Last year was a standout year for Pierre Mortefon (Fanatic / North), not only did the Frenchman break into the overall top ten for the first time in his career, but he also claimed the final place on the prestigious podium to complete an all France top three. At only 25 years old, Mortefon is still extremely young in slalom terms and seems to be years ahead of his time. Up to now, Slalom been a game which has required years of experience to be able to battle it out at the top, but is that beginning to change? It could well be particularly with an abundance of youthful talent beginning to flourish, but for now it is Mortefon who is leading the charge of the next generation. After his breakthrough year we caught up with Pierre for an interview.

PWA: Last year not only did you break into the overall top ten for the first time, but you also claimed the final place on the podium… Congratulations - How was 2014 for you and why do you think it was so successful for you?

PM: “2014 was an amazing year for me with lots of traveling and several events with great racing. At the beginning my goal was, like you said break the top10, I sailed a lot and prepared myself for that during the 2013 winter. I began the season with a really good start in Costa Brava with my first podium on PWA event, perfect entry. After that, I managed to keep the pressure out and sailed as simply as I can event after event and elimination after elimination. I was super regular all year long I think it was one of the key of my success. Secured the podium before the last was a big proof of this regularity and I was really proud of it.” 

PWA: With Björn Dunkerbeck (Starboard / Severne / Chris Benz / Dunkerbeck Eyewear) retiring from the PWA scene this opens up the door for new young talent to come through the ranks and challenge Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) - Along with yourself, who do you think are likely to be the top contenders next year and year’s to come?

PM: “I think now on the tour we have 3 different generations. The older one with Antoine, Josh or Cyril. The ‘’around 30 ’’ with Julien Q. , Antoine Q., Ben VDS or Pascal T. And you have the new generation with Matteo I. , Maciek R. or Alex C. and I. For me the best guy from the new generation is Matteo. We trained together during the last winter and spent several hours on R&D for North and Fanatic and I know he is one of the best and complete sailors in the actual top10.” 

PWA: The French dominated the whole of last season, why do you think France as a nation are so good at slalom?

PM: “The question came back often this winter after our historical French annual Podium. For me there are 3 different reasons. Firstly, France is a really nice country with water all around the country and some extra islands in the world. Second, I think we are the country with the most important number of windsurfers. And I think we have a super nice French Champion with a really high level and a lot of competitors in each event, so it’s a good training and a good springboard.” 

PWA: Having already broken into the overall top 3 at just 25 years old, what are your aims for 2015 and beyond? And do you feel like there will be more pressure on you?

PM: “For sure my goal is to be back on the podium end of the year but I know it’s gonna be a hard fight all year long. I just want to sail well, advance in the elimination and try to do my best. I know if my sailing is good, the result will be good. So no pressure, just want to do my job well and do some good races.” 

PWA: Usually successful slalom sailors are quite a few years older than you… why do you think you have been able to make the step up in level so early on in your career?

PM: “Yes for sure, slalom is a discipline where you need experiences to be at the top. All the top guys since I began in the world tour are up to 30-35 years old. I think since 2 years it’s changing and the youth generation pushed a lot. In my case, I sailed and raced since longtime already and since I am doing the world tour I learnt a lot and tried to check my progression and the different worn points after each events.  In our sport there is not only the water part which is important. The pre-competition part is really important too. You need to discuss with sponsors, to prepare your gear, organise your travels, your flights and accommodation. All the old guys know how to do this extra part perfectly due to their experience and years of the tour. Concerning the water, you need to know how to tune your equipment, how to take a start, how to get a qualifying position to advance to the next round and event after event I progressed on that but you need time. I think now the old generation begins to be old enough to permit us to get an advantage concerning the physical aspect. But even if I am younger I spent a lot of time at the gym and preparing myself to avoid injury. I get 2 really bad injuries 2-3 years ago and I learnt a lot about my body. Just to summarise, I think this year I pulled of all the piece of the puzzle in the right place…"

PWA: What do you think are you strengths and weaknesses?

PM: “Aaaa … Cannot give all my secret to my opponents … I think I am enough complete riders efficient in all the different conditions we can have, I really like the competition and never give up until the finish line. Currently I maybe don’t have the best speed of the fleet but I continue to work on it.” 

PWA: Best friend on tour?

PM: “I didn’t broach the subject before but I think my entourage on the world tour is one of the key of the 2014 success and permits me to be more competitive quickly. I have a great team with me in the World Cup, with some good friends like Antoine Questel, Pascal Toselli and Alex Cousin (with whom I began the competition ). Since few years we organised all our season together, trainings, competitions and travels. I like our system and we worked well all together. I think when you spend more than half a year out of your home, it’s really important to get good persons around you.” 

PWA: Favourite location on tour and why?

PM: “We have a varied tour and there are different good locations. But I think the best one is certainly Fuerteventura because you are sure to find wind there and to get some epic races. It’s not a place where you will have to pump a lot at the mark, I began windsurfing in strong wind so I like it. 3 years ago I really liked when we went to Aruba , it was an amazing place for slalom with unbelievable view. Vietnam was a really good location too with great conditions and nice to discover another culture.”  

PWA: Biggest character in and out of the water?

PM: “I think Bjorn is one of the biggest characters of the tour. I will take him concerning out of the water because he is certainly one of the most professional guy in our tour with all the serious, a real team around him, lots of sponsors, lots of fans and he continues to have the same power and motivation from the begin until the end last year even if it began to be difficult for him.”

“On the water, you have several peoples who can get special words … Antoine A. is super-efficient on the water since so many years, Cyril M. is discreet but always there, Ben VDS is super-fast, Ross is really fair, Josh is amazingly aggressive on the water.”

PWA: If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

PM: “I would really appreciate a dinner with Robert Térithéau. I really met him in New Caledonia during the final last year. He is a super good guy, still passionate about the ride and the ocean. He can tell you some much stories about the past and about the good times of windsurfing. He is one of the craziest guys of our sport and permit to windsurfing to be more famous during the good years. Even if, he was/is star is still a real good guy with the pacific and Tahitian mentality. In Caledonia after the event, he showed us different places and took his time to show us his country.” 

PWA: Favourite quote?

PM: “Until the end, it’s never finished …” 

PWA: How has your winter been so far and what will you be doing between now and the first slalom event in Korea?

PM: “I had a really good winter. Straight after New Caledonia I took some holidays with my girlfriend (who has been waiting for them a longtime … ) in Brazil where we can get some good Surf and Sup and after that I get some good family time for Christmas with some snow here in France. In January I went to St Barth in the Caribbean to be back in my new slalom kits and sail a lot with my team. I spent February at home, to prepare all the year and continue to get a strong physical preparation. I am now in Tarifa for a good training trip, after that we will have the 1st stop of the French Champ in South of France then I will go to Mauï , back in France for few days for a speed event and we will already be on the starting line in Korea.” 

PWA: Away from the race course and windsurfing - what is your favourite food? movie?

PM: “AAA ! Important parts out of windsurfing, I really like the food and I will be patriotic but I think in France we have one of the best and most variety of food in the world. Just to be simple, I am sometimes dreaming about a good beef steak of the French countryside with a glass of red wine when I am not at home!! Concerning the movie and it’s the same for music, I can watch everything , sometimes cartoons or natural reports but I really enjoy some good action films…” 

PWA: 3 things you couldn’t live without?

PM: “3W > Wind, Wave and Woman.” 

PWA: If you weren’t a professional windsurfer what do you think you would be doing instead?

PM: “I don’t know … I achieved my Master from my Business School 2 years ago in Montpellier so I certainly would be in business, maybe on the windsurf but I don’t know I am currently loving my life and I hope it will continue like this several years …”

PWA: Thanks Pierre and good luck with the rest of your preparation before the first event in Korea.