South Australia: 40 knots, seals and a school bus in the outback

To Adelaide for a surf course – our weakest discipline, but huge fun. The special day: 40 knots of offshore wind. I had a brand-new snowkite prototype with extremely strong depower – ideal for staying safe in offshore conditions. I was the only kiter on the water; the surfers stared. On Kangaroo Island we paddled kayaks down the rivers to the sea – a deserted bay with booming wind and swell became one of my first wave kiting experiences, and it lit a whole new fire. We swam with seals that played with us underwater and dived with wild dolphins – indescribable. Add an outback tour in an old school bus: tents, campfires, a small group, pure nature. In the desert we tried sandboarding – and I could not resist unpacking the kite to get dragged across the sand. Honestly: it did not work. Watch the Australia video.

Trinidad & Tobago: glowing water

A paradise island: white sand, turquoise water, kitesurfing – and on no-wind days SUP, hidden waterfalls, ziplining through the jungle. The most magical moment: a full-moon kayak tour at night through bioluminescent algae – every paddle stroke made the water glow blue. Barely capturable with the cameras of the time; a moment for the soul. Watch the Tobago video.

Zürs & Ischgl: winter dream and finale

In Zürs at the Arlberg we lived royally at the Robinson Club, caught fresh powder and rocked the snow park – and I flew a lap into the valley from Lech on skis under a paraglider. The finale in Ischgl closed the circle: where it all began – at times the whole area to ourselves, a freeride guide in perfect snow, the fun park in top shape. The only thing missing: the 20 other couples we had shared so much action with. Videos: Zürs · Ischgl finale.

What the trip set in motion

The journey (worth more than €70,000) was emotional and intense – and the camera ran nonstop: we filmed everything ourselves, planned scenes, edited ourselves – essentially producing UGC before the word existed. Shooting again and again in new places and new sports simply makes you better – in front of and behind the camera. Exactly that experience lives on in my camera rigs and angles and in every production that books me. Send a booking request.

FAQ

What was “The Sportiest Year of Your Life”?
A contest for Chiemsee’s 30th anniversary: 20 couples competed in Ischgl over a weekend in sports, creative and team disciplines. The grand prize: a world trip across five sports destinations worth over €70,000.

What were the stops?
Naxos (windsurfing), South Australia (surfing & kiting), Trinidad & Tobago (kitesurfing), Zürs at the Arlberg (snowboarding) and the finale in Ischgl (freeskiing).

What did the trip do for my career?
A year of nonstop self-filming, editing and performing in ever-new spots – the perfect school for everything I do today as a sports model, in front of and behind the camera.

Facts