Tweet

20 QUESTIONS WITH… MARC PARÉ

Marc Paré: Beyond the World Title…Finding Balance, Flow and the Love of Windsurfing Again!

After an incredible 2026 season that saw Marc Paré claim his first world title, the moment that should have been the ultimate high point unexpectedly became the start of a more challenging chapter. Instead of riding the wave of success, the Spanish wave sailor found himself facing a different kind of battle, stepping back, reconnecting with himself and rediscovering the joy that brought him to windsurfing in the first place.

In this honest interview, Marc opens up about the highs and lows behind the scenes, the pressure and emotions that came after achieving his biggest goal, his time reconnecting in Chile, designing sails, his approach to competition, the riders who inspire him, and why the endless search for the perfect wave board continues to push him forward.

Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries…PWA / Carter

---

 

WINDSURF: After winning the world title last year you went to Maui to kick off your 2026 campaign to defend it…how did it go?

MARC PARÉ: “The Maui Pro AM didn’t go as planned at all. Like, it was a kind of hard time, you know! I went through some dark stages at a personal level, with my ex-partner and I was also I kind of really focused on all the Simmer Style side of things. As I started picking up all the sail designing from Thomas at Simmer. We still do some things together but basically all the wave sails are designed by me now.

So that role took a lot of my time and energy. I had to do a trip to China and so on. I spent a lot of my time just thinking about sails and testing. I think that kind of took away a little bit my focus as a rider, you know, as an athlete, which was a little tricky.

So yeah, Maui was tough as the forecast was poor. I wanted to go like a month early to train and then there was no wind, so I kind of just stayed in Gran Canaria testing until the week before the event, and then there was no wind when I arrived.

I think we had like three warm-up days. So yeah, it was a little bit weird trying to set my mind back into it, especially after winning the world title! My main focus was just to do well in that event and I didn’t feel like I managed to do that. I think I only did one heat that I really felt like I was in flow.

The rest I was just straining all the time, so I don’t know what really went wrong. Thinking back at it, I could have been a mix, I was a little unlucky, even though I don’t like to talk about luck. But also, my mind was still a little bit off in that sense, so yeah, that’s just a little bit of an insight in my brain at the time!”

WINDSURF: What did you do after Maui to get yourself in the right headspace…

MARC PARÉ: “So like I was pretty burnt out after Maui. I was really low, so I went back to Sweden, worked a little bit and then I was like, OK, I need a break. I need to focus on myself, so that’s when I decided to head to Chile. For me Chile is like kind of my temple. It’s kind of the place I want go to just to have some time to myself. There are just so, so many things that bring me joy about that place.

So yeah, that’s what I did! I just went there with a bunch of boards to also try and test. My plan was just to refocus, relax, windsurf as much as possible and train as much as I could at the gym, So I felt like I got a really good routine back.

I went back to reading books, which I hadn’t done in many years. So yeah, that was cool. And yeah, that trip turned out really well. Like I was meant to be there for two weeks and I stayed there for a month, so that trip really helped me get my mind back in the right place.”

WINDSURF: How fired up are you for the 2026 season?

MARC PARÉ:  “I’m really fired up now, you know. Like honestly, at the beginning of the season, as I said, I was so focused on other stuff, I kind of lost track a little bit of that and almost I didn’t give myself a chance to enjoy the world title.

I am being honest with you, I was a bit scared about accepting that I had reached that and what would happen next, you know. So, straight away I just got my brain into a bit of a mess. I haven’t given myself time to enjoy or realize what I’ve achieved.

But yeah, I am fired up for sure. Especially now I’m reconnected after Chile. I have been working on the gear, of course and been back a lot at the gym. I am feeling pretty fit at the moment. And strong, which is good, I also feel good when I am sailing, which is really important also.

So yeah, you know, I think my sailing’s that I’m doing my best to keep fit and strong. So, the rest, you know, we’ll see what happens. I am also, trying to work on my mental side again. So yeah, let’s see what the rest of the season will bring.”

WINDSURF: What training I’ve been doing in the offseason?

MARC PARÉ: As I said, I haven’t really sailed much, you know. Like before Maui, I barely sailed, like besides those few weeks that I was in the Canary Islands, testing sails and then I literally took 1.5 weeks for myself before I started fully training again and being on the water. But I didn’t do much besides going to Ireland and a couple quick trips to South of Spain and France for a few days. I didn’t sail that much.

So, but yeah, now I’m back to full-on sailing.”

WINDSURF: What are you interested in outside windsurfing?

MARC PARÉ: “I really like surfing, you know. At the end of the day it’s maybe a little bit lame, but my life revolves around windsurfing and this what makes me happy, and this is just what I want to be doing. So yeah, you know, like windsurfing is mainly my whole life. But yeah, as I said, also I love watching surfing and surfing myself. I find it really fun. You know, I just like doing sports like biking and stuff when I have the chance. Yeah, so this is just what I do.

And also sail designing, which is also related to windsurfing, and I’m really geeky about gear in general, but yeah, that’s all about windsurfing really.”

WINDSURF: Tell us about that epic wave ride that you posted from Ireland?

MARC PARÉ: “Yes, I had a wave in Ireland that went kind of viral on Instagram, yeah, that was pretty sick. I mean, literally it was a trip that I did with my ex-girlfriend. I didn’t expect too much, so I kind of went with an open mentality. It was a weird forecast with a lot of east winds.

It was a really, really cool session. You know, I went to a surf spot in Easky and there were no surfers out, which I was really lucky about and I scored really one session on 5.3m overpowered with some solid logo to mast high sets, so that was pretty sick…I had a bunch of good waves, but the one I posted…that was definitely the best one.

I haven’t used any of the footage of the rest of the session there, but I need to go back through it at some point. But the rest of the session was epic. The rest of the trip was amazing also. It was kind of hard. A lot of driving, due to this weird easterly forecast, so not much happened, you know, like some fun sessions, but besides the first one that was like proper epic, the rest were kind of just fun and nothing epic.”

WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best bottom turn in windsurfing and why?

MARC PARÉ: “I reckon it’s Levi Siver, you know, like it’s just, he’s got this really cool technique…it’s like kind of really driving and surfy but tight at the same time.

And it’s really interesting. I did learn a couple small details from his bottom turns, you know. They are really hard to replicate. He is kind of the only one with that, but yeah, I think he’s definitely got the best bottom turn in the business.”

WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best cutback at Ho’okipa and why?

MARC PARÉ: “I think we can’t deny that Braw must have one of the best cutbacks, you know, like if you talk about rail power and engagement, his hacks are definitely the best out there. There are plenty of sailors who do good cutbacks also, like I was saying, Levi’s style is sick and many others.

But yeah, Braw, I like the kind of rail surfing he does a lot. I think he’s been working on his equipment recently and now he sails a bit more vertical, but for a while it was like kind of just all about this fully powerhouse rail turn. But the turns were a little bit horizontal, from my opinion, but you know, it’s like still one of the best top turns in the business for sure.”

WINDSURF: Who were your idols when you first started sailing?

MARC PARÉ: “When I first started sailing, I was not into competitions or anything. I think it was Josh Stone and Bjorn Dunkerbeck for sure, because I was just looking at the movies and stuff, those were the two guys that I would look up to.

And then afterwards when I started with sailing at Pozo and stuff, then for sure it was Philip Koester and Victor Fernandez. There was a bunch of guys that I looked up to, but I would say mainly Philip and Victor, you know, as it was the conditions that were closer to me, you know, like Pozo style, and they were the best guys at that point.”

WINDSURF: How did you so good on both tacks?

MARC PARÉ: Well, I still have a lot to learn actually and I am still training to get both tacks as solid as possible. I like hanging out with Victor and I learned a lot from him. I realized how important it was to be good on both tacks and in all kinds of conditions.

This has been my focus all my life. Not only because it’s needed for contest, but also because it fulfils me a lot as a sailor. To be able to do all the moves on both tacks as good or almost as good is really, really important to me as a rider.”

WINDSURF: Where is your home these days?

MARC PARÉ: “I don’t really have any home. It’s between Sweden and Spain. Sweden because the office is there. Spain, my parents are there, so I just go to visit them in between trips, but I’m constantly on the move. So probably Sweden is the place that I spend the most time in, I have my room where we have the office, so I guess that’s kind of home!”

WINDSURF: How do I know when I have found a magic board when testing?

MARC PARÉ: “Yeah, it’s an interesting one. A magic board, I think it’s a board that allows you to sail without thinking. You know, it’s just kind of action-reaction kind of thing.

So, I’ve had a few of those over the years. Like I’ve got some really good ones at the moment, like especially the one I competed in Sylt and Tenerife last year, that’s pretty freaking magic, you know. Like it’s going into production actually because it’s so good.

So yeah, that one is pretty amazing, really. Just action-reaction, fast, just keeps speed and that’s what I want.

Then I also got some other really magic shapes that I’ve been using, like in Chile and stuff, but I’d say yeah, it’s a board that you just don’t have to think, you know, and it just gives you that excitement when you sail. Things come easy to land or to do turns on. And yeah, it just gives you that special feeling.”

WINDSURF: Give us your top tip to land the proper wave 360?

MARC PARÉ: “Like, my top tip, and it’s the best tip I’ve ever been given to do wave 360’s, is to put the board flat against the lip of the wave. You know, a wave 360 is all about timing really. But it’s like if you get that board like flat against the lip, it will always speed you back into it. So then if you just stick yourself back into position normally, then you land back into the wave. So, I’d say this is the best tip I’ve ever been given to land the 360 back in the wave.”

WINDSURF: Who has the best push loop forward, including yourself?

MARC PARÉ: “Yeah, I think Philip and Ricardo do some pretty sick ones, but Philip has just this easy way of doing it. Just his technique is flawless, you know.

Like, if he wants, he can just land a little bit more wet. So if he wants to land flat, he can land flat, you know. So he can do whatever the f**k he wants really with a push forward.

I think he’s definitely got the best technique.

Yeah, my technique, I think it’s a little bit more funky and I’m working on it, but it takes a little bit more wind to do it the way I do it because as I tweak the rig. It’s an interesting move for sure.”

WINDSURF: Has life changed for you since you became world champion in any way?

MARC PARÉ: “Not really, just like when I show up to spots, people recognize me…it’s kind of a big difference from being top four to being first for sure in that sense. People acknowledge you more, they know more who you are and all this stuff. But besides that, no, you know, like it’s still me. I still have the same love for what I do.

I still enjoy tweaking all the gear. I still want to get better, you know. And windsurfing is simply something I enjoy. Being on the water, it’s just fun. I realized, I do this just because I want to be windsurfing all the time. So, it’s worth all the stress just to be able to follow my passion.”

WINDSURF: How do I stay motivated to improve every day?

MARC PARÉ: “I enjoy the challenge, yeah, of wave sailing in any conditions, and I think it’s about finding something that gets you excited to be on the water.

You know, even if it’s a move or to try a different kind of turn, or you try and you have to test gear, whatever. It’s all about finding this joy. But I do also like just getting better. I love improving, you know, either if it’s your skills or the gear. That is it at least for me. But yeah, for sure I enjoy it.

I also love, just sailing by myself or with a few friends, enjoying good waves.

This is really what I want to be doing. It’s just fun.”

WINDSURF: Chile or Maui?

MARC PARÉ: “I think it’s easy, Chile.

There’s something about islands. I really love Maui. I really, really love Maui, and I’ve spent a lot of time there. But there’s something about islands that bug me, you know. Like the same way I wouldn’t be able to live here in Gran Canaria or any of the Canary Islands. It’s just, I like to be able to drive away, even if it’s for an hour or an hour and a half. I don’t care driving, but I like change of atmosphere, scenery, vibe, you know.

Like change of conditions.

And so when everything is so compressed into the same spot, it kind of stresses me out for a while as I feel like I’m missing out on doing other things. I don’t like feeling like I’m doing the same or sailing the same conditions all the time. I’d like to vary in that sense.”

WINDSURF: What four guys would you like to take on a trip to Chile and why?

MARC PARÉ: “I think for sure one would be Victor Fernandez, he’s like my sidekick. Victor is super nice to be with him and really enjoyable company. Like no matter the conditions, he’s always happy to be around and stoked to sail. Who else? I mean, my friend Beacher that lives in Chile for sure, you know, he’s super nice to share with. He is a really good local guy… a really good host, that’s the word. And then…Probably Moritz Mauch, I would say him. He’s always a really cheeky, funny character to be around! Finally, I think Ben Proffitt is also quite fun and great to share a trip with!”

WINDSURF: What do you think of the style of Bernd Roediger

MARC PARÉ: “Bernd, he’s a one of a kind, you know. It’s like one of those unicorns that show up in sports…every few decades.

You know, I think we had Philip, for example, or Ricardo and then we also have Bernd now. And yeah, he’s got a very special style and approach. I think besides how freaking talented he is, it’s just the way he has of approaching and the vision he has about it.

It’s just so different, for example, than the vision I would have. For me it’s all about, like, how do you say it, but it’s really calculated and mathematical. For him it’s just about feel, you know. So that’s why he’s able to come up with these weird turns or like kind of really different approach in the wave.”

WINDSURF: Who has inspired you the most?

MARC PARÉ: “Victor is the person that has inspired me the most, like by far. Since I was a kid that I started coming to Pozo, he has been such a nice character, really down to earth, really approachable, and he took me under his wing. And it’s like, you know, for me as a kid, to have the world champ treated me like one of his friends was really special.

He’s just so cool, you know, and he’s just such a casual guy.

Like the other day we were here in Pozo and there was a guy, a friend of mine that I met years ago. And then I was talking to him and then Victor comes and he’s like, “Oh yeah, I’m Victor.” It’s like, you know, like of course we know you’re Victor, you know.

Like everyone knows you’re Victor.

So anyway, it’s just funny. He’s just such a down-to-earth nice guy. So yeah, Victor was the one that really inspired me. Not only because of his talent, but the way he approaches things. He’s just a machine and he just loves windsurfing. That’s the cool part about him. And he gives out that energy to you.”

WINDSURF: What do you define as lame in wave sailing?

MARC PARÉ: “I don’t know, really. Lame in wave sailing, like bogging the rail like this kills me. But I don’t know if it’s lame or just something that I really hate, you know. So, I’ve been really working on my gear so these things don’t happen.

But yeah, I don’t know, lame. Yeah, well basically when you just…I don’t know, just something in my brain that shows up is maybe on a perfect peeling wave, when you just start doing chop hops down the line and you don’t break the line or do a single turn or go for a move or you are not critical. I think this is lame!”

WINDSURF: Did you see any of the conditions from the UK this past winter?

MARC PARÉ: “Oh yeah, I saw the conditions you guys have got in the UK and that looks sick. Like I would really have liked to come if I would have had more time.

I would have loved to do it, you know. But hopefully I get myself there this year and we can shoot some good stuff because it looks so sick. And of course, you know, after being in Ireland, well after and before, and during my Ireland trip, I was really in contact with Timo. So, he was really showing me and sending me clips of the conditions you guys were getting and it was sick!”