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WINDSURFING DILEMMAS: WITH NICO PRIEN

In our next instalment of Windsurfing Dilemmas, we challenge YouTube guru and top PWA racer Nico Prien, to answer seven everyday conundrums that many windsurfers may have faced. So, it is over to (Mr Nice Guy!) Nico, who tells us how he would deal with these tricky moral decisions.

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Epic Forecast

The weekend is fast approaching and the swell is supposed to be pumping with side offshore winds at your local! But you have promised to go for a romantic meal with your girlfriend far away from the epic conditions in the local city! Do you go for the meal and sit there miserably looking outside at the trees waving in the wind or come clean and tell her you would rather be windsurfing and try and move the meal to another day when there is no wind or waves…

Nico Prien

“If she’s with a windsurfer, she probably knows that my fingers will be itching and would be happy to postpone the dinner. Romantic dinners don’t need good forecasts.

I’ll definitely have a chat with her and make the decision together.

Of course it depends a bit on the circumstances. If it’s a special occasion or my next trip is about to come anyways, then I’ll happily do the dinner over the forecast. Just make a reasonable decision together and then don’t regret it.”

Missing the Moment

Imagine you’re filming your partner’s best session ever, and suddenly, she lands her first forward loop. The scream of victory rings out across the water. But at that very moment, you’re scrolling through Instagram, completely missing the action. Do you pretend you got it but blame a “corrupt memory card” later, or come clean and admit you were caught up checking Alice Arutkin’s latest post?

Nico Prien

“Always come clean. Sometimes the truth hurts! But finding out about a lie can hurt more.

I would expect the same the other way around!”

Change Mix-Up
You’re heading to the beach and stop by the store for some snacks. You hand over a crisp 20 note, and when you check your change, the shopkeeper has mistakenly given you the change for a 50. Do you keep quiet, stash the cash and walk away, hoping karma doesn’t catch up with you, or do you give the extra money back and part with a clear conscience?

Nico Prien

“Like I said – always come clean.

Especially while you’re heading for session – you’ll need the extra Karma points!”

The Pub vs. Family Dinner

It’s 4:30 PM, you’ve just had one of the best speed sailing sessions of the season, but you promised your partner you’d be home for dinner with the in-laws at 5. The lads are heading to the pub for post-session beers. Do you fake a flat battery excuse and head to the pub for more banter, or take the hit and show up for the family dinner while everyone else is enjoying the post-session laughs?

Nico Prien

“This might sound boring, but family dinner it is.

I already scored the session with friends, finishing the day off with family sounds perfect!”

Competition Quandary
Your mate just finished a heat at the local windsurfing championships and insists he crushed it. But you know the other competitors were tearing it up, and one of them landed a killer wave 360 in the last seconds. Do you hype up your mate’s performance, blaming it on “corrupt judges” later, or do you tell him the truth and let him know he got schooled?

Nico Prien

“If it’s someone random I might not bother getting into a discussion about it.

If it’s my ‘homie’, I owe him the truth. It might be uncomfortable in the moment, but he’ll be grateful for my honestly in the long term (I hope, ha ha).”

Wave Snake!
You’ve had a rough day on the water, but suddenly a perfect set comes in. Only problem: a local kook is deep down the line and it’s obvious the wave is his. Do you let him have it, cheering him on as he flubs the best set of the day, or do you pretend not to see him, steal the wave, and make a show of shredding it, and send your spray in his face?

Nico Prien

“Often the waves are big enough for two people anyways. Especially if the level differs.

Normally I would cheer him on, but you never know what bad emotions will do to you in the moment.

Bad day, no wave in front, last wave of the set. I would say it could happen, but it’s definitely not my general approach and I would apologize after at least!”

Mast Track Mishap
You move your mate’s mast track to the front of the board as a joke. Sure enough, as he is blasting through the chop overpowered, he goes over the handlebars and totally destroys his sail. Do you own up to the prank and help pay for the repair, or do you let him think it was just bad luck?

Nico Prien

“If you never tell him, you can’t laugh about it together, so I’ll tell him, hope he forgives me and find a solution for the sail!”