SAILOR IN FOCUS

Meet one of Italy’s most promising young talents, Mattia Fabrizi, as he steps into the PWA spotlight.

At the age of twenty-one years old Mattia Fabrizi (Fanatic / North) has just completed his first full year on the PWA Freestyle World Tour. The Italian finished the final two events of the season, Fuerteventura and Sylt, in the top seventeen after impressing the judges with his powerful style and consistency. Now Fabrizi is setting his sights on breaking into the top ten of the world, and he’s hoping that two months of training in Brazil will help him achieve exactly that. Find out more about Mattia by reading our interview with him below:

PWA: Firstly, what are your thoughts on how the 2012 season went and how would you rate your results? 

Mattia Fabrizi: “The 2012 season was quite good. Certainly could go a little bit better in Podersdorf, but I was not able to train a lot before the competition because of university. In the other two events I did pretty well. So for this year is ok.”

PWA: This was your first full year on tour, how have you found it?

Mattia Fabrizi: “This year it was the first full year on the tour. Unfortunately there were only 3 events organized but as always the best. We were lucky with the wind, so all good for this year. Hope to have some more event next year.”

PWA: How long have you been windsurfing?

Mattia Fabrizi: “I started windsurfing when I was 6, I took a course for one week in Sardinia. For a few years I did it rarely, only in summer. Then in 2006 I started to do some competition in Italy.”

PWA: Who has been you biggest influence on your sailing?

Mattia Fabrizi: “The person who has influenced me most of all was definitely Robby Naish, who I had the good fortune to see in a indoor race in Milan when I was 5 years old. From that moment I thought I wanted to be like him.”

PWA: What would you be doing if you weren’t windsurfing?

Mattia Fabrizi: “If I didn’t do windsurfing, I probably would have played tennis. I was pretty good when I was young.”

PWA: Where is your favorite place to windsurf and why? 

Mattia Fabrizi: “There are two places that I prefer for windsurfing. One is definitely Brazil, where the wind is constant all day and allows you to train a lot. The other is Sa Barra in S.Antioco, south of Sardinia where my friend Gigi Madeddu lives. The conditions of the water are perfect for freestyle and wind, especially in the summer when it is very consistent and strong.”

PWA: What is your favourite move and why?

Mattia Fabrizi: “My favorite move is the shaka because it allows you to go very high especially in windy conditions.”

PWA: What new moves are you currently learning?

Mattia Fabrizi: “Right now i’m learning some new moves like kabikuchi and flaka-shaka.”

PWA: How do you learn your moves and improve your sailing? Videos? Watching others?

Mattia Fabrizi: “Mainly watching videos. Then during the PWA events you get to go sailing  with other good guys and so I can understand the moves more from them.”

PWA: Where is your favorite spot on the PWA Tour?

Mattia Fabrizi: “Fuerteventura!”

PWA: How does competition sailing make you feel? And how do you prepare for your heats?

Mattia Fabrizi: “The competition always makes me anxious but it also gives me adrenaline, but not nervous and tense enough that it may affect the outcome of a heat. I also review mentally all the maneuvers I'm going 'to do, then if I was disappointed with my performance I get a little frustrated', then I just move on and think about the next heat or two in the next round or elimination. At the end of the day the important thing is to have fun.”

PWA: What do you do when you’re not windsurfing?

Mattia Fabrizi: “I play football a few times during the week and in the winter I go skiing.”

PWA: What are your goals for 2013 and the future?

Mattia Fabrizi: “I'm going to Brazil for two months and I hope to improve my surfing and be ready for the new season, I’m hoping to break into the top 10.”

PWA: Thanks Mattia, have fun in Brazil and see you next year.