Already carrying an injury which hampered his preparation for Fuerteventura, Pierre Mortefon (FMX Racing) was then rocked by the news that he would have to switch sail brands between Fuerteventura and Tenerife. However, where others may have faltered under the pressure, the Frenchman found a way to compartmentalise the stress of the situation and still produce two world class performances to deservedly retain his Slalom X world title after winning both events this summer. Below you can read an interview with Pierre:
Hey Pierre, congrats on another extremely impressive summer and of course defending your Slalom X world title - after a little more than a week how does it feel with a bit more time for the news to properly settle in?
“Thanks! It was a great summer. Not the easiest but we had amazing days of racing and for sure I am really happy about my performance. I stayed really focused during the month in the Canaries. Then I slowly realised coming home and even then it takes time especially as the full season is not over and now I’m getting ready for the end of the foiling one.”
Most people are probably aware of the issues you faced over the summer, but how did you personally manage to compartmentalise what was going on in the background and still perform at the top of your game?
“It was hard and my situation was really tricky. Even if I maybe did not show it so much, before going to Fuerteventura, I was a little lost. First of all I injured myself at the end of May and I only sailed three times before flying to Fuerte (which is the event you probably want to be the most prepared for). But then the story started less than 24h before my flight. I took it as an extra challenge. I had some good support, not from a lot of people, but from the good ones.”
You’ve mentioned that Finian Maynard was a big help to you during that time - what did he do help you and how good was it to have him with you in Tenerife when you were crowned world champion again?
“Yes, Finian is one of those people, there is also my wife and some close friends. We all had the same goal and we set a plan and agenda and we faced the different options. Having a retired top rider on your side is A+ especially if he is listening to you. So yes, our exchange and the support of Finian and the FMX team was great. His presence in Tenerife was the cherry on top of the cake! We both enjoyed the moment ;).”
It’s obviously not ideal to be changing sails mid season, and even less so with such a short time between Fuerteventura and Tenerife, but somehow you managed to make that transition seamlessly - what were the main differences you felt between your previous sails and the new ones?
“For sure it’s not ideal, but it was also the reason for my choice, I knew the sails would perform, and it was a good choice. I sailed three times between the two events and I felt good quite quickly. The main difference was the smoothness of the sail, super comfortable and plug&play, so I could quickly be in racing mode.”
Did being on a different sail brand mean that you had to tweak your board setup or deck plate position etc?
“It changed a little but no so much, in terms of weight or pressure it was similar. And on the other hand, when it felt good I knew I had a valid a option and did not search too much as I did not have the time to risk it.”
In Fuerteventura, things remained very tight as the top after the opening three days, but then you dominated on day four and five - did you consciously start pushing a bit more or what would you put that down to?
“Yes it was tight, because the game was open and the guys were sailing really good. I said it before, but I did not sail much before the event and at the beginning I was missing the rhythm and even if I started well I was a bit lost and day-after-day I was getting better. Everyone was getting tired, me too, but I felt better and better on the race course.”
You then picked up where you left off in Tenerife - winning the very first race and then winning the third as well - how proud of yourself are you for that?
“I was really happy! The first day [of racing] in Tenerife was not easy for me. We were waiting for conditions on the previous two days and we went out super late in the afternoon. Conditions were light and it was not easy to sail. On top of that I also felt the pressure, I wanted to perform to thank the people and brands who helped me. Winning this first race, especially with an amazing gybe and fight with Matteo [Iachino] was a strong signal to everyone and especially for me!"
After a couple of fin only events it’ll soon be time to compete on the foil again - where you are currently ranked second - how are feeling about stepping back on to the foil?
“I jumped back on my equipment recently, it’s different, but it comes back quick. I will have to re-adapt again to all my gear and this is not easy because there are more possible combos on the foil, but I will do my best and like always work hard and efficiently to be ready for Sylt.”
How did you celebrate winning your third world title in two years?
“Firstly I had a solid celebration in Tenerife and I was definitely not ready for it after this month of action and pressure. But then I had my wedding a week after the event. It was a really special moment and a good celebration with all the people supporting me since the beginning and involved in this story – definitely a good one!"
Thanks, Pierre, congrats on your latest world title and getting married. See you in Sylt.