Surfing The Wave

HSE SPb student talks about his experience in windserfing.

Windsurfing is a surface water sport that is a combination of surfing and sailing. This activity requires powerful hand, steel nerves and strong will power. Luckily, our university possess a person with described above characteristics.

Andrey is a twenty-year-old student of a bachelor program “Jurisprudence» in HSE SPb, who combines studying not only with windsurfing, but also with teaching of it to beginners. We asked him some questions about his infatuation.

How long have you engage windsurfing?

I have been practicing this sport since 2012, 8 years for this moment.

Can you describe the feeling when you slide the water surface at great speed?

Well, maybe it has something similar with snowboarding… But generally, it is an unparalleled sensation, it has nothing common with anything else, so it’s very hard to describe.

How long have you teaching windsurfing?

Since 2017, so I have an experience of teaching for two seasons. In the forthcoming season I will also instruct those who wish.

Your education program is known for its intensity. How can you combine it with you sport activity?

Since season of windsurfing starts in the end of April and lasts ‘till the end of September, it’s not a problem to double-job, as I don’t educate during the biggest part of this period. Moreover, I’m not a professional yet, windsurfing for me is just a hobby, I don’t have to sacrifice my university time and put only my free time into windsurfing.

Can you tell us an interesting story that happened with you during a practice of windsurfing?

Well, the funniest case happened six years ago when I was practicing in Sochi. During a regular heat a group of dolphins joined our “sailing”. They cleaved water surface literally in meter of us, it was possible to touch their polished backs. Their visit was companioned with loud dolphin shouts.

Do you see any perspectives of further development of the sport in Russia?

Of course, windsurfing develops extraordinarily. First of all, there appeared a new type of boards, which is foil. This element of board affords an opportunity for a surfer virtually to fly over the water surface (https://youtu.be/NcnU2a5lABw ). Secondly, in summer 2019 Saint-Petersburg was the place where the world Championship on windsurfing happened, which means that our sportsmen are highly competitive. Thirdly, in 2018 Gasprom arena got finance to organize windsurfing place near Krestovsky Island. All this testifies that windsurfing is on its peak of popularity in Russia.

Interview by
Ivan Voznesensky