King of Freestyle Gollito Estredo is featured next in our Spotlight series! With an incredible 8th World Title Gollito once more could defend his leadership in 2017! His first win was in 2006, then 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017 – everything with Fanatic, so we can definitely call us a proud sponsor!

Let’s rewind to the start of 2017 – how are you looking back on the season? I was feeling comfortable and well prepared as I trained a lot over the winter. Of course I was very happy that I got my 8th World Title after the Sylt event. In January I went to Cape Town for the first time in my life to train there. So the new year started of very good  and since I’m focusing also on the wave discipline for the future, this was the perfect spot to train.

Highs and Lows? Highs: I invented new moves like Push Forward and Killer, this made me feel really good. And winning the PWA events on Fuerte and Sylt and my 8^th title was definitely a High as well! Lows: I was quite sad that I was not able to compete in the PWA Wave event in Pozo – I was training hard and would have been prepared : -(

Did you do anything different in terms of training and did it make a difference? I spent more time on my mountain bike and in the  gym. And I eat a healthier diet.

What is your favourite board in your portfolio you would never toss? My favourite board is the Skate 99, I would never change it – it´s just perfect.

Who do you look up to and why for inspiration in windsurfing and outside of the sport? I really get inspired by Amado because since the last year he improved a lot and I can see that his training pays off. We are good friends and spent a lot of time training together.

What advice would you give to young groms looking to follow in your footsteps? Never lose your motivation and don´t give up until you have reached your dreams!

Who do you credit as part of your success? My family because they look at me like a really am, not just for the sport. And of course my old friend Andre Paskowski….

Where do you see your future in the sport/immediate and long term plans? I want to push a little bit more in the waves this year, I´m really motivated fort hat! But Freestyle will always be my preference.

Funniest moment on tour from 2017? When I did not realize that I was driving over somebody´s sail with my car : -)

Turns or airs? Turns

Home or Hawaii? Hawaii

Thrusters or Quads? Thrusters

High boom or low boom? Low boom

Big winds or big waves? Big waves

What do you expect from your winter training and what skills do you want to improve? My first train in Cape Town was amazing, I definitely improved my waveriding and was working on my Pushloop into Frontloop!

Finally, what are you looking forward to in 2018? Get better and better in waves and be in the Top Ten! And of course defending my Freestyle Title – would be nice to get title number 9 and 10  : -)

More about Gollito: https://www.fanatic.com/team/gollito-estredo/