A life shaped by the elements

Hey there! So nice to meet you, I’m Peter.

I grew up near Zurich, Switzerland, surrounded by mountains, not waves. My dad instilled in me a love for the outdoors – kayaking, cycling, hiking, skiing and later snowboarding were just how we spent our days.

There wasn’t a single holiday we didn’t spend camping, exploring, and moving. My first coaching gig was teaching snowboarding to teens when I was 17, and I quickly realized how much I loved helping people learn, grow and feeling the stoke.

At 25, I fell in love with surfing. But I didn’t just want to be a holiday surfer – I wanted to live it.

I quit my corporate job, let everything go and dove in completely. After two years of learning, I started coaching beginners, and over the next decade, I spent nearly every day in the ocean, guiding surfers of all levels to unlock their potential.

Moments that define me

• Mexico: Finding My Surfing Soul
  Six months in Puerto Escondido changed my life. Every day was pure simplicity – eat, sleep, surf, repeat. Warm water, barefoot living, and nothing but boardshorts made me realize this is what I was born to do. Even today, I’m still barefoot whenever I can be – it’s a little reminder of those days.
  

• Empathy in Coaching
  One of my proudest moments was helping a client overcome her fear of waves. She was terrified of anything over knee-high, but I never judged her or pushed her too far. Instead, we worked in calm, shallow water, building her confidence step by step. Today, she’s one of the best small-wave surfers I’ve coached – proof that surfing is for everyone.
  

• Chasing Happiness in Every Wave
  Surfing gives you moments of pure joy – a rush so powerful it’s almost overwhelming. It doesn’t happen every session, but when it does, it feels like nature’s gift for all your effort. That’s what I chase and what I love sharing with others. I’m happiest, if I can provide a magical once in a lifetime session to a client.

Why Cape Town?

I came to South Africa 15 years ago to work at a friend’s surf camp. The plan was to stay a year or two, but Cape Town’s unique mix of mountains and ocean captured my heart.

It’s one of the few places in the world where you can surf incredible uncrowded waves in the morning, hike stunning peaks in the afternoon and end the day with a sundowner in good company. I’ve made it my home and can’t imagine living anywhere else.