Blast From The Past

Next up in ‘Blast From The Past’ is Estonian windsurfer Betti Vainkula (Tabou / GA Sails)

Hi Betti, take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience - Where were you?

In Estonia, Haapsalu - Holm beach.

When was it?

It might have been in 2008 or 2007, when I tried for the very first time. But it was not the time I started windsurfing properly.

Who were you with?

I was with my family as we have a country house there.

What do you remember from that very first ‘session’?

As I started off with some freestyle gear and I was quite small I remember it was quite a lot of fun. It was more playful as freestyle gear might not be the best gear to start with :D  But it was enough to get the feeling and a bit later I knew I had to learn how to do it properly.

Who was your local hero? And why? 

Penny - Ain Härmson, was my local hero, because he was the one who got me into windsurfing and during the time he did some cool freestyle tricks.

What gear were you using? 

Fanatic skate 2007 LTD and Gaastra Manic 2008 which was also Penny’s gear.

Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time…

When I was properly planing for the first time I had a Techno293 board and it was also the same time when I first got my feet into the footstraps. It took me a few seconds to enjoy the feeling until I crashed into a rock and destroyed my board and my fin. I was a bit scared at the time, but it did not stop me :D 

How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer? 

I feel like I still haven’t realised that…

Give a tip for the next generation…

My tip is just to enjoy it, to have fun… find some friends to do it together with and push each other if needed. 

Thanks, Betti.