Meet last year's participants: Watersport Østerbro

Interview with Anissa Mohrath from Watersport Østerbro

What is a harbor festival without water sports? 
This year you could frolic in the blue waves with Stand Up Paddle, yoga on the water, on the floating climbing wall and in transparent water balls.

Here, Anissa Mohrath from the association Watersport Østerbro, who is a double world champion in windsurfing, tells what joys it gives her to be active on the water:

“I have ADHD and water sports allow me to focus on something other than worry and stress and everything else because there are all these elements you have to take into account: the wind, the waves and the current. It makes you relax in a completely different way, while your body does not relax because you are doing something physical. So I always come home mentally fresh. That's what I like.' And I think that many, especially those with challenges such as ADHD or autism, should practice water sports. When you're on the water, you can't have your mobile or other things that distract you. So it really helps to stay focused.

I am a windsurfer by heart, and windsurfing is demanding, so I have even more to focus on.

We also have some water balls with us at Kulturhavn Festival. It's just playing hamster and it's super fun because you can't stand up - it keeps running around. Balancing and standing up is pretty much impossible, so that's what makes it fun, both for adults and children.”

What does doing activities on the water give you?

I have ADHD and water sports allow me to focus on something other than worry and stress and everything else because there are all these elements. You have to take into account the wind, the waves and the current. This means that you relax in a completely different way at the same time that your body does not relax because you are doing something physical. So I always come home mentally fresh. That's what I like.' And I think that many, especially those with challenges such as ADHD or autism, should practice water sports. When you're on the water, you're not grounded, so you can't have your cell phone or other distractions. So it really helps to stay focused.

What do you like best to do on the water? 
I am a windsurfer by heart and am a two-time world champion in windsurfing. Windsurfing is demanding and I have even more to focus on. 

What is it like to roll around in a water ball? 
It's just playing hamster, it's great fun because you can't stand up - it keeps running around. Balancing and standing up is pretty much impossible, so that's what makes it fun. For both adults and children.