Interview With Robby Swift After Fuerte Win
Q: How did it feel to win your first major event?
RS: It was really unbelievable. A dream come true! I hope that there are many more of them to come because it is a feeling that you can’t really describe, and one, which I definitely enjoyed. It made it even better that we were in a place where so many people are interested in windsurfing and where the level is always so high. Definitely my best achievement in life so far!
<PHOTO1>
Q: Did you feel the pressure in the second and third rounds?
RS: In the second round it wasn’t too bad. I had come 3rd in the first one and it wasn’t really till the final, where it could have gone either mine or Colin’s way that I started feeling the pressure! The night after that I did feel a little pressurized. I slept OK but I woke up early and got down to the beach to prepare everything way before I needed to. I had been in that position before and lost it so I didn’t want to make any mistakes this time! I felt the pressure all the way through and the only heat when I didn’t feel it was in the final against Diony. I pretty much knew I had it then and just let rip!
<PHOTO2>
Q: After dominating in Gran Canaria why do you think Ricardo failed to produce the goods?
RS: I think that the hype surrounding him had got a little much. He was still sailing really well but there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders. I don’t really think that he failed to produce so much as he had some really hard heats and his opponents were sailing really well in them. We all have tough runs sometimes, as I did in GC, and I am sure that he will be back on top form by Bonaire!
Q: What were your key moves that helped you get through the heats?
RS: I think that the Ponches, Monkey Flips and Shove it Spocks were the main ones. No one else was really doing them so I had a big advantage there!
<PHOTO3>
Q: Did you party hard after the prize giving ceremony?
RS: You could say that!
Q: What are you going to do with the money?
RS: I think that I will probably by a jet ski come the winter. I wanted one last year to do tow ins but I couldn’t afford it. I guess I can now, and if it gets big and windy, I might even venture up to have a look at sailing Jaws.
Q: So what are your chances of becoming world champion now?
RS: I would say pretty good. Just about equal with Ricardo’s really. I am not normally so good on flat water, but I beat him in Bonaire last year so there is nothing to stop me doing it again. I will be training as hard as ever and I guess that we will just have to wait and see!