Get to know the team, our story and mission

Max Rowe

Max is a water sports professional with 10+ years of experience competing full-time on the PWA freestyle world tour. Alongside ranking in the top 5 in Europe and top 14 in the world, Max has dedicated time to working in the hospitality sector of windsurfing, managing windsurf operations at Club Vass in Vassiliki. Before Max’s professional career in Windsurfing kicked off, he also managed restaurants back in England, where he grew up.

Max’s focus recently has been on pioneering the introduction of Wing Foiling into Vassiliki. Now a sponsored rider and former manager of the wing-foil operations at Club Vass, Max is pushing his own abilities as well as his wide client base with his Wingfoil Adventure Clinics around the world.

Max’s interests include wing-foiling, windsurfing, surfing, as well as biking and running.

Max is a team member and Co-Founder. He acts as the General Manager of Vass Beach House. He will manage the booking for the apartments as well as the Wing-Foil Shop & Rental side of the business. Please refer to his LinkedIn profile for additional information and qualifications.

Pip Pardoe

Pip started his career 20 years ago as a rising talent on the UK windsurfing scene. His career as a professional windsurfer and well-regarded coach has taken Pip all around the world and gained him top recognition in the windsurfing and wing-foil scenes. Alongside following his passion for water sports, Pip also qualified as a tree surgeon, with years of experience in the field and a keen sense to always learn something new. Pip turned his attention to construction work. Starting at the bottom as a labourer and then gaining experience as a fully fledged tradesman, Pip worked his way across various fields, including ground works, bricklaying, landscaping, flooring, carpentry, roofing, plastering and detailing.

Keen to escape the British weather and mix his passion for windsurfing with a better lifestyle, Pip has based himself in Vasiliki for many years, co-running the beach at Club Vass initially but most recently focusing on renovating houses on the island. His interests besides watersports include cooking and gardening.

Pip is a team member and co-founder of Vass Beach House. He is acting as the property manager, planned and fitted the Vass Beach House Shop & Rental and will be mainly involved in the fitting of the apartments in the next step.

Valerie Hekl

After finishing her law degree alongside working in Marketing for one of the most successful beverage brands worldwide, Valerie decided to extend her knowledge in the field, and to gain experience and speciality qualifications.

In 2015, after 5 years growing into different roles at Red Bull Media House, she decided to escape corporate life and follow her dream of running her own online marketing business whilst travelling the world surfing and windsurfing. Over the last 10 years, Valerie has been successfully working with big as well as small brands for consumer goods, health, lifestyle and the travel industry to develop and implement successful digital marketing strategies.

Valerie’s interests include windsurfing, wing-foiling and surfing, Yoga, Pilates, Biking and running, as well as travelling.

Valerie is a team member and co-founder of Vass Beach House and acts as the CFO of the company, and is also responsible for the project management of the build and all marketing-related topics. Please refer to her Website or LinkedIn profile for additional information and qualifications!