3 questions to Thomas Traversa

21/07/2022

5th of the Gran Canaria Windsurf World Cup in Pozo Izquierdo, the Frenchman Thomas Traversa has distinguished himself in an event that is not his cup of tea in general... For Windsurfjournal.com, he looks back on this result which places him on the 2nd step of the provisional annual podium in waves discipline.

Windsurfjournal.com : We know that this event in Pozo Izquierdo is not your favourite of the calendar, but you finally manage to do well every time and you even seem to take a certain pleasure to be there...?
Thomas Traversa : Let's say it's not my favourite competition because these are the conditions where I'm least good in port side onshore and small waves. But at the same time, I've been taking part in this competition for almost fifteen years, so I know more or less how the spot works, how to manage heats. Compared to the experience and other younger competitors, I manage to do well. After two years without competition, being in Pozo and sailing every day is cool! After that, it's a competition where I don't have too many expectations in terms of results, so every heat won is a small victory! I'm trying to have fun and do what I know how to do and hope that my opponents can also miss their performance.

WJ: It's been a long week with very varied conditions and a lot of intensity. Are there any particular moments that you remember?
TT: It's been 9 days of competition with weather that wasn't really good. So we were on stand-by almost every day and all day. It was quite tiring psychologically to be in that situation and to do one heat a day when it was possible. With the wind being lighter than usual, it narrowed the gap between the competitors in terms of jumps. I think it gave me a little bit of an advantage because I was able to manage my surfing well, choose my waves well and place myself well on the spot. As far as special moments are concerned, there was the first heat against Baptiste Cloarec, one of the rising Frenchmen, and I was happy to beat him. Then in the next round, there was Josep Pons, the Pozo specialist, I was happy there too. And of course there was the win against Marcilio Browne. I knew it was possible, I did my heat. It was great to have Antony Ruenes and all the other French guys cheering me on, it was really cool, it made me feel really good to be supported! It was clearly my highlight of the competition!

WJ: 4th in Cape Verde and 5th in the Canaries, you are now 2nd in the world in the discipline. 8 years after your world title, does this make you want to go for a new crown in Sylt next September?
TT: The fact that I finished 4th in Cape Verde, I knew that this gave me a small chance for the general ranking because a lot of the favourites for the title did not do very well there. At the same time I wasn't under any illusions about Pozo, I knew that I could finish last. This 5th place in Gran Canaria is unexpected and it is true that when you are in 2nd place in the provisional annual ranking, you think that the title is within your grasp! Marcilio Browne has nevertheless taken a clear advantage with two 2nd places. It will be really hard to catch him. We will have to do a very good result in Sylt and hope that he makes a mistake. Afterwards Sylt is a place I like and where I have often had a good result. I am confident there and I know that anything is possible, in any case, it motivates me! If we stay there and there are no conditions, then I will be vice world champion and that would be great. I'm happy with everything! I have the feeling that I have done my season, beyond my expectations already, and everything that comes is a bonus. As I am satisfied and have no pressure, you never know what can happen...