Interview With Windsurf Wave World Champion

An interview with Daida Ruano Moreno (ESP) PWA Women’s Wave World Champion in 2001.

SO WOMEN’S WAVE WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN, WAS IT A TOUGH BATTLE?

This year was a bit different than last year. I started of with two first positions (Vargas and Pozo) and then went to Maui for some training. By the time I was supposed to leave I changed my ticket to stay one day longer in Maui and then fly instead through Miami (initially I was flying through New York). Then this whole thing in New York happened and couldn’t fly to go to Sylt. I was just praying to get some wind in Ireland and maintain my title, and finally we had some wind in Ireland, got a second place in the contest and one discard (Sylt). I really have to say that I was lucky. Karin was right there all the time. She won in Sylt and in Ireland too, but had two third positions (Vargas and Pozo)…. Again, I was lucky and I just play the right cards in the last moment….

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE EVENT ON THE TOUR?

I think I really have to say that my favourite event last year was Gran Canaria (both Vargas and Pozo), cause nothing feels better than being at home… I like Gran Canaria, it’s a great place for windsurfing.

WHAT WAS THE TOUGHEST EVENT ON THE TOUR?

The most difficult event last year was Ireland. I had an enormous pressure on winning the event and the World Title. That and the fact that I haven’t really sailed much in my life on port tack offshore down-the-line conditions were two major problems for me.

YOU WERE BUSTING OUT SOME HUGE JUMPS IN GRAN CANARIA…DON’T YOU EVER GET SCARED?

Well, sometime I get scared cause I am holding a really small sail and I have right behind me 60 knots of wind and with that seven to eight meters of distance with the water…. But other than that, no problem!

WHAT OTHER FEMALE SAILORS DO YOU RESPECT?

I really have to say that I had it difficult this year with several girls, those are obviously my sister and also Karin and Colette… they were there all the time. Colette got the Freestyle Title, Iballa was right in every final and Karin sailed really well in Ireland specially, it was a tough year!

YOU AND YOUR SISTER HAVE GIVEN WOMEN WINDSURFING A REAL BOOST…HAVE YOU NOTICED A LOT MORE GIRLS OUT THERE GOING FOR IT?

I can really tell you that I’ve seen many many girls just going for it, in and out the Tour. We push each other to extreme limits and that it’s what it marks the difference between lately and the years before. We are growing physically and mentally and that you can see it in the water. We take our job seriously and we work hard to be there… on the other hand I can really tell you that many girls already ask me to enjoy the Tour and sailed with me…. They’re young and with a strong mentality and that’s what makes us go for it.

SO TELL THE TRUTH…WHAT’S IT REALLY LIKE TO BE A TWIN?

To tell you the truth it is very easy, just like a sister! We sail together and do many, many, many things together and that’s fun! It’s easier than being alone, that’s for sure!

DID YOU AND IBALLA EVER PLAY TRICKS ON GUYS…PRETEND TO BE EACH OTHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

Well, few times happened that the guys confused and we wont say anything till it’s time to, normally it’s really funny to see their reactions and we laugh together, but that’s just about it! Almost I can say we normally don’t have the same taste on guys, so we don’t play dirty… J

HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE MISTAKE YOU FOR IBALLA?

Since I’ve born people confused us, even my parents… it’s just a habit, we are use to it. It happens almost everyday.

DO YOU PLAY ALONG WITH IT OR DO YOU LET THEM KNOW?

Depends to who we are talking to, normally we just keep going with it. Sometimes people come to me and start to speak about this and that, and then they go away, and I will just be like….What!…. call Iballa and ask her about the girl or boy and then she will usually will say that these people are from University (Iballa studied for two years Sports and me Business Administration, the only things that we did separately).

I HEARD YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE ALONGSIDE THE GUYS…I BET THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF WORRIED FACES IF THEY LET YOU?

I wouldn’t mind to compete in Gran Canaria with guys, just for the simple reason of having few guys to take us (girls) with more respect…

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVE?

I think I will stick with a jump again, that it will be a one handed back loop (port tack).

ANY NEW MOVES YOU ARE WORKING ON?

Just few manoeuvres in freestyle, such as 540 and diabolos.

TRAVEL…DO YOU LOVE IT OR HATE IT?

I hate to travel, just cause of the simple fact of the gear. I have had the worst nightmares trying to check in my gear and having to sleep on my sail bag many, many times… I just hate the airports, but once I get to the place I forget about it and go sailing!

BEST MOMENT OF 2001?

The results of the 2001 World Title.

WORST MOMENT OF 2001?

When I couldn’t go to Sylt.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR?

I was in GC with my family and friends and then had Jimmy to came over to Pozo to visit me…. I had the best moments of my life.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE THE END OF LAST SEASON?

I have being travelling, almost too much. After Ireland I went back to Gran Canaria for one week (had to go to Spain as well for interviews in several TV stations and magazines and newspapers around the hole country) and the went to Maui to keep training, stayed there for a month and the back to Gran Canaria for Xmas and New Year, went to France for a Roxy Photo shoot and then to Australia for another photo shoot and now I’m back in Maui for some more sailing…. J

HOW ABOUT 2002…WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?

My plans are really simple, keep doing the Tour and bring new and even stronger spirits to the Women Tour (and the Men Tour as well… J)

The ISAF newsletter 'Making Waves' was published yesterday. 'Making Waves' has now gone weekly to keep you more up to date with news in the world of sailing.

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Interview With Windsurf Wave World Champion

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