20 Questions

20 Questions with Antoine Albeau

With 23 world titles to his name Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) is one of the most decorated sailors the sport has ever seen and he’s still competing at the very top of the sport. As such an iconic figure for windsurfing we thought Antoine would be the perfect person to take the 20 questions hot seat. You can read his answers below:

Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

Because I was almost born with it, my dad was one of the first ones in France to do windsurfing - he managed to be one of the best guys in France and make the first national championship in ’78. At the same time he opened a windsurfing school on the beach that we still have, at this I was a kid, and he made me a small rig as at that time a kiddy rig didn’t exist, so I tried to windsurf when I was 5 years old and then I was windsurfing every summer and every holiday.

What quality do you like most in other people?

I like to trust in people and I like people who manage to do anything.

What annoys or frustrates you the most?

I don’t like people who talk behind your back and people who are jealous.

What do you most like in yourself?

I like that I can believe in myself and I like that I am doing the maximum I can do in whatever I do.

What do you dislike in yourself?

I don’t like when I regret things.

What has been your best moment on tour?

Ah for this there are a lot of best moments… all my world titles are great moments - the first time I won a slalom in front of Bjorn stands out in my mind as well, this was in ’92 in Aruba, I was young and a rookie on the tour and I won a slalom in front of him, I was the only one beating him.”

What has been your worst moment on tour?

There’s been a few… Losing out on first place at an event by tiny margins, like 0.3 of point, those are painful losses!

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

I would have started the tour sooner. I was 20 when I started to compete in a few events on tour. And I would also say to believe that it was possible more.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

To believe in yourself and train hard.

What would be your perfect day?

Open the eyes in the morning and listen the swell breaking, going for a surf or SUP session… then come back for lunch with my wife and son and listening to the wind picking up… then I’d go for a perfect wave session in the afternoon before ending the day with a nice dinner with family and friends.

Do you have any superstitions?

Yes, I have but I think a lot of other sportsmen have superstitions too.

Which living person do you most admire?

I like some sportsmen who are making history and rewriting the record books of the sport. 

What is your greatest fear? 

To lose a member of my family or a friend.

What is your most treasured possession?

All that I have, but especially Paola, Alani my son and my family.

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

Not sure but I think I would be working close to the water or in the water. Maybe another sportsman in another discipline or maybe a rugby player!

Where is the best place you’ve been?

I will say that the best wave was in Tahiti, New Caledonia, Maui, French Caribbean, southwest of France, my place is good as well, then to windsurf and relax all the sunny places are great.

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

I would like to explore more the French Polynesia.

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

I don’t know, friends is good for me. 

How would you like to be remembered?

Talented and powerful.

Most visited website?

Windguru and FB.

A phrase you live by?

Don’t try to do it tomorrow if you can do it today.