In 2008, I asked Frithjof Blaasch, also known as Friedel, a few questions here in surf Magazine in the "Who is actually?" section. Wow, some time has passed and a lot has happened, but a few things haven't changed. First and foremost, his love of windsurfing and the sea. Time to shed some light on what the young 17-year-old student without a driving licence has been up to over the last few years. His most fervent wish back then was to finally be able to drive a car, to finally be able to drive to the spot on his own without constantly waiting for a lift. After numerous trips, the Surf & Sleep Corsa was then swapped for a somewhat more comfortable older blue Transit, which has long been Friedel's trademark. An orange Opel is now the vehicle of choice.
What hasn't changed so far, however, is the incredible desire to windsurf. The rigging speed is still rapid and the conditions are more or less irrelevant. The main thing is pressure and the right board under your feet. Temperatures don't matter. I like that, as it means I have a surfing partner who always wants to go out on the water on the short, grey winter afternoons. I hope it stays that way for at least the coming winter.
Bulgenslag prefers surfing in Europe to Africa
In recent years, Friedel has trained as an educator, worked in various institutions as a social carer, worked almost full-time at the surf school in Brazil during the summer season or washed dishes at the "Fischerhütten". In the meantime, he has completed his studies in social work and a mixture of part-time social pedagogue and water sports photographer is the current life model so that he can still organise his time relatively freely. Time - which is of course spent on or in the water.
I looked it up and Friedel's dream as a schoolboy was a windsurfing holiday in South Africa. I can still remember well when he fulfilled his dream a few years ago and spent three months away in winter. He saved up for it for a long time and found the trip exciting and interesting, but he didn't catch the South Africa virus and I still believe that he is more fascinated by the different conditions in Europe and that his next long trip will definitely be by bus somewhere in Europe. The highlight of the South Africa trip was the discovery of water photography, and in the last few years he has stocked up his equipment properly and many printed pictures ensure that he continues to study.
Impressive learning curve
I continue to be impressed by Friedel's learning curve and his ambition. Of course, he was already jumping a kind of backloop at the age of 17 and was already noticeable on the water, but his repertoire and consistency have grown considerably in the meantime. Thanks to his long-standing collaboration with Lutz from Windflüchter Boards, Friedel also has boards under his feet that have significantly improved his wave riding and allow him to combine his skate style with fluid turns.
The question of participation in competitions comes up again and again. Friedel has taken part in an event here and there. A second place at the DWC in Kühlungsborn in 2015 behind Max Dröge was a highlight. In 2019, we were together on Sylt at the German Windsurf Cup. Absolutely epic conditions with lots of wind and super waves. A lot of things have to come together for a heat to go well and 14 minutes can sometimes pass very quickly. Especially on an island like Sylt.
As an outside observer, you can see many small mistakes that prevented you from doing well in the contest. But I know only too well that it's not so easy to pack your skills into such a short time. You have to practise and then also have a little bit of luck, coupled with good judges who know how to execute moves technically well.
When the light is good, Bulgenslag always gets the camera out
In free surfing, a good surfing day is only a good surfing day if the moves work. Sometimes I get really excited behind the camera and hope that a manoeuvre will finally work, because otherwise my mood is in a bit of a slump and I have to work to build up. I take my hat off to this demand. Maybe it's the age or the type? In any case, it's not so easy to reach a high level in our climes on the North and Baltic Seas and requires a lot of commitment, ambition and effort. And as the perfect conditions are not the same every day, it may take a year or two longer to master a manoeuvre consistently. I don't think that's a bad thing, because we would all have the opportunity to move somewhere else. But Friedel doesn't want that either.
I asked him if his favourite spots have changed since 2008 and the answer is almost the same: Middles/Denmark and Brazil & Weissenhaus/Baltic Sea. It seems to me that there is this love of the North Sea and the Baltic. It's very strong in Friedel's case, maybe because he grew up here, but it's definitely got me too and I'm always happy that we've had so many great sessions together in recent years. It's just great fun to surf with people who enjoy this beautiful sport and appreciate all the conditions. It never happens that Friedel doesn't go on or into the water when there is wind. Either surfing or with the water camera. It doesn't matter whether it's snowing or whether he's already been windsurfing for four hours - if the light is good, he'll whip out his camera in the water or on land. His favourite subjects are waves. A real "Bulgenslag".
Text: Steffi Wahl
