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LENNART NEUBAUER ON SHIFTYS, RIVALS AND ROOM TIDINESS!

Fresh from landing the Shifty Forward he’d been dreaming about (and occasionally losing sleep over), we caught up with Lennart Neubauer to chat about the infamous session, his biggest rivals, Fantasy Teams and his predictions for Fuerteventura. We also tackled one of life’s more pressing questions: does Lennart live out of a suitcase and leave hotel rooms looking like a bomb’s hit them, or is he secretly the type to colour-coordinate his socks and hang every T-shirt in the wardrobe?

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WINDSURF: What triggered you to go for the Shifty Forward that day in Pozo?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “It’s hard to point out exactly what it was. I just remember seeing a proper day in Pozo…and we hadn’t had many of those. I’d literally lost sleep over the Shifty Forward during the past year or two. Something inside me just felt like that could be the day I landed a good one.

I didn’t think too long about it. It took me maybe 20 minutes, and then I just said, “Okay, I’m going on the water with my 4.0.” It was gusting around 45 knots at that point and I just wanted to see what would happen. In my head, it was either I got completely destroyed or I landed it. There wasn’t much in between.”

WINDSURF: Were you scared?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I was definitely anxious, maybe even a bit scared, before I entered the water. It’s always different when you’re trying something completely new, and of course a lot can go wrong.

But I also know how controlled my Shifty’s are. Funnily enough, the closer I got to my gear and to the water, the calmer I felt. So yes, there was fear, but it was mainly before I got on the water.”

WINDSURF: What has the reaction been like?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “The video I uploaded got around 120,000 to 130,000 views, and there are a few more videos with 50,000, 60,000 or 70,000 views. There have also been so many comments. One thing that meant a lot to me was the respect I felt from the wave sailing community. I honestly didn’t know what people would think about it, so seeing that reaction was really nice.”

WINDSURF: Will we see the Shifty Forward in Fuerteventura?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I definitely think it’s more of a Gran Canaria move. Looking at the forecast for Fuerteventura, I don’t think we’re going to get the kind of ramps you need for a Shifty Forward. So… for now, I think this move will stay in Gran Canaria.”

WINDSURF: Have you picked yourself in the Fantasy Team?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I actually haven’t put myself in the Fantasy Team yet. I haven’t really checked it out, but I’ve been meaning to.

I’m very confident coming into Fuerteventura. I’ve been coming here for many years, and even though I haven’t had the ideal warm-up because it hasn’t really been windy in Fuerte, I’ve been sailing my ass off in Gran Canaria. I feel like I know where I stand with my training compared to the other guys and that gives me a lot of confidence.”

WINDSURF: When you arrive at your accommodation at a hotel, do you unpack straight away and put all your clothes in the wardrobe or live out of your bag?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I love this question.Usually, the first day the whole place becomes a complete mess. I arrive, it might be windy, or I want to catch up with friends, so I just throw everything down and don’t unpack properly.

Then I sleep on it, and the next morning I organise everything, clean up the room, and try to keep it that way for the rest of the trip.”

WINDSUR: Who do you fear most in Fuerteventura?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I wouldn’t say I fear anyone, either in Fuerteventura or in general. But I do have a lot of respect for certain sailors.

I have to mention Yentel. I believe he’s my biggest rival. Although, saying that, Jacobo has actually beaten me more times than Yentel over the last few years. Still, in my head, Yentel has always been that main rival.

Jacopo is sailing incredibly well too. I have a lot of respect for both of them and competing against sailors like that always brings out my best.”

WINDSURF: Who could be the surprise package at this event?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I don’t know if he’s really a newcomer anymore, but I’d say Takumi. He’s been coming here for years now, but I don’t think he’s had that real breakthrough onto the podium yet.I think this year he could definitely challenge for the podium places. Last year, if I remember correctly, he finished fourth.”

WINDSURF: Who will win between Sarah-Quita and Maaike, and why?

LENNART NEUBAUER: “I’ve had a few sessions with Sarah-Quita in Gran Canaria, and honestly, on a good day she still looks almost unbeatable.

Maaike is sailing amazingly and keeps getting better every year. I know she’s had a difficult winter after suffering a concussion, so she probably hasn’t been able to train as much as she’d have liked.

But I saw Sarah-Quita getting so close to landing the Shifty, trying loads of them and just sailing incredibly consistently. Of course, anyone can have a bad day, but if everything goes normally, I’d probably pick Sarah-Quita to win.”

WINDSURF: Thanks a lot Lennart and good luck in Fuerte!!