Girl Power

Nicole Bandini sets her sights on breaking into the Top 5 come the end of the season

Nicole Bandini (Fanatic / North) made her debut appearance on the PWA Wave World Tour in 2014 at the age of just 15 years old. Since the young Italian has continued to progress and her efforts were rewarded with a 3rd place finish during last year’s Dunkerbeck Eyewear Expression Session in Tenerife. With the opening wave event of the season just around the corner we caught up with Nicole to find out more about her and what her aims are for the season:

PWA: You made your debut in 2014 how would you say your sailing has progressed since then?

NB: “In 2014 I just wanted to feel how it would be to compete with my idols. Since then I think I learned how to sail a heat with my head instead of just doing random stuff. I’ve been working on my jumps and I am trying to develop a good wave riding style and I feel I improved a lot. I have been traveling and training in different places so I feel pretty ready to give it another go on the tour this year!”

PWA: You just released a new video it looks like you have an aggressive style and don’t have much fear - is that the way you try to sail?

NB: “I found out I really enjoy to push myself in different situations. This year I encountered bigger waves and more difficult conditions on my travels. I think if you want to improve you need to just go for it. So that is what I try to do on the water and maybe that is what makes my style look so aggressive.” 

PWA: Growing up who where your idols?

NB: “I started windsurfing when I was 6 years old. My dad loves windsurfing and brought me into the sport so I was young when I started. Of course Jason Polakow was one of my favourite people to watch on the water. He rips and is fearless! If I could surf like him and one day conquer Jaws, wow, that would be my ultimate dream! Also guys like Philip Koster, Victor and Ricardo are so motivating to watch, they do insane jumps.” 

PWA: Where is your favourite place to sail and your favourite conditions?

NB: “I haven’t been to that many different places yet but, I absolutely loved South Africa and Cabo Verde. The wavering is just so much fun there. I also think I would love Maui. Even though I have never been there  — starboard tack is my favourite tack and I think I could sail well there and would enjoy it a lot!


If I could pick my ideal conditions I would go for light wind wave riding. I enjoy low wind sessions with good size waves, another point why I think Maui would be a good place for me!”

PWA: In your video you have been going for backloops, have you landed any? And do you think you could land them during the heat?

NB: “Yes, I have been landing some backloops! I would of course love to land one in my heat but I also know it is a technical move that is hard to make perfect and consistent enough to put out in a heat. But I am confident if I keep pushing and training I will be able to throw them out in a heat one day.”

PWA: Finally how are you feeling for the first event of the year and what is your aim for the season?

NB: “I am excited, it’s the first event of the year and of course I’m a bit nervous. I feel as though I could do well, but also know that Pozo is a difficult spot for me because it is so windy. So I will try to be positive and enjoy my first event and try to do what I have learned in the past year. I hope I can show my progress during the first event and that I can record a result that makes me happy.


For the season I hope to end up in the top 5 this year. It will be tough with strong riders challenging at the top but I want to set my goals high! In the end I just hope I will learn more about competing, I will improve my riding throughout the season and keep having fun.”

PWA: Thanks Nicole and all the best for the first contest of the year.

You can see Nicole Bandini in action in her latest video by visiting @ vimeo.com/171016104 and you can stay up to date with all of her latest news via her Social Media Channels:

Instagram: @colly_ita613