ELENA
ŠANDERA
SUI-130
ABOUT ME
Hey there, nice to see you here: welcome to my world!
Before you take a deep dive into this website, let me introduce myself:)
I’m 20 years old and in the beginning of 2020 I decided to embark on an exciting and life changing adventure that is continuing to help me grow into the best version of myself. After completing my high school diploma and starting medical school, I re-discovered my passion for windsurfing.
The sport which I learned as a six year old and which was a summer hobby during my whole life had developed over time and a new technique was introduced: The foil.
This hydrodynamic fin allows the surfboard loose contact with the water and accelerate to high speeds, even in the lightest winds. I was fascinated by this new way of windsurfing and when I found out that Windsurffoiling was to be the new Olympic Windsurf Class, I was sold.
My whole life I loved to push myself to the very best and to not give up until I had reached all my goals I set for myself. Graduation with very high grades? Check. Exchange year in high school? Check. Starting medical school at 18? Check.
I felt like it was time to go bigger. And it does not get much bigger than competing at the Olympics, does it? To reach this goal I will have to go all in: change my living style (van life, hello!), say goodbye to the country I’ve lived in my whole life, leave friends behind, make new ones along the road and most importantly; go to my mental and physical limits.
While I have already encountered some hardships along the way, nothing has felt more right to me than following this path. If you are keen on joining me on my way to the Olympics 2024 (and also 2028), feel free to check out my other social platforms such as instagram, facebook and linkedIn. I also just started a podcast with my two training partners in which we interview our favourite athletes and share our vision on topics that matter to us.
Sortimo and Ford
My biggest pride is my very unique windsurf van which I had the honour to design together with Ford and Sortimo. Their vision and openness has allowed a collaboration which I have always dreamed of. The Ford Transit is the perfect van for me: easy to guide and beautiful to look at. Sortimo transformed the Ford Transit into any windsurfers paradise. The clever layout allows me to store all my gear (which is A LOT), cook, sleep and work in this van. From April to October you will find me on the road with my Ford Transit windsurf van, following the wind and training in the most beautiful locations.
My biggest pride is my very unique windsurf van which I had the honour to design together with Ford and Sortimo. Their vision and openness has allowed a collaboration which I have always dreamed of. The Ford Transit is the perfect van for me: easy to guide and beautiful to look at. Sortimo transformed the Ford Transit into any windsurfers paradise. The clever layout allows me to store all my gear (which is A LOT), cook, sleep and work in this van. From April to October you will find me on the road with my Ford Transit windsurf van, following the wind and training in the most beautiful locations.
JP/NeilPryde
As of January 2022 I get to be part of the JP/NeilPryde Team and compete in the PWA as the team rider for Switzerland! All my life I have used the JP/NeilPryde gear, it’s what I know and what I love. It has felt more than right to have this brand by my side as I build my professional windsurfing career. I feel honoured to be part of such a legendary team and I’m looking forward to the next season.
As of January 2022 I get to be part of the JP/NeilPryde Team and compete in the PWA as the team rider for Switzerland! All my life I have used the JP/NeilPryde gear, it’s what I know and what I love. It has felt more than right to have this brand by my side as I build my professional windsurfing career. I feel honoured to be part of such a legendary team and I’m looking forward to the next season.
O’Neill
Windsurfers might not have to wear uniforms, but the wetsuits come pretty close to it. There’s barely a day where I’m not in the water and it’s important to have a comfortable wetsuit which will keep me warm in any conditions. From January 2022 I will be using O’Neill Wetsuits as well as their street clothes.
O’Neill has been the leading brand in terms of wetsuit technology for years and I’m keen on being part of the Swiss O’Neill Team!
Schulthess Klinik
Schulthess Klinik is one of Europe’s leading orthopaedic clinics and is located in the heart of Zurich. With my medical background, it felt natural to look for supporters in the medical world and I feel incredibly lucky to have found support with the Schulthess Klinik. I trust the Schulthess Klinik with my medical diagnostics as well as any other medical issues that I will inevitably encounter in the future. Their medical team will support me along the way with their knowledge and high tech equipment.
Schulthess Klinik is one of Europe’s leading orthopaedic clinics and is located in the heart of Zurich. With my medical background, it felt natural to look for supporters in the medical world and I feel incredibly lucky to have found support with the Schulthess Klinik. I trust the Schulthess Klinik with my medical diagnostics as well as any other medical issues that I will inevitably encounter in the future. Their medical team will support me along the way with their knowledge and high tech equipment.
Smovie Film GmbH
Smovie Film GmbH is a company founded in 2016 that specialises in the production of high quality smart phone videos. The idea to film, edit and post high end content with just a phone was perfected by Smovie as pioneers in this field. Other companies have recognised that potential and Smovie Film GmbH is passing on their know-how in a variety of different courses. This way, firms and cooperations get to create content in a faster and economical way that helps them reach exposure on all kinds of social media channels social media channels but also internal corporate communication like video learning journeys, on-boarding tasks or as parts of sales education. Smovie Film GmbH is supporting me on my way to the Olympics 2024. I am inspired by their unique approach and evolutionary spirit in their field. Just like me, they are realising their dream in their own way
Smovie Film GmbH is a company founded in 2016 that specialises in the production of high quality smart phone videos. The idea to film, edit and post high end content with just a phone was perfected by Smovie as pioneers in this field. Other companies have recognised that potential and Smovie Film GmbH is passing on their know-how in a variety of different courses. This way, firms and cooperations get to create content in a faster and economical way that helps them reach exposure on all kinds of social media channels social media channels but also internal corporate communication like video learning journeys, on-boarding tasks or as parts of sales education. Smovie Film GmbH is supporting me on my way to the Olympics 2024. I am inspired by their unique approach and evolutionary spirit in their field. Just like me, they are realising their dream in their own way
Zurich Switzerland
As a professional windsurfer I am required to travel a lot. And everywhere I go, my gear and windsurf bus follows. It is important to me to keep my belongings safe which is why I partnered with Zurich Switzerland in order to put myself and my windsurfing bus in the hands of a company I can trust.
Zurich is a global insurance company with the headquarters in Zurich, the city I grew up in. With their heavy focus on sustainability, we share a value that is vital to any professional windsurfer. Nature is my office and I want to take care of it.
Bottneuro
Alzheimers is a very serious disease and I have been personally affected by it due to my grandfather having Alzheimers for quite some time now. Bottneuro is a company that researches this illness and is looking for a cure. I am happy to have been able to pass on a video project to their website in which I portrayed the effects of Alzheimer on the immediate family of the diseased. Their compensation has allowed me to participate in the World Championships in Marseille last October.
Rahn + Bodmer Co.
Founded in 1750, Rahn + Bodmer Co. is the oldest private bank in Zurich. With their core values of trust, stability and reliability they are the perfect partner for me to take along on my journey to the Olympics 2024. As a climate action enthusiast, it makes me extremely happy to see aspects of environmental friendliness and social responsibility included in their investments.
Founded in 1750, Rahn + Bodmer Co. is the oldest private bank in Zurich. With their core values of trust, stability and reliability they are the perfect partner for me to take along on my journey to the Olympics 2024. As a climate action enthusiast, it makes me extremely happy to see aspects of environmental friendliness and social responsibility included in their investments.
El Gouna
In the North of Hurghada, Egypt the beautiful resort town El Gouna was built over 30 years ago. Hurghada is an excellent windsurfing spot and an international kiting destination. I spent many fall holidays making progress on the windsurf board in Egypt. Another one of my partners, the Schulthess Klinik, runs a clinic located in the same resort town. El Gouna has many windsurfing centres and I cannot wait to travel to Hurghada to perfect my windsurfing skills and broaden my chances to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
In the North of Hurghada, Egypt the beautiful resort town El Gouna was built over 30 years ago. Hurghada is an excellent windsurfing spot and an international kiting destination. I spent many fall holidays making progress on the windsurf board in Egypt. Another one of my partners, the Schulthess Klinik, runs a clinic located in the same resort town. El Gouna has many windsurfing centres and I cannot wait to travel to Hurghada to perfect my windsurfing skills and broaden my chances to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
THE OLYMPIC
DREAM
I have a dream. Admittedly, a bit of a crazy dream: It is my goal to qualify Switzerland for the Olympics 2024 and go for gold.
Why is this a crazy project? Before January 2021 I was barely able to windsurf and over the course of three years I will need to learn what other professional athletes learn in ten years!
I am convinced that with the right mindset and support I can achieve this ambitious goal. I want to push my limits, explore my boundaries and step out of my comfort zone.
My path will be unconventional and extraordinary.
I want to organise my Olympic Campaign on my own terms. Coming from a medical background, I believe that science is my best friend. I am basing my project heavily on research and collecting data from sports doctors, nutritionists, high performance coaches and Olympic medalists in order to create a game plan that is backed up by science.
I also believe that while windsurfing is an individual sport, working in a team will make me stronger and a better athlete. I have teamed up with Sara Wennekes (Netherlands) and Helle Oppedal (Norway) to build a team of three athletes with the same goal: Bring home a medal from the Olympics 2024. Each of us have different perspectives and ideas on how to develop our skills as training partners and we believe that together we can achieve our dream.
MEDIA
Welcome to the Media World!
As an individual athlete, media exposure is incredibly important for building the brand and for letting people be part of the journey.
I’ve had the luck to be part of several media projects already and since I’m very passionate about media work, I’m sure that there is lots more to come:)
