JC: It was not the ideal way to finish the season but were you happy with your racing last year on tour?
RW: I went into the event in Noumea knowing that I needed to perform well, so I was happy with my event preparation. I made some mistakes that cost me a couple of results and unfortunately that is the way it goes in the heat of the moment. There were a few factors that didn’t help my decision making! I picked up an ankle injury wavesailing two weeks before the event. It was a pretty bad wipeout at the Bench in K-Bay and I still feel it now. That was the reason that I was not feeling comfortable in certain conditions that we faced. I don’t think it was luck. At that level you need your whole setup working in every condition, that is what makes the difference.
Looking back I think if someone would have asked me at the beginning of the season if I would be happy with finishing fourth in the overall slalom ranking, I think I’d have taken it no problem. I had the chance to take third but it was just not meant to be. I was overall pretty happy with my racing over the whole season. I think I can add up the racing mistakes I made during the events on one hand so I have no real regrets.
JC: How as a racer do you deal with a blow like that after being so close to the overall podium?
RW: It does not bother me at all! If anything it just puts more fuel on the fire. After Noumea I was happy that the season was over, I was stoked that I had achieved a solid result and three podiums through the year. Finally the most important thing was that I could go home and spend time with my wife and friends and family, go surf and go sail in the waves.