A well known face in the windsurf industry, Peter Garzke (G-6), has just recently decided to join Severne. His ties and love for the sport has A sent him to all the four corners of the world sailing, working, and making new friends. Here are just a few cool shots which were taken during his last stay in South Africa. Check out this interview for some more details:

1) Peter, you have been windsurfing for about 30 years?
     Yes indeed, I started, when I was 9 years old and the sails were that heavy, that it would take me sometimes about one minute to uphaul my 6.0 sail

2) What are your most memorable moments in all those years?
     I remember great people I met throughout all these years. I remember beautiful, special places with wild conditions or different cultures. I like to remember the moments, when you pull off a move you had been working on for such a long time.

3) There are lots of beautiful shots about your last SA Trip on your website. The project with the township kids must have been great fun?
     Yes it was. I am sure the kids loved it! The idea started, when I was driving along the autobahn and saw some kids having their sports lesson with their teacher on the sidelane of this street everybody was just blasting by. I was thinking, that it would be great to get these kids out of their townships and away from this street to try a so called white sport, that is down in south africa pretty much just done by white people. That way the kids get new goals, perspectives and maybe it helps their communication with the white people, that had been terrible for so many years. They have to work on this kind of connection and windsurfing could be an instrument. After all it seems to work out great, since gustmagazine is continueing my idea!

4) What did you want to achieve with it?
     You can’t help all the kids, but I wanted at least to do something for the country after enjoying all the benefits of it. It is quite a contrast between rich and poor and that is hard to ignore. For myself I just want to feel a little bit better knowing I do at least something small. For the kids it hopefully entertains them and keeps them away from stupid ideas.

5) You have also spend a lot of time in Hawaii, another one of your favorite spots. Do you plan to travel more and discover new favorite spots or will you return to the places and people you like so much?
     I try to combine it. I love Oahu, but also tried to visit different spots in the last few years. That way I sailed South Point on the Big Island, Haleolono on Molokai and Salt Pond on Kauai in the last few years. We did sail over with a boat to Molokai and that way we weren’t able to see all the spots and the island, as we just saw the coastline. This summer we will fly over to try another spot on Molokai, that we noticed sailing by. I also want to visit Kalapapa, the old Lepra station on this island. Australia would be an interesting destination as well, but it is so hard to take the equipment nowadays.9 And yes, I do miss my friends from the destinations a reguarly go to. That makes me come back as well.

6) Since January you have changed to Severne. Why Severne?
     I watched the brand for the last few years and also heard a lot of good things about it. Severne seems to be very innovative and also fits to my way of sailing. The last three month proofed, that my impression was right!

7) You have seen Windsurfing grow and fall and enjoy a come back. Where can you see the trend goes over the next few years from now?
     It is all going in waves. One time it is speedsailing, then freestyle is coming back. Now it seems like wavesailing, my favourite way to sail, is getting more attention again. We will see what comes next. There are so many influences. Young kids get sidetracked by other new sports and windsurfing is definitly not a sport,that is easy on the parents. Time and money are making it hard. The eqipment is not getting cheaper as well. I guess for now I don’t see it growing, but it will also not die. As a sportstudent I pretty much tried it all and know, that windsurfing is the best sport for me. It defintly deserves more attention.

8) How do want to be part of it?
     I see myself in the position to help these young kids to hold onto their dreams. Pictures of sailing around the world helps to motivate them. I try to entertain and keep them inside the sports by sending out all these stories. I was in the same positon, when I was young and remember it very well. We have to keep sending out the unreall possibilities of this sport in order to keep it interesting. I want to help to get this fantastic image out to the people

9) You describe yourself as a not very competitive sailor. What's wrong with competition?
     I did it for so many years, but after all it witnessed, that people change through c ompetition including myself. It kind of brings out the dark side. It was fun for some time, but I rather work in a different field.

10) In your personal life, is there anything you want to achieve or realize. A dream to come true?
     I am living the dream…I am right there!

11) Do you have a final statement you would like to share?
     Yes…never give up, anything is possible.