Blast From The Past

Next up in our latest ‘Blast From The Past’ is another young hotshot, who only made his full debut on the PWA Wave World Tour last year at the age of just 17 - Michael René Friedl Morales (Quatro / Goya Windsurfing). However before then the young Spaniard has been a regular face on the Youth wave circuit where he often caught the eye with his radical style, which earned him several podiums during that time. Carry on reading below to find out more about Mike’s early experiences of windsurfing. 

Michael Rene Friedl Morales, take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience.  

Where were you?

It was at Bahia Forma, a flat water beach in Gran Canaria, near pozo.

When was it? 

A few years ago, I don't remember it well, but maybe when I was 7 years old, around 2009.

Who were you with?

My father was teaching me the basics about windsurfing.

What do you remember from that very first ‘session’? 

It was horrible because I remember about being alone in the water and I didn’t know how to make a gybe, so I started crying jajajaja, and suddenly I saw my father swimming towards me and he got on the board and took me to the beach again, on the way back to the beach I was sitting on the nose of the board and smiling.

Who was your local hero? And why? 

My father, because he taught me how to surf and when I started windsurfing at Pozo he gave me some tips.

What gear were you using? 

I don't remember which gear I used when I tried it when I was 7, I think it was a NeilPryde sail with a René Egli sticker - I remember this because I’ve seen this sail quite a lot at my father's office, and a very big and old board.

Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time...

I was so excited because I was used to sailing slowly and suddenly the wind picked up and I started planing.

How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer?

I started competing in the pro category last year (2019), before that I used to compete only in the Youth category, and I liked that, I don't feel like a professional windsurfer, I feel like someone who loves windsurfing and shares this passion with friends, family and when competing I like to see the progression of others and get motivated about improving myself!

Give a tip for the next generation?

My tip for the next generation is to enjoy this sport as much as possible and when you go out to the water give your best, don't get depressed if you don't get the place you wanted in a competition, remember, every defeat is a chance to learn.

Thanks, Mike.