Reaching New Highs
Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) is one of the most humble people you are ever likely to meet. However, don’t let her humility trick you, as when it competitions at least, the Aruban is as fiercely competitive as they come and possesses a killer instinct, which is just part of the reason why she now has an incredible 27 world titles next to her name. Offringa enjoyed another hugely successful summer in the Canaries earning two more world titles in Slalom X and Freestyle, while after claiming a maiden event victory in Tenerife, the 34-year-old is now the Wave World Tour leader with two events to go. After another massive summer, we caught up with SQ for an interview, which you can read below:
Hi SQ, another Canarian summer is complete, which caps another very successful summer for yourself… is there one particular moment from the last six weeks that stands out?
“3 moments! One from every event!
1. Forcing a super final against Daida [Moreno] was a dream come true! Losing the next heat by less than one point was pretty painful, but overall very proud! 2. Having the exact same scenario happening, but the other way around in Fuerte, where Maaike [Huvermann] forced a super final against me, but still ended up winning. It’s the highest level freestyle we’ve shown in a heat, and I’m super proud we were able to do that.
I did take home two world titles in a week in Fuerte, but that specific moment and heat in freestyle stood out the most. 3. Winning the final in Tenerife after a pretty gnarly 10 days in Fuerte. I felt much more relaxed in Tenerife and enjoyed myself in the heat. To take the win felt amazing!”
After starting out the summer in Gran Canaria, you headed to Fuerte to compete in Slalom X - how proud of yourself are you for hanging in there after a tough first day on the race course? And can you try and describe what made that first day so tough?
“In hindsight I’m super happy I stuck with it! I did not go into the contest prepared enough as I had my full focus on wave and freestyle. So the first day I did not feel in tune and was really struggling with that kind of speed in such choppy conditions. I was also feeling ill and overall just felt like I had too much on my plate, knowing I really wanted to perform in the freestyle after.
After some talks with my family, and particularly JC & Sarah Jackson, I just showed up the next day. The conditions were not as rough, and I tweaked some stuff on my gear and started feeling better and better on the water. By the end of the day I was in the slalom mindset again and I could enjoy the racing.
But yeah, it was just physically and mentally challenging after competing in Pozo and then only having four days between the contests.”
Before the event you spoke about the transition between each discipline being tough - how was the switch from Slalom X to Freestyle for you?
“I think it’s the hardest to switch back to freestyle from any discipline. But I’ve sailed a lot of freestyle this year and I feel like the gear is an extension of my body. I just always make sure to get on my freestyle gear as soon as the slalom is over to get used to the smaller fin and slower speeds compared to slalom. It takes me about two sessions to get in the groove again.”
Does Freestyle remain the discipline where you feel the most pressure to perform? And this year did you feel additional pressure knowing how much Maaike had been pushing and training?
“I think it is. It’s the discipline I’ve spent the most time on overall and I want to show my freesailing level in the heat and that’s quite difficult to do. I don’t know if I can call it pressure, but I definitely felt a fire to give my all. I almost felt like the underdog knowing that Maaike would really want to take me down. So I think I took it more as a challenge… Instead of being scared to lose, I wanted to put up a fight. And I’m proudest of both final heats I’ve sailed in the single elimination and the super final heat in the double.”
What was your mindset when you were forced into a Super Final? It seemed like you made a conscious decision to go for more power moves?
“I felt it coming a bit! And during the day had prepared myself for that. I don’t think I sailed a bad heat, but I missed a move on the inside, I think. I may have played it a little bit safe also…?
I managed to put that loss in the past quickly and focused on the next heat.
I feel like I only just about then realized that with 3 out of 7 moves to count (instead of 4 out of 7), it doesn’t pay to go for a more “polished” routine with lower scoring moves. A funnel wasn’t going to cut the mustard.
It’s all about the bigger moves. So maybe I did focus on the power moves a bit more in the final heat.
It helped me to be able to pull off burners both ways when I needed it most.”
How does it feel to now have 27 world titles next to your name after claiming two more in Fuerte?
“What a crazy number! I don’t even understand how I got there! Every year is a new year and I take it event by event. Still a bit hard to comprehend that I have managed that over the years…”
Tenerife was a rare location where you hadn’t tasted victory before, but you changed that recently - how does it feel to claim the win there, which puts you into the lead in the race for the wave world title with two events to go…
“Yes! Tenerife has been one of those events that I could never really get a hold on. Many times waves score more than jumps, and I know that in the Canaries, jumping is my strongest point and I struggle more with onshore riding on port tack (If only we’d have more starboard tack conditions hehe). This year though I LOVE my boards and sails and I felt so good on the gear. So everything was flowing a bit more AND I guess experience is finally playing a role as I’m picking out better/longer waves than I used to, knowing where to position myself better. Cabezo takes time to get used to and understand.
Anyway, I was in a great mood all day, and it was just the cherry on top to win it! Literally all night I kept saying out loud that I couldn’t believe that I had won the single elimination. (Of course the double was still possible, but winning that final was a highlight!)”
Is there a specific area of your wave sailing that you’d like to improve?
“Onshore port tack riding for sure! I’m naturally more comfortable on starboard tack.
And then of course there is down the line riding and hitting lips, and reading the wave better. Knowing exactly how to set my gear for which conditions. Honestly, I’d love to improve just about everything!”
After Tenerife you are then coaching in Karpathos - what is it that you enjoy about coaching? And if people are interested in being coached by you where can they find more details?
“Yes! I’m coaching in Karpathos with Oda [Brødholt]. You can find more info at windsurfuniversity.com or email us @ windsurfuniversity@no-spam-pleasegmail.com. Find us on Instagram too @windsurfinguniversity.
Coaching is super satisfying and a great learning process for myself to understand manoeuvres better.
Everyone understands things differently, so you need to figure out different ways of explaining.
It also brings the joy and playfulness of windsurfing back. A lot of times I’m hyper fixated on some combo move I’m trying to learn, but then during the coaching it’s all about planing gybes, duck gybes, body drags and it’s just fun to go back to that amazing planing feeling, or just that carving feeling.”
You’ve had a very busy summer - will you have some down time before Sylt?
“Yes! Well actually I’ll be off to Brazil soon before Sylt. I usually don’t sail much before Sylt, and I would like to change that for this year. I’ll have some days at home in Aruba, where I probably won’t touch my gear, but after that I’m looking forward to some quality sessions in Brazil before heading to Sylt and Maui.”
Thanks SQ - congrats again for your latest haul and enjoy your time in Brazil.
You can stay up to date with Sarah-Quita Offringa's latest news and adventures via her Social Media Channels:
Instagram: @cabeibusha
Facebook: @Sarah-Quita Offringa ARU 91