20 Questions
Morgan Noireaux (JP / NeilPryde) was born in France, but is practically Hawaiian having been raised in Maui from just one month old. If windsurfing spots were back gardens then Noireaux’s would 100% be Ho’okipa with the 25-year-old being well known for spending the most time out of anybody at Ho’okipa. Those hours upon hours of getting to know Ho’okipa have paid off handsomely with Noireaux being crowned the Aloha Classic champion, which is widely regarded as the most prestigious event in windsurfing, on three occasions (twice as a PWA event). Furthermore, Noireaux remains the only man in history to have won back-to-back Aloha Classic titles having produced a wave riding masterclass during 2013 and ’14. Off the water Noireaux remains extremely humble and he’s our next candidate to take our 20 Questions:
1. Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?
I think it’s closer to an obsession at this point, but the pursuit of getting better is something I enjoy a lot. Windsurfing is what I’m best at but I still have so many things I can learn and get better at. It’s pushing myself to improve and learn new moves that keeps things fun and interesting.
2. What quality do you like most in other people?
Honesty is a good one. Or empathy.
3. What annoys or frustrates you the most?
People abusing emoji’s when they write.
4. What do you most like in yourself?
My incredible humility.
5. What do you dislike in yourself?
I procrastinate too much, I can also just be straight up lazy.
6. What has been your best moment on tour?
The first time I won the Aloha classic was easily my best moment on tour. It really helped me decide which direction I wanted to go in life.
7. What has been your worst moment on tour?
I guess having the airlines lose my bags multiple times in a row during events. I hate to lose but I think it’s even worse when something outside your control has an impact on how you do.
8. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when your career started?
I would have tried much harder to find somewhere to jump port tack. Probably what I regret the most now that I’m a little older.
9. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Write down your goals. Doesn’t seem like much but it’s helped me out a lot.
10. What would be your perfect day?
Some sort of variation of, a really cool place (preferably warm and tropical, good waves for surfing/windsurfing, friends and family to enjoy it with, and some good food!
11. Do you have any superstitions?
I’ll knock on wood once in a while but not really.
12. Which living person do you most admire?
There are a ton of incredible people but if I’m talking about athletes I really admire Kelly Slater and what he has achieved.
13. What is your greatest fear?
Not sure... but drowning doesn’t sound fun.
14. What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t own a lot of stuff that couldn’t easily be replaced but If some of my hard drives were lost I would probably cry haha.
15. If you weren’t a professional windsurfer, what would you like to be?
I’d like to think I’d be surfing.
16. Where is the best place you’ve been?
I loved Australia. It’s one of the few places I’ve been where I thought that I could move there and be just as happy as on Maui.
17. Where would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to yet?
I have a reallly long list of places, but I think Fiji or Tahiti are the highest right now.
18. Who would you most like to have as a dinner guest, dead or alive?
If they’re going to answer all my questions maybe the President of the US (maybe one besides Trump, although that might prove quite entertaining) or the director of the CIA. They’d likely have some interesting things to talk about. I’d see if any crazy conspiracy theories are true.
19. First App you open in the morning?
Messenger or instagram
20. A phrase you live by?
Live a life you won’t regret.
Thanks, Morgan!
Photo Credit: Jerome Houyet