The prestigious Aloha Classic usually marks the end of the PWA Wave World Tour, and what a year it has been. After a long and tough battle, Starboard Dream Team riders Philip Koster and Iballa Moreno have been crowned 2015 PWA Wave World Champions. In the Men's, Jaeger Stone also took third place while the Women's podium was completed by Daida Moreno and Sarah-Quita Offringa.

We caught up with our newly crowned Champions. First up is the 21-year-old phenomenon Philip Koster:

Starboard Windsurfing: Congrats Philip! World Champion for a third time at only 21 years old, how does it feel?Philip Koster: It feels amazing to win the PWA Wave World Title for the 3rd time, after not getting it for two years and having bad luck in the contest or injuries. It's the best thing that can happen to me! Now I'm really looking forward to go on some cool trips around the world and finally try to land the triple loop!

STB: How were the stress levels when Victor Fernandez landed that frontside 360 again Levi Siver?PK: That one was a big heat. I was watching everything from the cliff and both of them were sailing at their bests, but in the end, Levi made some really good 360's that were unbeatable. Still very nerve-wracking to see Victor ripping that much.

STB: You've won your last two titles on the water, competing. How does it feel to win from land, watching and waiting?PK: Well, to win the title in the water is the coolest I think because you are competing and full of energy. Right now we had a month break where two wave events didn't happen due to the conditions so that took away a bit of momentum... Still super stoked to win the title after such a cool year... A dream come true!

STB: How are you going to celebrate that title? Or are you waiting to be back home with friends and family?PK: I celebrated a bit here on Maui but it's not the same without the family around. I wouldn't have made it this far without them so the best would be to celebrate with them when I'm back home on Gran Canaria.

STB: Your last titles were back-to-back titles, you were 18 years old and everyone thought you'd be winning every year from that moment on. You lost the two next titles after that. Does this one feel different? How did you and your sailing evolve since 2012?PK: This one definitely feels special after not getting it for the past two years. It has been tough because of light winds or injuries and everyone was ripping so you can't make any mistakes in the heats. I have been training a lot in Australia and on Gran Canaria with friends so that really motivated me to sail better I think.

STB: We've had the Aloha Classic for a third year in a row and you've suffered again from an early round exit. Is Ho'okipa really that different from any other wave in the world? What would it take for you to win next year's Aloha Classic?PK: I have never had any really good result here at the Aloha Classic. I didn't have much to lose this year so I just tried to enjoy Ho'okipa with only three other guys in the water. I think I have to spend a lot more time here on Maui to sail Ho'okipa. It is one of the trickiest spots ever because you gotta find the right timing for the wave.

STB: We've seen you ride a few different boards lately. Can you explain to us what you're riding at the moment and what do you like?PK: I really enjoy to sail pretty much every board of the Starboard Wave range because I think it's important to use different shapes once in a while. My top favourite is still the new Kode Wave because it's the greatest all-round board. And then I love to ride the Reactor for good waveriding conditions.

STB: You've teased everyone with a glimpse of a new move, what seems to be a double shifty? Have you landed it yet?PK: I have landed one on the first day I tried it in Camp One [Maui] then tried to get it on tape a few days ago but still haven't landed it perfect. I will give it another go again to see if I can land it properly. Lots of crashes but it's a great feeling to get so close to do a new jump!

STB: Speaking of new moves and that triple loop… You must have landed it by now no? How many have you attempted since Pozo?PK: I tried it the last time in the final of the PWA World Tour event on Gran Canaria. I didn't really get the chance to try it after that because we were on tour and didn't have those proper jumping conditions. I have got a Red Bull Project in which I just have to check the forecast of a spot around the world were I think it could be possible to make the triple and then I will go for it again. Takes a long time to get ready for it mentally because a lot of things could go wrong on that move as I have to jump pretty high.

STB: You've got the next six months "off" to get ready for the 2016 Tour. What are your plans? Any trips this year?PK: Well, I'm flying to Australia very soon to train and test some new sails with Severne. I will also check while I'm there if something nice comes up on the weather maps to get a good swell somewhere in Fiji or Indo. Scott McKercher knows pretty much everything about those spots so would be cool to fly somewhere with him to get some quality waves.

STB: Thanks for your time and once again, congratulations on a great year!

Despite a very long and exhausting day where she defended her single elimination crown to win the Aloha Classic for a third time, Iballa also took the time to answer our questions:

Starboard: Congratulations Iballa..! How does it feel to win back-to-back World Champion titles at Ho'okipa, during the Aloha Classic?

Iballa Moreno: I'm super happy to win the Aloha Classic. It's a special event for sure but I'm more happy to be 25 x Windsurfing World Champions with my sister Daida. Since 1999 until today! It's something not many people know about us.

STB: Were you apprehensive to compete, yet alone sail at Ho'okipa, in over mast high sets?IM: I love riding big waves. It's the type of conditions I prefer… but to be World Champion, you need to be good in general and in all types of conditions. For me, sailing during the Aloha Classic is magical: only 4 people out, getting as many waves as possible... It doesn't get any better than that!

STB: The podium at Ho'okipa usually is very different from the rest of the World Tour. Which rider impressed you most this year? Which gave you the most trouble?IM: We had some difficult days with very light wind and big waves… Most of the girls are ripping so anyone could win! I honestly don’t look at opponents that give me trouble. I try to focus on my sailing and how to improve heat by heat. But it was nice to see Nayra Alonso back in action. Sarah-Quita [Offringa] had some really nice rides and so did Daida, Anne-Marie [Reichman], Ingrid [Larouche], Sarah Hauser and of course Fiona Wylde who had an amazing come back in the double. Pity for Tiffany Ward that got injured.

STB: Winning here meant your twin sister Daida had to lose. A bittersweet moment. How do you cope with that?IM: Well, it depends how you look at it. Being second is not loosing, I've been there many times. It's also a great achievement to be Vice World Champion. Obviously, Daida wanted to win. That's why we all do the tour… But being first and second in the world in the family is an amazing result.

STB: With Sarah-Quita Offringa finishing in 3rd place after only her first full year on tour, do you see her as a threat in the next couple of years?IM:Sarah-Quita is a great girl. She can progress very quickly and easily. She is still young and very motivated to improve. I'm sure she will be someone to look at closely in the near future... ;)

STB: You ride the Starboard Quad in both on-shore, high-wind Pozo and in almost side-offshore, light wind Ho'okipa. How does that board work for you and how do you tune it for the different conditions?IM: I ride the Quads. I love the 69-liter board. Honestly, it's the best board I've had in many years for all type of conditions. With the Quad 69, I use Maui Ultra Fins 8 cm in the front and 14.5 cm in the back, which is working perfectly for my weight. I'm using the same setup in both Pozo and in Ho'okipa for sure!

STB: Most Canarian riders have trouble adjusting to the Starboard tack at Ho'okipa but it seems you don't have that problem. Why do you think that is?IM: I don't have the opportunity to train much on Starboard tack but I think that being a regular-stance surfer and stand up paddler helps my sailing in this type of conditions. I think I still have a lot more to learn and I can push a lot more in this conditions. I was injured quite a lot this year and spent a lot of time out of the water but I'm feeling good now and already started training for next year!

STB: Between Daida and yourself, you now have 25 World Titles. How do you stay motivated and hungry for more?IM: Well, a lot depends on sponsors. I would love to keep doing this for many more years as we are more motivated than ever and hungry for a lot more!

STB: You're a professional athlete in both windsurfing and standup paddle surfing. How do you find the balance between both sports and which one do you find more challenging right now?IM: Windsurfing is my number one sport. But SUP is also very challenging right now! At the moment, I am trying to focus and improve a lot more my surfing technique. It's one of my main goals for sure.

STB: What are your plans for the immediate future? Any trips planned this winter?IM: Yes, I have many winter trips planned. At the moment, I'm heading to Fuerteventura, then back home to Gran Canaria and off again to Tenerife. Between the Canarian Islands, we have a lots of spots to train and have fun! I've also worked on a plan with my personal trainer as I need to recover 100% from last summer's knee injury and make sure it won’t happen again! Also when there is no wind, I plan to go SUP surfing, which also helps me to improve my windsurfing wave riding a lot! Another objective for this winter is to produce a good video as soon as we get good sailing and surfing conditions.

STB: Thanks a lot for your answers and once again, congratulations!

- View the Men's and Women's complete PWA rankings for 2015 -

- Photo Credit: John Carter / PWA World Tour -