Of course, champion.
Stand-up paddling pro Paulina Herpel sets out to find the perfect wave with the e-Golf on the coast around Biarritz in southwestern France. She knows the best surf spots very well, but electric mobility is new territory for her.
Text Magdalena Behrens Photos Marko Mestrovic
Water (H20) is by definition a chemical combination of the elements oxygen and hydrogen – for Paulina Herpel it is more: a feeling of happiness. Optimal waves, a stand-up paddling (SUP) board, a paddle – that’s all it takes to give the Hamburg-born and German champion 2017 a soulful smile on the face in the SUP disciplines Wave, Technical Race and Whitewater to conjure. The 20-year-old is a real water rat, according to his own words, almost a bit “water addicted”.
Fascination for water and waves
The foundations for this have been laid by their surfing parents, who have taken every opportunity with their children and are still doing so to spend free time and holidays near water. The bond with the wet element really covers the whole family: even the two dogs take place on quieter tours on the stand-up paddling boards. “When it comes to vacation planning, the idea comes up at regular intervals, for a change to make a pure city trip or something similar,” says Paulina with a grin. “The fascination for water and waves is too strong. That’s why we always land near rivers, lakes or the coast. “The Danish Klitmøller, which is also known in the surf scene as” Cold Hawaii “, has become almost like a second home for Paulina. There, too, the enthusiasm for the stand-up paddling has its roots. Meanwhile, Paulina Herpel is on the road all over the world with board and paddle.
” Stand-up paddling is a very diverse sport that can be practiced on all types of waters, and this attraction is what makes me so special, especially the action-packed disciplines that demand technical skill and quick, intuitive action.”
Initial contact with electric mobility
Through her sport, Paulina spends a lot of time on the water, which has created a very deep bond with nature. “When I wait for a wave on the board, my gaze is directed towards the horizon and I see this seemingly endless space, that’s something special. I want us to enjoy this beauty for a very long time. I have often organized with friends so-called beach clean-ups – garbage collection campaigns in groups – to contribute at least a small part to it. Thanks to this connection with nature, I also find topics such as electromobility exciting, “explains Paulina. Biarritz’s e-Golf tour is a first for the sympathetic athlete: it’s the first time she has powered a purely electric vehicle. “For the e-Golf, I particularly like the combination of a powerful, but incredibly quiet drive and the dynamic driving feel. The trend that our mobility is increasingly based on alternative drives in the future is very good. “
Paulina Herpel is Germany’s leading athlete in the SUP women’s field. Anyone who talks to the 20-year-old, quickly realizes that she is burning for this sport. As a Digital Native, she uses social media channels to share her enthusiasm with her fans and followers.
Exciting drive form
The e-Golf has so far cast a spell over everyone. To make the fascination of the alternative form of drive tangible, one has to do it like Paulina: experience it for yourself.
You want to complete your next trip to the beach with your own e-Golf? Further information about the e-Golf can be found here: CLICK HERE