3 questions to Pierre Mortefon

12/12/2022

7th in the world in slalom discipline this year after having been on the podium since 2015, the Frenchman Pierre Mortefon is obviously disappointed and below the result he was hoping for... In an interview with Windsurfjournal.com, he comes back on this counter-performance and his stay in New Caledonia for the Defi Wind Pacific Ocean.

Windsurfjournal.com : 7th in the world this year, a place you were not used to... With hindsight, how do you analyse this result?
Pierre Mortefon : There is a lot of disappointment, that's clear! 7 years spent on the podium before this 7th place, it's a failure, we mustn't hide it. But I have to put it into perspective: we had a rather "light" season, because there were only two events that counted. I was still in the fight, until I played for the title. I think that a 7th place is not really well paid if I may say so. I don't deserve much better, but it's not much more than a missed qualification for the final. It's clearly not the result we were looking for, but it was also a special season with a race in Croatia in July which doesn't count, but the result could have changed a lot of things with a good field. I am trying to put this result into perspective so that I can fight again next season.

WJ: What lessons have you learnt from this season, and what does this mixed wing/wing race format inspire you?
PM: The format is complicated and of course it is criticized! The people who comment are not always with us on the competition sites, and it's really not easy. Forcing one or forcing the other, there will always be disappointment. And then, the foil progresses, it is the evolution of the sport, and it is normal that its place is more and more important. After that, what I don't think is good in the current system is that we don't have a calendar adapted to this mixed format. In Sylt, we couldn't race with ailerons, although we could have on the last day... And in Japan, the only day with strong winds, but that wasn't done on purpose, the courses were very downwind, which allows the foil to hold on in more wind, the n°1 buoy was in an area that was a bit windy and the course was very small! In short... Where I could have a critical look, is by saying, OK we do the 2 disciplines, but we have to really do the 2 disciplines! Otherwise, we'll have a world cup for one and a world cup for the other... And of course, if we spread ourselves too thinly, it would become really complicated for the riders, they'd need even more equipment, organise even more events, etc... It's not easy. What I remember to conclude is that last year the foil was effective up to 20/25 knots, this year it was up to 25/30 and next year it will work up to 30/35 knots, that's the evolution of the sport.

WJ: Afterwards, you went to New Caledonia for the next Defi Wind Pacific Ocean, can you tell us about it?
PM: After Japan, I was indeed lucky enough to go to New Caledonia for the Defi Wind Pacific Ocean. It was already good to go to this incredible place after this result. There is a great windsurfing community there and even board sports in general. As soon as we arrived, we were very well received and everything was very well organised. Then we had the chance to do the famous BlueScope Race, an event that takes place every year on the spot. It starts from the Amedee lighthouse, and we do a 20 km long run to Noumea. That was a warm-up, and then we went on an exploration as part of the Wind Pacific Ocean Challenge to see what we could do. What was great was that we did something really different with long distance and some beautiful places. There was also a bivouac part, something that we are not used to having in competitions. We are on a really different format with a mix of competition and discovery in a paradisiacal setting. There is really something to do, and I hope that everything will work out so that there will be a big event there. Indeed, potentially, the idea is to do the PWA slalom final there next year and this event afterwards. It would be great for the riders, for the sport and for New Caledonia!