Jason Polakow Interview
Winner of the 2004 PWA Hawaii Pro
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Q: How did it feel to win what people are calling the most radical final in windsurfing history?
JP: It felt great. I have always managed to come back after major surgery and win a couple of events, but I thought after my foot surgery it would be a hard task especially with loosing 10 % of movement in my ankle due to the bone fusions.
Q: Did you ever imagine you could make it back after your early exit in the single elimination?
JP: With seeing all the big names ahead of me in the ladder I thought it would be very tough especially beating the single elimination winner twice. I had to really concentrate on each heat and sail it like it was a final.
Q: What were your toughest heats?
JP: Probably the heats with Levi Siver, Kevin Pritchard and Kauli Seadi. The other tough heat was the head to head with Kevin Pritchard…he is a real tough competitor.
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Q: Was it fun to be out there with Josh with Hookipa to yourselves?
JP: That was great. We had “all time” Hookipa to ourselves which is rare nowadays. To pick any wave you wanted for 20 minutes was a dream. No one getting in your way, no cross chop.
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Q: How ill were you on the first days of the contest?
JP: I got the flu right before the event and had a fever. During the event I got better but by the completion of the event I got an ear infection and also had sun stroke. It was just too many heats back to back especially when they were 20 minutes long.
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Q: Was the 360 the vital move than won it for you?
JP: The 360 `s was the edge that I needed. The increase in the swell helped as well. The waves were so nice you could almost line up a 360 on every wave. I think Josh tried to match me but never quite made them when it counted.
Q: What are your plans for the next six months?
JP: To got to Mexico for the Tropical energy challenge and then to prepare for the onshore conditions of Pozo for the next PWA wave event in the summer.