YOUTH WORLD CHAMPION

Onwards and upwards for the next women’s freestyle protégé

Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) may have only made her PWA Freestyle World Tour debut this season, but that didn’t stop her making a huge impression on the rest of the fleet. At just fifteen years old Huvermann was able to control her nerves and deliver a fantastic display of sailing, proving that she is most definitely a name that needs to be watched carefully over the coming years. Her determination and passion to learn new moves, combined with that key ingredient - talent - make her a very real threat for the rest of her competitors. Huvermann finished her maiden season on the PWA Freestyle World Tour in sixth place and her excellent debut performance was duly rewarded as she was crowned the PWA Youth Freestyle World Champion. 

Not dwelling on her achievement Huvermann has already set her sights on moving onwards and upwards in the rankings and has a very clear plan in her mind how to do so. Read our interview with the new youth world champion below:


PWA: Hey Maaike, firstly congratulations on being crowned the PWA Youth Freestyle World Champion. How does that feel?

MH: “Awesome! I'm very proud to have the title and really happy with the trophy. It was a big dream to have such a trophy.”


PWA: How long have you been windsurfing? And when did you start freestyling?

MH: “I have been windsurfing for about 5 years and I began freestyling since summer 2011.”


PWA: What was it that made you choose freestyle over say slalom or waves?

MH: “When I started windsurfing I didn't even know about waves, I always surf at Brouwersdam, where they have chop around 2 cm so...There were/are a lot of freestylers in Holland, it looked so cool to me that I wanted to do the same thing and since slalom looked a bit boring to me at first, I started doing some freestyle.”

PWA: Who do you look up to in the sport?

MH: “There are a lot of people I look up to. Sarah-Quita [Offringa] (Starboard / Gaastra / Chris Benz / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins), Arrianne [Aukes] (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins), Yoli [de Brendt] (Fanatic / North) and Laure [Treboux] (Fanatic / Severne). But also Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) winning world titles in all disciplines.”

PWA: Favourite move?

MH: “Switch kono!”


PWA: Moves you are currently working on?

MH: Do all my moves on both tacks and make sure I can do them really consistent. This winter I would also like to learn switch chachoo, forward, funnel and bob.”

PWA: Move that you found most difficult to learn?

MH: “The beginning is always the hardest, so the vulcan/airjibe. It's not the hardest move but it is the move that needs the most perseverance.”


PWA: How did you find it competing at a PWA event in your own country?

MH: “It was really nice! And funny to see my homespot change into a PWA event, which made the feeling being there different. It especially gave me more confidence during my heats surfing at my homespot and having some of my family there.”

PWA: Aims for next season and in the future?

MH: “Next season I hope to compete in all PWA events but I have to get permission from my school to miss lessons since the competitions are not in school holidays. And I'm also trying to find sponsors funding the trips. In the future I hope to improve my skils so that I will get into the top 3!”

PWA: Congrats again Maaike and good luck over the winter. We look forward to seeing you competing again next year!

You can keep up to date with how Maaike is progressing by 'liking' her Facebook Fan page which can be found here.