Ο αθλητής Isaac Mateus (JP / NeilPryde) ξεκίνησε να αγωνίζεται στο επαγγελματικό πρωτάθλημα PWA από το 2014 ενώ την χρονιά που μας πέρασε κατάφερε να κατακτήσει την 21η θέση στην γενική κατάταξη του Slalom.
Απ’ ότι φαίνεται ο αθλητής από την Βραζιλία ήρθε για να μείνει, αφού φέτος όχι μόνο κατόρθωσε να είναι στις πρώτες θέσεις της μέχρι τώρα κατάταξης αλλά κέρδισε και την πρώτη θέση στο βάθρο στον αγώνα Foil που διοργανώθηκε στην Κορέα, από το PWA.
Παρακάτω σας παραθέτουμε την συνέντευξη όπως δημοσιοποιήθηκε από την επίσημη ιστοσελίδα της οργάνωσης PWA:
Hey Mateus, how’s it?
All good!! Thanks
How are you feeling after not only your first win on the world tour, but also recording your best ever slalom result at the same event too?
It’s sick! Feels really good to win the foil and do a top 4 in the slalom. I hope I can keep it up for the rest of the year.
The slalom was crazy in Korea, I had no idea that place could get like that, and I really enjoyed it, my gear was great and I was confident.
When did you start windsurfing and when did you realise you want to become a professional windsurfer?
I started when I was 7 years old in Ilhabela, Brazil. My dad gave me my first windsurf equipment. In the beginning I didn’t really like it, I was more into soccer. I actually wanted to the a pro soccer player. But when I was 11 I tried sailing again, and basically stopped playing soccer, I just wanted to be in the water all the time.
I realised I wanted to be a professional windsurfer when I won the formula youth world championship. I was 18 at the time, and was about to quit windsurfing to work with my dad. But when I won the event I decided to go a bit further with my career.
What is it about racing that you love?
I like the speed! I like that we are all trying to be a bit faster than each other all the time.
Where did you spend your winter training?
I was in Maui the whole time.
With a lot of the pro’s now training at specific training camps over the winter did you ever feel slightly nervous or uneasy that you might be missing out by being in Maui?
Yes! I was together with Arnon [Dagan], Gabriel [Browne] and Ross [Williams], and we had no wind for almost a month in the beginning. We were just surfing all day! But when the wind came, we worked really hard, and we did the best we could to tune ourselves.
How did you celebrate after your best ever event?
I had a fun night at the karaoke with the boys, then a dinner with my friends and family at home.
You are now ranked 2nd in foil and 21st in slalom – what are your goals for the rest of the season?
I for sure want to improve on both, especially on the slalom as I feel really good on my gear. But I don’t want to think too far ahead. I want to go race by race, and do the least mistakes possible.
What is the first app you open in the morning?
Most visited website?
Windguru
Something you couldn’t live without?
Going to the beach and sailing. I was born in a big city, but now I can’t stay there too long.
One place you’d love to go but haven’t been to yet?
Maldives
Favourite food and drink?
Sushi (but not everyday, like we ate in japan haha)
Coconut water
What is the best thing about being on the world tour?
Get to travel around and go to different places.
What is the worst thing about being on the world tour?
When do badly at a a contest and you need to pack all the gear, take everything to the airport…
When will you be heading to Costa Brava and how are you feeling about the next stop?
I am leaving brazil on the 2nd.
Feeling pretty good! I hope we get a lot of races.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Follow me on Instagram: @mateusisaac
Thanks, Mateus.
