breathing. And not just in the water or on the board.

• Learn to read the waves: Those who are better at anticipating the situation on the board will at best be positively surprised by a wave. ‘Refine your ability to read waves better and choose the best ones,’ advises the exterior designer. Situational awareness can also prove to be a real trump card in everyday life.

Surf spots that you have to experience for yourself:

This is once Costa Rica, Sachs thinks - ‘firstly because of the unique nature and jungle, and secondly because of the continuous waves all year round’. Which is a real rarity, by the way, as such constant conditions are very difficult to find in Europe.

And then of course there's Hawaii: ‘It's a dream come true for everyone to travel to the origin of surfing’. She also likes to choose surf spots that are not too touristy - because you don't want to wait in the water with 20 or 30 other people, even if the camaraderie in the community is of course huge.

→ Read the full interview with Katharina Sachs in ramp #65 ‘Surfing Cowboys’!