The sailmaker: Nils Molkentin
In Kiel and in other parts of northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, discussions about the weather are more than just small talk. Most people in those parts have some sort of connection to the sea and are genuinely interested in changes in the weather. Some work in the maritime industry, and others plan weekend getaways based on the chances of sun or wind.
Nils Molkentin falls into both categories. He's constantly in tune to the weather situation in and around Kiel, looking for the driving force behind his favorite hobbies: wind. Irmgrid, a coworker of Molkentin's at Dmoch Segelmacherei in Kiel, says she can always tell as the weekend approaches if lots of wind is in the forecast.
"You always know what the weather will be like on the weekend from Nils," she says. "He follows it pretty closely, and the stronger the wind, the more often his mobile phone rings, because he's making plans to go surfing."
Keeping an eye on the waves
As a general rule, Molkentin is always ready to grab his board and hit the waves. As a single man with no children, the 26-year-old is relatively unencumbered, and free to pile his gear and a few friends into his VW Bus and take off to Denmark or other surfing hotspots in Northern Europe.
But that doesn't mean Molkentin skirts responsibility entirely. Windsurfing isn't a cheap hobby, and a steady job as a sail maker keeps Molkentin in the wave riding business. His job isn't simply a means to an end. He's been involved in sail making for nine years, and got into the trade for the same reason he surfs: a love of the sea.
Bringing passion to a job certainly helps keep things interesting, but when the surf is high and the minutes toward the weekend are counting down on Friday afternoon, the temptation is clearly there to duck out a little early. But according to Molkentin's boss, Andrea Dmoch, Molkentin hardly ever looks at the clock.
"Sometimes at the end of the week repairs come in pretty late," says Dmoch, whose husband created the Dmoch business. "They're water sports fans like him, and they want to get out on the weekend. But Nils is the last person who would say 'No, I can't repair your sail.' He'll fix it for them so they can have their fun on the weekend as well."
Coming to a surf shop near you
In fact, Molkentin's skills as a sail maker have found a new calling in his private life. Molkentin has combined his sail-making knowledge with his love of windsurfing to form a one-of-a-kind hobby.
"My cousin, his girlfriend and I started a label," he says. "We call it 'Ho'ohakii.' The word is Hawaiian and means 'unique.' We make bags, wallets and belts from old windsurfing sails."
The handmade accessories look like they belong on the shelves of a surf shop, and since they are made from recycled windsurfing sails, they are extremely durable. Molkentin is far from giving up his day job to pursue his label full time, but like many surfers, he's content to wait for the perfect wave before diving in. 'Ho'ohakii' is a fitting word for the stylish, handcrafted products - and it perfectly describes the man who made them.
Author: Matt Zuvela
Editor: Rina Goldenberg