I have a lot of windsurfing friends. Some of them are super active on Social media with phenomenal photos and videos and a ton of action. One of them is my windsurfing friend Alexander Pepelasis.
I love his posts! The feeling I get is almost as if I was there doing the “lay down jibes”. Watching him windsurf brings a smile on my face every time. Very inspiring.
I told Alexander that I’d love to do an interview to share his windsurfing life story with our audience and he said “I would love to do it”.
Tell me how did the windsurfing start for you?
Well I was very lucky that both my parents and my older brother windsurfed quite a bit, so when I turned 6 years old I got my first rig and since then became addicted to the sport.
How old are you now?
I’m afraid to say that I’m 37 and all the grey hair has started to appear.
Are you a pro rider? I see a GBR 642 on your sails. Tell me more about that.
No, I wouldn’t consider myself a pro rider. I am a Point-7 team rider but not because I win races but because I promote the sport and the gear I use. I got the GBR 642 a couple of years back when I started competing in formula racing in the UK but unfortunately we didn’t really get to race that often. In the meantime, I started doing some fun windsurfing videos and used GBR 642 as my identity.
Do you have a “regular” job?
I work as a Point-7 and AV-Boards agent.
Do you have a family?
I have a wonderful son (Adrian) who is going to be 9 years old in May.
I see you are windsurfing “all the time” - how does that work with the rest of your land life?
Indeed, I do windsurf all the time and when I am not, I am dreaming of windsurfing. I decided to have a job that might not bring a great income but a job that will allow me to be on the water as much as possible. I suffer from hyperactivity, so an office job or being in the city would just not work for me!
Do you have a coach?
I used to have a coach when I competed in the Olympic category (IMCO, Mistral one design) back in the late 90s.
Do you also train on land,.. specifically for windsurfing - running, gymnastics, etc.?
Yes, I find it vital to do other forms of exercise. So everyday I do a work out besides windsurfing, alternating the days either with weights or 5k runs.
Not that long ago you had a dreadlocks hairstyle. Why did you cut them? To go faster haha?
Yes, indeed I used to have dreadlocks. Now with work I thought I should have a clean cut .. and also in Greece it’s too hot to have long hair. If it actually makes me any faster…. NO but I would like to believe so 😂
I saw some of your non-windsurfing videos that you share,... and noticed you are a percussionist. Can you tell me more about that?
Yes, my studies were in classical music. The reason I went to the UK was to obtain my masters degree in percussion. I don’t play professionally anymore but I do enjoy playing every now and then.
“…just love
being around the sea.
Any other Hobbies and Interests?
To be honest I don’t have any other hobbies… just love being around the sea.
What are your windsurfing plans for the future?
To windsurf as much as possible and to compete in the Defi Wind race again.
What are your major highlights and achievements in the sport in the past.
I had a couple of windsurfing achievements when I was young, racing in the Greek nationals with One Design but that ended back in 2000. The best experience though that I have ever had, was competing in the Defi Wind event in France. Such an amazing and exhilarating experience racing with 1300 windsurfers for a long distance. It feels like a party or festival. And if I am not mistaken, I ended up being 256 out of the 1300.. so not bad at all!
But to be honest, I don’t really enjoy competing. I love being on the water with others and going as fast as possible but having a smile on our faces, not trying to prove that we are better than one another – it kills the windsurfing spirit for me.
What does your daily windsurfing routine look like?
Hahah… well, as soon as I wake up I look out of the window to check the sea and what the wind is like. I will do my morning workout, check all my work emails and then straight to the beach… if its light wind I might go foiling, otherwise slalom or wave sailing. Every hour, I will take a break and check my phone for any emails that need responding to and then back in the water again. That usually takes up the day! As soon as I return home I will make dinner and then make a video call to my son Adrian.
If the day went well and I have some good footage, I will then have a beer while editing a video for FB and Youtube, to share the passion of the sport!
Do you have some favorite pro windsurfers that you look up to? Why?
Oh yes… First my boss Andrea Cucchi, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Robby Nash, and from the young guns Machiek Rutkowski !
Do you also teach windsurfing?
I used to teach back in the days for fun. And now I’m really looking forward to opening a windsurfing school centre, for all levels.
Just need to find the right spot and place that will be great for beginners, intermediate and advanced but also a place that will be great for windsurfers to come from abroad and enjoy their vacation to the fullest.
Any last words?
Would like to mention that what I enjoy the most is promoting the sport and trying to get as many people into windsurfing as possible. . .
