Iballa took out the Aloha Classic title this morning! In doing so she also claimed another title - 2014 PWA Wave World Champion. Well Done! We caught up with her to see how she's feeling after the victory...

Congratulations on being crowned PWA Wave Champion for 2014! What's the reception been like?IBALLA: Incredible!! Being here with my sister Daida and her boyfriend on the other side of the world made me feel like home ;)All our sponsors, friends and family have been cheering for both of us the whole time and it has been a nice and warm reception.


Daida was in the overall lead by the start of the Aloha Classic, what sort of pressure did that put you under, and how did you manage dealing with it?IBALLA: We didn’t have any pressure! We were coming here to enjoy the waves at Hookipa and try to maintain our podium positions….I didn’t expect the order on the podium to be changed as Daida had two first. But winning the Aloha Classic and her not making it into the final crowned me as a champion….But I was more happy to win the contest than anything else. May be not many people know but this is one of the FEW events I have won in my career as a windsurfer and it feels great to be able to win the Aloha Classic!


How do you prepare the night before a big contest?IBALLA: I´ve been spending time with Rodrigo (Daida´s boyfriend), Daida and Dani Bruch and not much else! Going to sleep early before Dani Bruch’s perfect BBQ dinner! ;)Good hours of sleep , stretching and getting ready to go in the water ;)


What was the toughest moment for you on the World Tour this year?IBALLA: If I look back I didn’t have any tough moment! Been enjoying all the events so far….May be the waiting in Sylt was painful and long, as I’ve been traveling so much this year (between SUP contest and windsurfing) and was missing home a bit ;) 


You haven’t spent much time sailing Hookipa in the last few seasons, how did your prepare for the event?IBALLA: Luckily I live in Fuerteventura during the winter time and that gives me some time to practice starboard tack conditions! But nothing compares to Hookipa.I think the SUP surfing has given me better timing to hit the lip and read the waves better. We came to Hawaii a week before the contest to get some practice too and it worked great even if we only had 3 days of sailing on small waves before the contest.
Hookipa is totally different to Pozo. Were there any changes you made to your equipment for the Starboard tack down the line wave riding?IBALLA: I’m a regular surfer, which means starboard tack conditions should be the right ones for me! But in my whole windsurfing career I haven’t sailed much on this tack…mostly port tack like 99% of the events. I think my surfing and SUP helped me 100% to be a better windsurfer in conditions like Hookipa.


Where do you usually practice for down the line conditions?IBALLA: Fuerteventura…..also in Pozo we sometimes get down the line conditions! In winter time mostly.


You’ve been spending a bit of time on SUP boards, do you feel they contribute to your wavesailing?IBALLA: Totally. I think if I didn’t SUP so much this year I wouln’t do as great in the waves here in Hookipa…My timing has gotten a lot better and it’s a mix between my windsurfing skills and SUP/Surfing skills that helped me to win the Aloha Classic this year.


Yourself and your sister have always used Blade sails exclusively, has it made a difference to your riding? Is there anything specific about them that gives an advantage to women or those who are generally a smaller build?IBALLA:Since we are on Severne our level has gone a lot higher. We have so much control in our hands that we can have a better timing and easily ride the waves. I think this allowed women to control a lot more as it feels light in your hands and basically the control you want for windsurfing!!!


Are there any other sails in the range you would consider using ?IBALLA: I’m so happy on the Blade that I haven’t thought about riding any other sail.! but they all look great…I wouldn’t mind trying the Blade Pro and the S-3! They look amazing.


If Blades were not invented, what sail would you use?IBALLA: I think that the S-3.


Does this result mean the blue Blades go better than the red ones?IBALLA: hahhaah may be? ;) No, I think I was lucky only. If we had another event result like Sylt, Daida would have been the World Champion this year.


There have been some fresh faces on the woman’s competition scene this year, what would you say to any girls out there thinking of getting into the competition side of the sport?IBALLA: I was happy to see Fiona Wylde ripping in the waves. It was her first PWA event! She’s only 17 years old and made a podium! Thats amazing. Reminds me when we first started the tour at 19 years old (at 17 we started to windsurf), so she sure has a great future ahead. Will need some practice on port tack as well to become a very complete windsurfer. Time will tell! At the moment also ripping it up on the SUP!I will like to encourage all the girls to try to join us on tour . To not be afraid and go for it!


Where's your favourite/most fun place to ride, either at home or abroad?IBALLA: Hookipa is for sure a very special place! love riding the waves…Normally it’s more fun during the events because we are only 2-4 people out! A normal day gets pretty crowded. I like to say Canary Islands is the best place for me for training and having fun in the waves. SO many different conditions and waves to ride ;)


Who’s your favourite person to windsurf with?IBALLA: Daida….she pushes me to get better!!!


Who do you think is the best windsurfer in the world?IBALLA: I think what my sister does, no other girl does or ever will. (Her jumps and how easy she learns the moves)… So she is the best windsurfer in the world to me!