Summer Catchup

SQ Offringa picks up incredible 8th freestyle world title and remains firmly in the hunt for top honours in the slalom and waves

In July Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) collected her 8th PWA Freestyle World Championship in a row - remaining unbeaten yet again - and proving that she is still the undisputed Queen of the Freestyle World. However, having finished her studies last year, SQ has set her targets across all three disciplines for 2015 and with one world title already in the bag, she’s hungry for more and prominently placed to do just that. After a great start to the year and with the potential to make a great year and incredible year - we caught up with SQ for a catchup after a busy summer season - mainly in the Canaries. Read the interview below:

PWA: Yo SQ… you’ve had a busy few months in the Canaries and it looks like you’ve had a great summer. First off congrats for defending your freestyle world crown in Fuerte again - how was it for you?

SQO: “Awo! Yes it’s been a long stretch competing in 4 events in a row. The cherry on top definitely was winning my 8th freestyle world title. Fuerte was the only real stressful event for me. I don’t know why. Maybe because we’d only have one chance and then you either win or lose. I think I really wanted the title badly. In the end I sailed some of my dream heats and was satisfied with my performance.”

PWA: You still look like you are effortlessly in control - and more importantly still unbeaten - but it looks like a few of the girls are starting to push their level - particularly Oda and Maaike - Do you enjoy seeing the level being pushed and what do you think about the level?

SQO: “Yeah! A lot of the girls have definitely made good progress. And all I can say is that I’m extremely excited about it! I know there a lot more girls out there with a high level, but they just can’t display it because Fuerte is a difficult spot to sail at. Sure that shouldn’t be an excuse, but that goes for the men as well. Some of the top guys don’t perform as well there as opposed to compared to starboard orientated or flatwater spots. Anyway, I think we all put up a good show. And it was great to have that many girls in a while. I’m going to try as hard as I can to keep it from happening but by all means I hope someone comes and gives me a butt whooping! Because I know that then I would do everything I could to improve and top that person again. This would be good for the overall Women’s level to go up.”

PWA: After Fuerte you backed up your 3rd place in Pozo in the waves with 4th in Tenerife… you sit 3rd overall for the moment - what is your target for the waves this year? 

SQO: “Booooom! 3rd in Pozo was a treat. I had just learned pushloops and I think that just gave me the edge to finish 3rd because I know I still need to work a lot on my waveriding. After Pozo my goal was also top 3 in Tenerife so I was slightly disappointed when I didn’t make it. Simply because I’m a competitor and want to finish as high as possible. But I feel like I improved a lot there and got a boost to practice even more.  My aim for this year is to finish 3rd overall in waves. I’m on the right track, but I have to keep it together for the next events!”

PWA: You’re back competing in every discipline… how are you finding that?

SQO: “It’s quite the challenge actually. I mean, I realised that I love windsurfing in general. So I genuinely enjoy competing in all the disciplines. But mentally it’s a bit hard to switch between the disciplines. Mostly because the setup of the equipment is completely different between disciplines. Try going from a quad board that has a lot of grip to a freestyle board with a 16cm fin that doesn’t seem to go in a straight line. Catapults are guaranteed. Or going from wave and freestyle gear to a 7.8m Slalom sail where the trimming has to be perfect. My shin muscles and forearms always feel like they’re about to explode after not sailing slalom for a while, it’s physically much heavier.”

“Anyway, I wouldn’t be doing all of this if I didn’t like the challenge. Besides, now I get to hang out with all the different riders of the PWA and go to a lot of nice places. So it’s all on me!”

PWA: So, back to the final discipline - slalom… In Turkey you weren’t quite in your usual killer SQ groove to begin with… what did you put that down to? 

SQO: “That’s funny! In slalom I’m actually known to have bad starts at events and getting better as the races progressed. It is true however that I’ve had really consistent races in Turkey for the past 2 years. But honestly I think I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I was a bit tired from the Canaries I think. And when the red flag went up I didn’t make that switch to competition mode in my mind. I wasn’t focused and couldn’t get any of my starts right. Also due to the light wind. I tend to mistime my starts. So I started about 5 seconds late twice. I passed the first round, but didn’t in the second. As a result I started closer to the line in the losers round, but caught a gust and went over early.”

PWA: You then produced a perfect comeback… We usually see you celebrating with big smiles and cheers, but in Turkey this one looked like a more emotional victory… would that be true?

SQO: “Yeah it was. I was sitting in 15th after that over early, which I wouldn’t be to bothered about if there were more races to come. However, the wind predictions were quite depressing. All I wanted was a chance to fight back.”

“I did well and finished 1st two times in one day. But it would all come down to the last day. Whether we got that discard or not. The wind was playing games and it could have all ended at the 3rd race. Where I’d have to settle for 6th. Or we’d get a discard and I could make my way onto the podium to keep my World title hopes alive.”

“By the time we started racing it was really the end of the day and our last chance to get the discard. I had already gone through a whole rollercoaster of emotions. But once we were up for the last race, this time around I was focused on the prize. I decided that if I wanted it, that I should make it happen. I had the best start of my week. And everything went smooth from there.”

“That week was a mental battle with myself to keep the nerves in check, stay focused,  positive. Focusing on the goal which was finishing on the podium. It was the comeback I dreamed of and actually making that happen was crazy. So, yeah I got emotional a bit there hehehe.”

PWA: You’re in the ideal position heading into the final slalom event of the year in NC to recapture your racing title… and it looks like you’re going to be heavily involved in the battle for the podium places in the waves… how’s the rest of the year shaping up for you and how are feeling?

SQ: “Yes ! I’m in the best position possible for slalom. But New Caledonia is a very challenging place and anything could still happen. For the moment I have to focus on waves again for Germany and France.”

“Ideally… If France turns out to be Starboard tack like it was last year it would be better for me. But I accept any challenge and will do my best regardless. I do want that slalom title and I really want to finish 3rd in waves. But they won’t be handed to me and I’m gonna have to put the work in. Time will tell!”

PWA: Finally, you’ve been working on the Curly Gem, out of the destinations you visited which would say was your favourite? And when’s the premier?

SQO: “Yes Cabeibusha ‘the curly gem’ will be premiered in Sylt on the 2nd and 3rd of October.”

“Australia and Iceland were the 2 destinations I had never been to. Both were tough but worth it in the end. In hindsight I think the best images we got were from Iceland though. Just because it’s not the typical surroundings you’d expect for a windsurfing movie. And it really is breathtaking. Sorry if I’m not smiling all the time in the images.. I was cold :P.”

"Besides that we’re also adding a Turkey part. Both the producer Julian and I love this place and believe it’s world class for windsurfing combined with friendly people and great food!”

PWA: Thanks SQ - congrats again on Freestyle world title No.8 - and good luck for the rest of the year.