Progression

Riccardo Marca (Fanatic / NorthSails) first appeared on the PWA Freestyle World Tour in 2015 and after his first full season on tour this year he ends 2016 ranked 23rd overall. The young Italian has shown glimpses of what he is capable of — particularly in Sylt where he finished 9th in the single elimination. A few days ago it was announced that the 19-year-old has joined International Team for Fanatic and NorthSails, so we caught up with Riccardo for an interview.

PWA: Hey Riccardo, how’s it going? So, a few days ago it was announced that you are now an international team rider for Fanatic and NorthSails — can you describe what that’s like for you?

RM: “Hi everyone, I’ve been dreaming about it since I started windsurfing, and I finally made it. I’m stoked to be in such a cool team and I really hope to build my future with them. In the last days, I’ve been looking at my National profile rider where only four years ago the number one thing on my bucket list was to keep windsurfing and training to get in the international team one day. Well, now I can say I realised the number one thing on my bucket list.”

PWA: You made your debut in 2015… what would you say you’ve improved most about your sailing - both freesailing and in competition?

RM: “I think that it takes some time to get used to sail during a competition. You have to find a good mindset and try to do not lose focus. I definitely improved a lot in this way, experience is what makes you improve the most, but I also read something about it and did some mental preparation. 

With regard to freesailing, I also improved a lot, but most of my training is in preparation for the upcoming events, I’m consistently working on getting more confident and learning to land all the moves I need in all the conditions.” 

PWA: You finished just outside the overall top 20 for the season, but look to be improving all the time… what is your ambition over the coming years?

RM: “My ambition is to become a Top 10 rider. The level is really high but I’m also working to keep mine up. The hardest thing is to gain a good ranking, once you get it you don’t have to worry too much about climbing up the ladder at every event.” 

PWA: How long have you been windsurfing and who were your idols growing up?

RM: “I always thought I started windsurfing too late, but in the end, this is what motivated me the most to keep improving. In 2009 I stepped on a windsurfing board for the first time, but I actually started to get more into the sport and travelling in local spots 2 years later. I’ve always been looking at Gollito as one of the best, and he’s still one of the sailors that is inspiring me the most, on the other hand, I really like Steven [Van Broeckhoven], as he takes it really seriously.” 

PWA: Favourite move?

RM: “The double air culo is one of the moves I like the most at the moment, it’s definitely one step ahead comparing it to all the other moves. I’m training this move too, I’ll try to land it this winter and right after I’ll try to land the move more consistently. I think it will take some time.”

PWA: Favourite setup?

RM: “Fanatic Skate 93 and North Sails Idol Ltd 4.4.”

PWA: Favourite destination you’ve been to?

RM: “Sardinia is one of the places where I’ve been windsurfing the most, and it’s still one of my favourites. 

Besides, Sardinia, in the last years I have travelled to many places, and I love South Africa and Brazil as well, you can get perfect conditions to freestyle in both places.”

PWA: Place you most want to go that you haven’t been to yet?

RM: “Definitely Maui. It’s one of those places where a windsurfer needs to go at least once in their life. Apart from it, it’s the place where Fanatic and North Sails plans all the photoshoots and gear development, so I hope to be there for one of these reasons soon.” 

PWA: What is something that scares you?

RM: “I’m ok with that, but I have to say I’m a little bit scared of sharks. When I’m sailing in sharky places, like Cape Town, there’s always this fear in the back of my mind. What’s scaring me the most is the idea of breaking something and having to swim back in. It’s something I got used to but I’ll have to work on it a little more this year… ahahah.”

PWA: What are you up to during the rest of the off season?

RM: “I’ll be heading to Cape Town on the 31st December, where I’ll stay for two months to train. After that, I don’t have a plan yet, but as I’ll only have one month before the start of the first PWA stop I think I’ll spend some time in a close spot such as Garda Lake to train some more.”

PWA: Thanks, Riccardo. Good luck over the winter and see you next year.