datrip: Do you have clear goals for big wave surfing? Is there a wave that you really want to surf in the near future? Are you chasing personal records concerning wave heights? Do you have ambitions to make big wave surfing a profession that you can live from?

Michi: No, I just see what happens. I want to make as many trips as possible, to big waves but also to exciting new locations. Yesterday night I just came back from Italy. We went there spontaneously because the buoys were showing 6 meters, something I have never seen there before. It was really heavy and I was undergunned with my 6´8 pintail, I couldn’t believe that this was Italy!

This year I plan to visit the Azores, Maldives and maybe Chile. I have a few waves in my mind as Aileens and Punta Lobos, but there is also a few that have no name yet. Concerning wave height I don’t want to push it too much, I’d rather want to get fit and confident in wave heights that I already have surfed. Let’s see what happens next winter.

To make a profession out of that is not possible in my case because the international guys are on another level. Nevertheless I’m happy with the support that I get from my sponsors, especially Quicksilver. They give me the freedom to live and finance the lifestyle I love.

datrip: 6 meter waves in Italy? No way! Tell me more? Do you have photos?

Michi: Yeah, I couldn’t believe it myself, I just had seen the forecast and that red dot, then the preview in meters that said 6.5m.

We arrived at night and just could guess how big it was until dawn at 6:30. Almost the whole bay was closeout but we could see these huge peaks outside and finally made it out. Really heavy, there was a lot of water moving and the biggest sets in the morning were almost triple overhead, no kidding! Besides us there was no one out.

I must have made 15 surf trips to Italy until now and never have seen something similar. During the day it got smaller but cleaner and still very good.

I have taken a few pictures but none with surfing on it. Andi couldn’t come this time. It was an exceptional swell, but maybe it happens again some day…..

datrip: That´s a nice idea, a Bavarian with a ride on an Italian Mediterranean sea wave making the XXL-Awards…

Michi: Every year there is a photo contest in an Italian surf mag about who surfs he biggest wave in Italy. Most of the time it’s Varazze or Capo Manu on Sardegna. But in the entries of the past years I have never seen a wave as big as we had it. It’s a real pity that Andy, our photog couldn’t come..

datrip: Last question: what do you thing about the XXL-Awards and the big wave contests or the recently created tow in tour? Is a competition with the extra motivation to cross a certain limit in potentially life threatening waves really responsible? Does big wave surfing actually need competition with other surfers or isn’t it already challenge enough to surf waves of that size and power?

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