Interview: Bernd Roediger

American Bernd Roediger won the singles title at the SOMWR 10 x Cabo Verde PWA World Cup. In this interview, he talks about Ponta Preta, his ultra-short boards, and his anxiety about traveling due to the pandemic.

Hey Bernd, congrats again on your win in the single elimination. That was your first time at Ponta Preta, right? It seems like you got the hang of the spot pretty quickly... You often catch the best waves—did you get tips from Josh or the guys who’ve surfed there before, or did you just figure it out on your own?

"Josh Angulo, his son Noah, and his wife Claudia were incredibly helpful the entire time we were in Cape Verde. They helped us interpret the forecast, arranged our transportation and accommodations, and even fed us! And yes, they provided us with much-needed knowledge about the area, simply by watching Josh rip out there. It’s funny—I spent most of my career trying to emulate Kauli Seadi, but it wasn’t until I started paying attention to Josh’s style that I felt I understood Punta Preta and the way you’re supposed to surf there. In any case, the 2007 PWA event at Ponta Preta shaped my approach to wave riding, and I did my best to showcase that style in this contest."

You obviously have a great track record at the Aloha Classic, but Ponta Preta is a completely different wave than Ho’okipa. To what extent do you think your surfing/SUP background helped you read the lineup?

"I spent a lot of time imagining what I would do when I finally arrived at Ponta Preta, how I would surf. It’s true that this wave is a completely different caliber compared to Ho’okipa. Ho'okipa is world-class, but most of the time the wave is choppy and chaotic. It’s a wave that offers opportunities for massive close-out hits and maneuvers, but it’s harder to draw the kind of lines that are possible at Ponta Preta. That’s why surfing and SUP are so helpful. I’ve undoubtedly surfed a greater variety of waves than I’ve sailed, simply because there’s a wider range of surfing conditions in Hawaii. There are plenty of fast, hollow waves that can really test your skills. Not to mention my trips to the Marshall Islands with the Indies Trader and Martin Daly, as well as the fantastic surf spots on the International Windsurfing Tour and APP events. Still, I didn’t have many opportunities to apply those lessons from surfing the way I’ve been able to here in Cape Verde."

In an interview, you mentioned that you almost didn’t make it to Cape Verde—can you tell us a little about why that was and how you ended up making it here? As it turned out, it was a good decision...

"A truly wonderful decision, one I was undoubtedly pushed into! The pandemic was difficult for everyone around the world, and I count myself among the luckiest people who got through this time at home in Maui in relative safety and security. Still, I felt that Covid had put an end to my opportunities to travel and compete internationally. Aside from financial concerns, I no longer felt the hunger for faraway places or the lofty goals of winning abroad. I guess I just wanted to feel safe at home, have my family, and have the stability of knowing exactly what would happen the next day, the next week, and throughout the year. The idea of setting out and throwing my luck to the wind used to excite me; it was the reason for my life and for windsurfing, but I think I’ve somehow lost that. If this victory means anything, it’s the revival of the desire to live courageously again and to believe—not just in myself, but also in the magical energy of the world."

A lot of people have been talking online about how your boards are completely different from everyone else’s... Can you tell us a little about your board design?

"It’s possible that my 216 cm boards are the shortest on the tour. Even though I’m one of the smallest guys on the tour myself, it’s still a stark contrast to other designs out there! I can’t claim that this design is the key to success at Punta Preta—just look at how Josh Angulo tears up the wave with a 7’0” single-fin to see how many different designs are suitable for such conditions! I have to say, though, that Flikka has created something magical with my waveboards; I’m more than impressed. This board was shaped just a few days before the contest and delivered to Cape Verde by a friend from Slovenia the day before the event started. I only rode it once before the event and knew immediately that this was the board I wanted to compete with. It had everything I’d hoped for: a short rail line that edges with minimal effort and helps me focus on a line and then make the turn without losing speed!"

In Ho’okipa, it looks like you sometimes ride the Hot Sails Maui Superfreak, but here you rode the KS3—why did you choose it?

"The KS3 is the ‘Kauli’ sail, and I wanted to sail as much like Kauli as possible here. The Superfreak is a great sail for trying out new maneuvers and improving your rail-to-rail turns without putting too much pressure on the sail. It’s a sail like no other, and it can completely change the way you think about wave riding when windsurfing. It feels completely stable in your hands, can be fully depowered with a simple hand movement, and rotates easily. I have one in my quiver for Cape Verde that I might still use if the conditions are right—for example, if it gets super windy—because the Superfreak’s range of use is much broader than that of the KS3."

You mentioned in an Instagram post how the windsurfing movie inspired you—you mentioned Kauli and Josh in 2007—but you have your own unique style... are there any specific windsurfers you wanted to emulate?

"I’ve already said that Kauli and Josh are the windsurfers who have inspired me my whole life. But I’d also like to mention Levi Siver for his incredible talent on the water and his tireless dedication to pure wave sailing. Mark Angulo is probably my biggest inspiration—my windsurfing uncle, so to speak—who imparted a lot of wisdom to me during my formative years in Ho’okipa. I still watch videos of him catching massive sections and forcing his body into impossible maneuvers. When I see that, I realize just how much more work I have ahead of me to reach that level."

Finally: The forecast looks like a big, long-lasting swell might hit this weekend—how do you and the guys feel about potentially seeing Ponta Preta at its best?

“That’s got everyone excited! There’s no denying that the conditions played a huge role in how the single elimination turned out. There are a lot of people who couldn’t give their best because the conditions didn’t suit their heats. I expect the competition rankings to shift even more—here’s to more action next weekend!”