He is just 17 years old and already world champion. "Online world," said Philip Köster with wind surfers about a childhood on the beach and 18 meters high jumps.

Even with eight years it took Philip Köster with a surfboard on the beach right outside the front door. His parents had emigrated to Spain, and today the 17-year-old grew up on the beach at Vargas, Gran Canaria. The water, the wind and the waves became his home. . And his profession Koester won this week in Denmark was the first German world champion title in the prestigious Wave Diving. Only the surfing legend Robbie Naish 1976 was younger with his first title win: 13 years. Koester is honored by the way the World Cup final in Sylt, the wind surfing elite meet here from 23 September to 2 October.

World Online: What remains as a professional surfer from the stereotype of who is sleeping long, happy and celebrating a real daredevil is?

Philip Koester: I do not go to parties or more away. I'm happy when I can surf for hours and still not in bed, because it goes from bad to me last night. This brings me far too much fun surfing.

BBC News: So you jump out of bed every morning happy and then get yourself down to the beach?

Koster: Yes, I should not? Since I finished school a year ago, I had to never set the alarm. I wake up when the sun rises. Mostly I sleep with the windows open, so that even the morning wakes me up sometimes strong wind. Then I run to the window and see if I can go windsurfing or surfing, and before breakfast on the water. The beach is only 50 meters from our house.

World Online: Sounds heavenly - but how lonely is that?

Koester: I like this quiet. Our house is the only one in the whole bay, and I can totally relaxed surf five or six hours a day - and I forget everything around me. Something like homework, I've forgotten this before of course, aware. On the water, I just feel free. Sometimes there is even a bit lonely with us, if there are no wind or waves, but I'm like that, almost always in motion. I will never get bored! I could not live in a city that I've spent my whole life on the beach - without neighbors.

BBC News: Why did you start but not for Spain but for Germany?

Koester: I am a German, my parents are German, and I feel very well in Germany too - although I'm not often there, now and then I visit friends in Hamburg .

World Online: Do you sometimes get enough water and solid ground under their feet?

Koster: No, I have everything I do, to do with water. I also like surfing or swimming - to go running but is not my thing. By surfing I come around too much in the world, must travel to Maui or Australia - it's something special.

BBC News: And now you're the first German world surfing champion.

Koster: That's a super great feeling. I've dreamed of it when I was a little boy. And I am a bit relieved now.

BBC News: Why?

Koester: After I won the first two World Cup began in Denmark many expect to be wild, as the result at the third stage must be, so I'm world champion. I've tried not to let me drive you crazy, but I was nervous a little bit already.

World Online: How great was the pressure on your shoulders in recent years? After all, they have long been highly praised and compared with the surfing legend Robby Naish and Bjorn Dunkerbeck.

Koester: Looking for these comparisons I have definitely not. The two are indeed my idols, and I'm still sitting on the beach when they surf, and watch them. Björn Dunkerbeck even congratulated me via e-mail. But I am me. I set my own goals and I have also made no pressure. Luckily I am not going as quickly influenced by others.

World Online: What is the secret of your high jump?

Koester: I just want to show more and crazier things. You'll need courage to do high jumps and stepping into big waves. That puts it on sometimes twice. I once jumped 18 feet high - as much courage and overcoming stuck behind it. And technology must fit the jump. You have to sail very easy to use as a wing. I think I'm a bit bolder than others.

BBC News: Have you no fear of injury?

Koster: Yes. I've only been broken wrist and foot - never happened to me are bad things.

Welt Online: Does anyone like you at all concerned?

Koster: Right now, no. I love surfing, have my dream job. Another life I can not imagine. The only thing is that my friends from school I very rarely see because I'm often on the road.

BBC News: And what dream you have after the World Cup title?

Koester: I want to be world champion next year. A house in Hawaii would also be a dream.