Philip
Köster
Germany
·
Windsurfing
Date of birth | March 5, 1994 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Gran Canaria, Spain |
Age | 31 |
Nationality | Germany |
Career start | 2008 |
Disciplines | Windsurfing Wave / Windsurfing Foil / Wing Foil |
Germany's Philip Köster has established himself as one of the strongest windsurfers in the world. Born and raised in surfing haven Vargas in Gran Canaria, Spain, he grew up right next to the beach and used the fact that his parents ran a windsurfing school to his advantage. He practised his spectacular moves and learnt intricate tricks thanks to the naturally big surf stirred up by the Atlantic winds near his home.
Köster came to the world’s attention in 2008 when he took to the international stage, ultimately being crowned PWA Pozo Wave Champion in 2009. In the same year he was also named Rookie of the Year and won the German Champion wave.
2011 also proved particularly successful, with the young German achieving a multitude of wins including Wave Champion DWC, World Champion PWA Wave, Youth World Champion PWA Wave, a GQ Men of the Year award as well as a nomination for the Laureus Award.
In 2012, aged just 18, Philip again took the Wave World Champion PWA title, again earning a nomination for Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year award. He was also PWA Wave Youth World Champion.
But the next year, dogged by an injury later in the season, he slipped down into sixth place overall in the PWA rankings. In 2014 he became the first Junior Laureus Ambassador, under the mentorship of Michael Teuber and by 2015 was back to his best, taking his third overall PWA Wave World Tour title.
A fourth title came along in 2017 and then a fifth in 2019 when he also claimed second place at Red Bull Storm Chase. With Köster never far from the winner's podium, it seems inevitable that he'll add to his already impressive haul of victories and world titles.