Return to Winning Ways

Antoine Albeau looks back at Fuerte and talks foils

Reigning world champion — Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) — made a slower start to the season than we are used to seeing and found himself in 9th place coming into the 3rd event of the year in Fuerteventura. However, with 23 world titles to his name and having held the slalom world title since 2013 it was far too early to rule AA out of this year’s race. Pressure was mounting though and the Frenchman knew he could afford no more mistakes and he thrived under the pressure to destroy the field in Fuerteventura, which saw some of the best racing for years, to claim a decisive victory which sees him rise to 5th in overall rankings. After bouncing back to his brilliant best we caught up with Antoine for an interview:

Hey Antoine, you dominated the event in Fuerte — does it feel good to return to winning ways?

AA: “Yeah it was a great event and I was able to dominate from the opening day after a 1st and 2nd place. I only had one bad race where I went over early in the quarterfinal, so I made one small mistake that I possibly could have avoided, but you are always trying to make a good start and unfortunately this time I was just a bit early. The final day was a bit stressful because there was still the chance for Ross [Williams] to come back, but once I made the final it felt like the pressure was basically off me.”

In the quarterfinal of the last race you fell at the second mark, which would have opened the door for Williams — were you panicking at that point?

AA: “I panicked a little bit, but luckily the course was long and I was quite fast which gave me the chance to come back and eventually I managed to win that heat without pushing too hard. I felt like I was really consistent throughout the event and showed some of the best gybes and I really enjoyed the racing.”

The Race Director — Thijs van der Meer — mixed up the courses quite a lot through out the event for the first time in a long time. What did you think about that?

AA: “For me it was amazing because it gave the opportunity to come back through the fleet even if you missed the start whereas usually if you miss the start you are pretty much dead in that heat and out.”

This was also your first event since the arrival of your first baby — how was it?

AA: “This is my first PWA event, but I already did one event in France — a long distance race using a foil — which is a race between my island and the main land and there was about 300 people competing and I managed to win using the foil. Guys like Tristan Algret and a few of the French guys were also there so I was really happy to win.”

You are involved with developing foils and you are pushing them quite a lot — where do you see foiling going?

AA: “Yeah I’m pushing a lot because I’ve been foiling for a long time using the old aluminium and G10 foils by NeilPryde, but I didn’t push a lot then. Now though it seems like there are a lot of companies are interested in it and spending a lot of money on their development. I’m personally working a lot with Chris from F4 in San Francisco — where I spent a bit of time this winter and we are both trying to develop a foil that can go faster than the slalom board.”

Where do you see Foiling fitting in? Light winds?

AA: “Normally everyone I talk to thinks that they will be used for light winds and I’d agree because I plane a little bit earlier with the foil, but I’d also personally like to see how fast I can go with it.”

Thanks Antoine and congrats on your victory.