PHILIPPE BRU

Philippe Bru is the man who has put long distance windsurf racing on the map and most certainly has a vision for our sport, he gives us an insight into his life and his legendary DéfiWind events.

- PHILIPPE BRU

ROOTS I was born in Africa 53 years ago; it is where I spent the first 20 years of my life! During a summer stay in France in 1977 when I was 13 years old I discovered windsurfing through my uncle, one of the first windsurfers in the Mediterranean. Back in Dakar, Senegal, our “elders” had brought back some windsurfing kit and quickly set up a structure to take people from initiation to competition standard. And now here I am in 2020, still with a passion for windsurfing intact! I have been practicing our sport for more than 40 years now. I have tried everything, done everything, practiced all aspects - Windsurfer / Dufour / Open / Pan-am / Funboard ... and of course more recently foiling!

CAREER

Back in France in the 80s, I studied sports management in Montpellier and then went to Gruissan, the land of Tramontane wind, and never left! For 20 years from 1990 to 2010, on assignment for the town of Gruissan, I organized, structured, promoted and developed the practice of watersports in the region. My first ‘event’ was the French championships back in 1991. Now in 2020, my headquarters remain in Gruissan, but I spend most of my time travelling around the world, windsurfing and surfing, accompanied by my sons, Paul & Julien, who are now friends and business partners. I am currently president of PBO - “Philippe Bru Organisation”, an event agency specialized in watersports.

DÉFI WIND JAPAN