Forrest Ladkin has just taken out 2x Aloha Classic Champ Morgan Noireaux! Fresh from being crowned AWT Pacasmayo Champion, we caught up with the young ripper to find out why he’s so god-damn good!

Endless waves. Pacasmayo. (Photo: Si Crowther)

Q. Hey Forrest, tell us a bit about yourself?

A. Hola! I’m 22 from Gerroa on the SE coast of Australia. I grew up on a headland in a very small town surrounded by nice uncrowded waves. I come from a passionate surfing family and have been in the water doing one thing or another since I can remember. When I was 15 a family friend Warren ‘1 knot’ Holder encouraged me to get into Windsurfing and before I knew it was completely hooked.

I had no idea I was living at one of the best (if not the best) down the line, cross off windsurfing set ups on the east coast of Australia. I remember sailing on the weekends and being blown away because guys where casually telling me they’d driven from 2-5 hours away just to come sailing here for the day. 

I surf, snowboard and skate goofy footed so it instantly felt natural wave riding Gerroa as it’s a left / port tac. I remember my first season on a sinker I couldn’t jibe or tac so i’d just jump off into water start position to turn around out the back. On the wave everything came together really quick though and I was soon doing things i’d only dreamed of doing while surfing.

Q. Who do you windsurf with in Gerroa, any local rippers?

A. At home, we now have an epic crew. Brett Goodwin recently moved down to Gerroa and is very inspiring to sail with. Apart from the fact he absolutely rips and charges our local bombie, he’s a very humble character and gives me a lot of drive to push myself.

Brett and another local George Westra have very powerful surfing styles which I love and has helped mould my own style. I’ve heard quotes from some of the big guys in Maui like “George and Brett have two of the most powerful bottom turns in the world” haha

Apart from that my little brother Taj who is 16 has just got into sailing which is rad. When he’s not trashing my gear and being rescued we have fun together haha.

Forrest at Home. Gerroa Bomby. (Photo: Jason Hale)

Q. So, this is the 3rd time you’ve been to Pacasmayo right? Tell us a little bit about the place and what keeps you going back.

A. Yep! When I came for the first time three years ago, it was my first time sailing overseas and it absolutely blew my mind. I sailed nearly every day for a month and scored multiple mast high swells. The waves are obviously incredible, the fact they’re so long provides the ideal environment to progress and try the same turn or more over and over again.

Then there’s the competition and social side which bring me back just as much. I remember frothing and being so star struck the first year meeting some of the legends of the sport like Levi Siver, Kevin Pritchard and Boujma etc. haha there’s around 50 people people who come to the comp from all over the world, most just want a windsurfing holiday and the comps just for fun so it’s a super chilled atmosphere and everyones just enjoying themselves. The resort which hosts the event El Faro is a dream set up. Apart from being right on the point with sheds to store your gear, they’ve got all the fun stuff like ping pong, foosball… a bar haha

Q. How does it feel to take out 2 time Aloha Classic Champion Morgan Noireaux?

A. Yeah… Perhaps not surpassingly pretty damn good haha It was a repeat of last year where we came up against each other in the semi. I was pretty fortunate on my last wave the inside section opened up with 2 rare A-Frame bowls. I hit both sections as hard as I could and just hung on, thankfully it payed off and I just snuck past the captain into the final (He’s now called ‘Captain Morgan’ after his great form at the awards night)

Q. Got any more comp’s planned this year?

A. For sure! Nothing international but all our state competitions as well as the nationals and of course the Merimbula classic.