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SOL DEGRIECK: SHE’S GOT SOUL!

At a mere 15 years old, Sol Degrieck is fast becoming one of the most exciting young talents on the PWA wave sailing scene. Hailing from Belgium, she’s already pushing boundaries far beyond her years…throwing push loops, landing back loops and fearlessly attempting double forwards at Pozo. With a mother who’s a three-time Olympic windsurfer, a determination to train every chance she gets and a deep love for the ocean, Sol’s journey so far, is nothing short of inspiring.

In this exclusive interview, Windsurf caught up with Sol during the competition in Pozo to talk double loops, school-life balance, her fearless approach to waves and her dream of one day becoming World Champion. With legendary rider Justyna Sniady, tipping her as a future star, it’s clear that Sol’s not just got talent…she’s got soul.

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WINDSURF: “You’ve come to Pozo this year with a new set of tricks…when did you start learning the double loop, push loops and back loops?”

SD: “I started learning the push loop and back loop quite a while ago. Before and after the Chile event, we also came to Pozo, not too close to another event…so I could learn without much pressure. Every day I did some push loops and back loops and also two double forwards attempts.

I was just trying to attempt a couple of doubles, every session when the conditions allow it. Now, two weeks before I came here to Pozo, I started landing the back loops and push loops. I’ve been trying some more and now I hope nail them in the competition.”

WINDSURF: “Have you landed a double?”

SD: “A double? Not yet. I can land the push loop and back loops. Push loops when there’s more wind and I am more overpowered and back loops with less wind, when I am less overpowered. I’m just trying and getting closer every time.”

WINDSURF: “So now you’re 15?”

SD: “Yeah, correct. 15!”

WINDSURF: “What’s your weight now?”

SD: “I think I’m about 60 kg. I’m not sure actually. I was about 55 kilo or something like that last year.”

WINDSURF: “Do you think the extra weight and strength helps?”

SD: “Probably for more wind it helps for sure because you have to hold down your sail when it is nuking. When you’re overpowered, it’s better to have more strength. And for lighter winds, strength also helps for pumping better so you can make more speed.”

WINDSURF: “Is your goal to be world champion one day?”

SD: “Yeah, sure, one day. Let’s see how it goes!”

WINDSURF: “How are you combining school with all this windsurf training and competition?”

SD: “At the moment, I just finished 4th year of school in Belgium. I still go to school live, so whenever I’m not at school, I take my books and they tell me, “Make that page until that page.” Just before the comp I also had my exams, and then after the exams I came straight here.”

WINDSURF: “You don’t go to school online?”

SD: No, I go to physical school, and then around the holidays we extend the holidays a bit and come here to Pozo or to another event!”

WINDSURF: “What age did you start sailing?”

SD: “I think I started windsurfing when I was about 7. That was on a lake. I sailed on a lake for about two or three years and then sailed on the ocean. We also had a lot of time because we were in lockdown. I learned mostly before, but the first time on the sea was during the lockdown…like after the big lockdown. We had a lot of time to go on the water because I didn’t have to go to school, so I was on the water mostly every day. My mum swam behind me a lot because I couldn’t water start yet, and she would put the gear right so I could try and get up again.”

WINDSURF: “Your mum’s an ex-Olympian, is that right?”

SD: “Yeah, she did three Olympics…in London, Sydney and Athens.”

WINDSURF: “So, she got you into windsurfing?”

SD: Yes… I even went to the London Olympics, I think in 2012. I’m not sure which one is when, but I went to one Olympics. My mum says I slept on the board bags, but it’s not really a memory…it’s more just something I’ve been told.”

WINDSURF: “What about big waves? You seem to like those as well!”

SD: “Yeah, they’re really nice. There’s always something new to see in windsurfing and I like big waves because you can do a lot with them. It’s just nice to ride big waves. You sail with them, in bottom turns and top turns it feels so exhilarating…the feeling of going high up and dropping in…I love it!”

WINDSURF: “In Fiji you were riding some of the biggest waves on a gnarly reef…you didn’t think about going down and getting pounded on that reef?”

SD: “No, if you don’t experience it, you don’t really have anything to be afraid of. If you don’t know what the consequences are, then it doesn’t really matter. Luckily I have not had any bad experiences yet”

WINDSURF: What about your equipment? What size boards are you up to now?

SD: “At the moment, for really windy days; like super overpowered, I’m on the Severne Pyro 56L. Other than that, I’m mostly on the 62L. For light winds, like really light winds, I use the 74L or 68L.

WINDSURF: “You always seem to be one of the first out. Is that just because you’re super keen to get on the water all the time?”

SD: “Mostly, yeah. I love being on the water. Also, if you’re early, there are fewer people, you enjoy it more, have more space for yourself and more space to try some new tricks.”

WINDSURF: “What did it feel like being in a final with Daida and Sarah-Quita?”

SD: “I was pretty stoked. I’ve always looked up to Daida and Sarah-Quita and I try to do the moves they also do. It’s just really amazing to be in the final with them. It was my first final in Pozo as well, which was really incredible. It’s amazing to share the podium with those girls.”

WINDSURF: “How do you learn? Do you watch videos or just observe people sailing? Or do you get advice from other sailors?”

SD: “Mostly I just sail and try myself. After so many attempts I come to the shore, and my mum watches a bit of everyone while I’m sailing. She says, “Do a little bit more of this, a little bit more of that,” and that helps and in the end I can do it.”

WINDSURF: “When you leave school, are you going to go full time into windsurfing?”

SD: “Hopefully. After school…I’ve got two more years. Then I’m not going to go to college straight away so I can travel a bit more and mostly sail wherever it’s possible and just enjoy.”

WINDSURF: “And what’s your backup job just in case this doesn’t work out…or you don’t know yet?”

SD: “I don’t really have one yet.”

WINDSURF: “Is that all you think about, windsurfing at the moment?”

SD: “Yeah, pretty much. All windsurfing.”

WINDSURF: “What do you look at on your phone…Instagram?”

SD: “I don’t look on my phone!”

WINDSURF: “You don’t?”

SD: “No, I read books. When I’m not reading like real books, I read cartoons or look at Tricktionary and try to learn new moves.”

WINDSURF: “So you don’t spend much time on the phone?”

SD: “Barely!”

WINDSURF: “Well good luck for the future and we hope all your windsurf dreams come true!”

SEVERNE – WINDSURFING GEAR FOR THE REVOLUTION

JUSTYNA SNIADY

“Sol was trying double loops, the day before the event. My favourite thing about Sol is that something that you see rarely with the girls and it wasn’t really around in my generation…She sails like one of the young boys, you know, she doesn’t listen to the fact this is dangerous. She just tries everything, goes for everything and eventually she will learn everything! I actually took a  picture with her back to back with Sara Quita the other day before the event and we were laughing because they have the same hair and exactly the same height and build, so she’s definitely built for success! You can safely say that she loves windsurfing as well and that’s another important ingredient for her to be a future star.

I see her on the water first and last to come off every day, so I think as a mix of ingredients for success, I would say Sol has them all and she’s a cool kid, so you know you got to root for her!”