THE THIEMES!

Black Power Across Generations: The Thieme Legacy at Almanarre

From the legendary waters of Almanarre, one of Europe’s most iconic windsurfing spots, comes a story built on heritage, passion and pure performance.

At the center of it is Jimmy Thieme, one of France’s most promising slalom riders. Raised in an environment where windsurfing was not just a sport but a way of life, Jimmy grew up watching top riders push each other on the water. Competition came naturally. By the age of 16, his goal was clear: reach the highest level of the PWA slalom circuit. Today he trains consistently in slalom and waves, combining physical preparation, mental strength and modern media awareness, representing the new generation of high performance windsurfing.

Alongside him stands his father, Eric Thieme. Former PWA champion and one of the historic names in French windsurfing, Eric lived the sport through its raw early years and its technical evolution into today’s high speed era. Although he no longer competes, his presence remains strong. He continues to sail, train and inspire through the iconic Funboard Center at Almanarre, a true meeting point for some of the best windsurfers in the world.

The Funboard Center is more than a school or rental base. It is a cultural hub of windsurfing. Located on a spot that offers both flat water and wave conditions, it has hosted world class events and continues to attract top riders. It is a place where experience meets ambition, where conversations are about gear, speed and progression, and where the next generation grows under the eyes of legends.

Two generations. One home spot. One shared mindset: push harder, sail faster, never stop progressing.

This is the Black Team spirit at Almanarre.

You grew up surrounded by windsurfing and legends like your father. What was the moment you realized you wanted to compete at the highest level? Can your father still bit you in some disciplines? I grew up watching windsurfers like my father and many others sailing at a very high level on the Almanarre spot. They were always pushing each other, racing and challenging one another, so naturally, as I got older, I wanted to test myself against others and start competing, especially in slalom. I started competing when I was around 11 years old, and I immediately loved it. Step by step, the competitive side grew stronger, and by the time I was 16, my goal was clearly to reach the PWA level.And yes, my father can still beat me in wave sailing. I think he’s still got the edge there—he lands all his moves so easily, with a lot of control and experience.

You have many hobbies and interests outside windsurfing. How do they influence your mindset as an athlete? Yes, besides windsurfing, I practice several other sports like boxing, weight training, surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding. I think they help me stay in great physical shape while still having fun—surfing, paddleboarding, and weight training all contribute to that. Boxing, in particular, helps me work on my mental strength and teaches me to never give up, which definitely carries over to my windsurfing mindset.

How many hour do you train a day? When there’s wind, I usually train on the board for 2 to 4 hours on average. And when there’s no wind, I spend about 1.5 hours in the gym or I do another sport instead.

Why did you decide to join the black team? I decided to join the Black Team because there’s a great atmosphere among the riders, the sails look really good for slalom, and I just love the colors!

How would you describe your passion to waves, freestyle, slalom and foil? Which one you prefer and why? I love all the disciplines, but I don’t really practice freestyle. Each one gives a different feeling, but I have a slight preference for waves and slalom. Waves give an “extreme” feeling—you jump, surf, and are always trying new moves. Slalom, on the other hand, is all about speed and adrenaline, pushing yourself to go faster while racing against others.

Almanare is your home spot. What makes it special for your sailing and progression? We heard that there will be slalom training from the 14th of February? Almanarre is one of the best spots in France because we very often have wind, and the conditions vary a lot—you can have flat water with steady wind, waves with regular wind, or sometimes more unpredictable conditions. There are also a lot of slalom riders here, which pushes us to go faster and helps us fine-tune our sailing. Yes, Lucas Guiraud, Marion Mortefon, and Benjamin Augé (with HWO) will be organizing high-level training sessions at Almanarre, which will give us a great opportunity to start training seriously for the PWA and IFCA.

 As a new generation rider, what do you think windsurfing needs to grow and inspire young sailors? Windsurfing is an amazing sport, but to inspire and excite future generations, there should be more competitions and greater media coverage.

Looking ahead, what goals are you most focused on for the coming seasons? For the coming seasons, my goals are to achieve a top 5 in the PWA, either this year or within the next two years, to reach the top 3 at the IFCA World and European Championships, and to become the French champion in the AFF

You have been a reference for windsurfing for decades. Looking back, what moments shaped you the most as an athlete and as a person? At the beginning, I didn’t have the chance to have parents who could afford to buy me equipment. So, I always took great care of my gear and treated it with respect, because I understood the value of things. My equipment was always at peak performance, and that helped me a lot in my career. I owe a great deal to certain people who believed in me from a very young age and helped shape who I became, especially my father, who was passionate about sailing, and Patrick Dussossoy, the director of Tiga, who became my first sponsor when I was 15 and sent me to Hawaii to improve. In terms of competition, beating Robby for the first time at the Tour de France in 1982 or 1983 gave me a huge boost and filled me with hope.

What does joining the Black Team mean to you at this stage of your career? I love the influence Andrea Cucchi has on the brand and the passion that still drives him. I’ve also always loved those black sails! powerful, fast, and unmistakable! Andrea is always on the

You have seen windsurfing evolve from its early days to today’s high-tech era. What changes excite you the most now? The equipment is getting faster and faster, but with a level of ease that didn’t exist before.

Your school in Almanarre has become a key place for riders. You go to the Almanarre you cannot pass by to say hello. What is special about your center, positioning and the spot. The Funboard Center was created by windsurfing enthusiasts on a world-renowned spot that has hosted numerous World Cup events, including some unforgettable stages. Almanarre is a windy spot (on average 20 days per month). You can sail in slalom or wave conditions. It’s a spot that can be very challenging, but also very easy depending on the conditions. It makes sailing accessible for both beginners and advanced riders. When you come to the bar, the conversations are all about boards, football, and rugby! But the true heart of the Funboard Center will always be windsurfing

After such a long and successful journey, what still motivates you to rig a sail and go sailing? The pleasure of seeing a beautiful sail and sailing on my home spot, telling myself that tomorrow I’ll perform even better.

FUNBOARD CENTER ALMANARRE