Rising Star
Maaike Huvermann (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) is still only 18 years old, but has already enjoyed a lot of success having won the PWA Youth Freestyle World Championship for the past 3 years, while also completing the podium in 2014 and ’15. Huvermann continues to progress and looks to be a real danger for the top two places this year, so we caught up with Maaike for a quick interview:
Hey Maaike, congratulations on being crowned PWA Youth Freestyle World Champion again — how many times is that now? 3?. And also for completing the overall podium… how was 2015 for you overall?
MH: “Yes, 3 it is! :) 2015 was a great year. I’ve had some good time on the water, improved my level quite a lot and got good results, so yeah I’m pretty stoked about it.”
What are your aims for the future?
MH: “My aim for this year is to show off some power moves, sail more consistent heats and compete in other disciplines (And probably also finish high school). My biggest goal for the future is to be freestyle world champion.”
It looks like you are ripping in your latest video with double moves and some of the latest power moves… what’s the latest move you’ve landed and what are you currently working on?
MH: “The latest move I’ve landed is the culo and I’m working on lot of moves, but one I really want to land is a burner.”
Favourite move?
MH: “For me doing a kono is the sickest feeling ever.”
Move you found most difficult?
MH: “The most difficult move for me to learn is the burner. I’ve been really close to landing it ever since last summer, but just when I’m about to land it I don’t sail for a while because of school or there’s no wind. Then when I go sailing again it takes me a session or 2 to get back the level I had. I get really close to landing it and than don’t sail for a while again. So I hope, as I have 1 week of holiday now and it looks like it’s gonna be windy, I will finally land it.”
We’ve also seen a couple of clips of you venturing out into the waves… is there the possibility that we will see you competing on the wave tour in the not too distant future?
MH: “Yea! I really like doing all disciplines so whenever I will get the chance to compete in wave and slalom I definitely will. I’ll have to put some more work into it because I’ve never really done any wave riding, whenever I try to do some turns I end up having a spinout, getting washed and having a long swim because of the freestyle board (I think/hope).”
Thanks Maaike, congrats on another youth world title and we’ll look forward to seeing you competing again over the coming year.