10: What did you think the first time you rocked-up in Pozo?
It’s a difficult place to get used to, but I’ve been having way more fun over there during the past two years and I feel a bit more comfortable now. Pozo on a good day is great. Sometimes you get it on the right tide and time and its un-crowded, windy and waves everywhere. It is pretty much like a skate park, you can try anything you want, no waiting for sets or searching for ramps. On a good day you can have so much fun.
11: How many years and how much hard work has it taken to improve your level at port-tack sailing?
It’s been around three years since I started training more on port tack. It’s been a lot of hard work but I also want to balance it and still spend the time in Hawaii to try to be a good sailor there to.
So I’ve been doing three or four port tack trips a year and I also go to Pozo a month and half before the event. I think as long as you don’t take really long breaks from one side it’s easier to keep on improving. Also having someone to film you is huge. If you can see what you are doing wrong and fix it the next day you improve ten times faster!
12: Have you learned a lot about life in general while competing and travelling on the PWA tour?
A little bit yes. For now what I see is that more than anything it’s important to have fun and not force things too much. Also, training hard is great, but only as long as you can keep good energy while you do it. I just figure that if I pick locations I actually enjoy, not only for the conditions, but places that I feel good at and also being around good people everything seems to be easier. You end-up learning more on the water and having way more fun which is the whole point of living this lifestyle!
13: You seemed to do really well at Cape Verde, is that one of your favourite waves to sail?
Punta Preta is by far the best spot I’ve ever been for windsurfing. It’s unreal. To make it even more perfect, someone should cover those rocks with a grass though, because it’s ridiculous how much gear I break every time time over there. The wave is so clean, the wind direction is perfect, the wind intensity is also great on most days, good for aerials, good for turns and different sections – it’s amazing! After all this travelling I haven’t been to a place that beats it.
14: Do you think your skills at Freestyle have helped developed your style as a wave sailor?
I think so for sure. Especially looking at the direction wave sailing is going with all the Goiters, Takas, and Backside 360s. Having a good Freestyle base is a huge step towards learning how to adapt them to the wave as you’ve done them so many times before on the flat.