20 Questions

20 Questions with Taty Frans

Taty Frans (Starboard / GA Sails / Mystic) makes up one half of the legendary Frans Brother’s, who brought their unique Caribbean flow to the freestyle arena on the world tour in the early 2000s. For the last decade Taty has continually been challenging for top honours on the freestyle circuit and in 2010 he finished the season as the vice-world champion. 

Nowadays, the 32-year-old also competes on the slalom world tour - where he is becoming a formidable competitor as well. Taty is known for pushing the limits with his starts and once in the lead he is incredibly hard to catch with his blistering straight line speed, while if in trouble he possesses some of the best gybing on the tour, which frequently gets him out of difficulty. You can read our 20 Questions with Taty below.

Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

I am passionate about windsurfing for the freedom and peace of mind it provides and every session each day feels different and that's the beauty of windsurfing - I am always curious what I will learn or experience tomorrow still after all these years.

What quality do you like most in other people?

Humble, open minded.

What annoys or frustrates you the most?

Wasting time. 

What do you most like in yourself?

Simplicity 

What do you dislike in yourself?

That I can change my mind in a fraction of a second. 

What has been your best moment on tour?

Oh man… there’s been so many over the years. I would have to say when Tonky won the PWA King of the Caribbean in 2002, but regarding myself, so far finishing second in Noumea has been one of the highlights. 

What has been your worst moment on tour?

I can’t really think of having a really bad or worst moment on tour. Of course at each event you regret certain moments where you wished you’d have done something different, but that’s just part of competing. 

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when your career started?

I’d have combined separate fitness training with windsurfing and I’d have focussed more on one discipline. 

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Work for what you believe in, stay humble and keep your feet on the ground.

What would be your perfect day?

Perfection doesn’t exist amigo, haha, a good day for me in 4.8m conditions, warm water and lots of laughter both on and off the water… which sounds like Bonaire during the winter when I am training with all my European friends on the water.

Do you have any superstitions?

Not really… haha… (secret)

Which living person do you most admire?

I admire my grandma and my daughter.

What is your greatest fear? 

Standing on top of a hill / mountain, looking down and being unbalanced - how scary is that - bleugh!

What is your most treasured possession?

I believe my jewellery box. Each necklace/bracelet I have in there reminds me of a top result on the PWA.

If you weren’t a professional windsurfer, what would you like to be?

I would have liked to be a pro tennis player. 

Where would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to yet?

Madagascar.

Who would you most like to have as a dinner guest, dead or alive?

Tupac Shakur (best poetry).

How would you like to be remembered?

I’ll let the world decide how I should be remembered. Until then, I’ll keep living and trying to give the best of myself. 

Most visited website?

Continentseven, PWA and YouTube.

A phrase you live by?

Live life with a purpose.