Matteo Iachino, the interview
PWA World Champion in 2016 and 2023, Italy's Matteo Iachino wins a third trophy in his career with this year's world title in Foil Slalom. Almost ten years after his first international victory, ITA-140 looks back on his season and his opponents, as he is not yet ready to hang up his boots!
Windsurfjournal.com: Matteo, you have just won your third world title after 2016 and 2023. How would you describe the evolution of your racing approach between these three titles?
Matteo Iachino: It is actually my 4th world title as I won one in speed foil ISWC in 2024. Obviously the PWA are the most prestigious ones and behind those there is an insane amount of work. The sport changed a lot, and most of the riders too. What didn’t change is the way I work. I love windsurfing and I try to be as prepared as I can, no matter what discipline I am about to compete in. Fin is more physical, foil is a lot about trimming your gear like a maniac and having all the combinations for light medium and high wind prepared. I see foiling as the F1 of windsurfing, whereas the Slalom X fin is like Motocross. It’s amazing winning this year the foil PWA slalom World Cup as now I have one title on pure fin in 2016, one title mixed fin and foil in 2023 and one in pure foil in 2025.
WJ: This year, you were assured of the world title by finishing in the top 5 in Japan. How did you handle the pressure, knowing that the title was almost guaranteed?
MI: I know a competition is not over until it’s over. I worked hard to gain as much advantage as possible before the last event, but everything can happen. If you have only two eliminations over the whole event in marginal conditions, it’s really easy to do a mistake and maybe get kicked out of the winner’s final. I tried to be as consistent as possible without taking too many risks.
WJ: Your performance in Japan was remarkably consistent, with two second places and two third places. What was your strategy for staying consistent in such changeable conditions?
MI: I tried to push enough to be in the winners final and not risking too much unless I was in a bad position. I managed to make all the PWA finals of the season, and then in the final, I was managing the race trying to be in the front row but without over pushing to risk an over early. It’s not that easy, I can tell you. Only the last race from the second reach, I pushed hard riscking to crash to fight with Pierre Mortefon as I had the chance to fight and be second in the event and I went for it. The rest of the event, I was fully focused on staying in a safe position for the championship.
WJ: Throughout the 2025 season, what were the key races or moments that you feel really cemented your overall victory?
MI: Guadeloupe was a great show of my potentials to myself, as I won every heat. I was on the edge every start and pushing as hard as I could, and it went amazing. In Sylt, it was a mix of giving it all and watching Pierre Mortefon as I knew he was my main rival. There was a heat in Sylt, we had a great fight with Pierre with 8.0 powered up, and I beat him. At that moment, I definitely felt more confident about the season. Then I gained a good advantage after that event.
WJ: How do you assess the competition this season, particularly your main rivals for the title, and what has enabled you to stay ahead of them? There is also the fact that Johan Søe only took part in two of the three events...
MI: Pierre Mortefon has been for sure the main rival. He is an amazing rider, complete in all the conditions no matter where or when we compete. Maciek Rutkowski was really solid too. There is plenty of young riders coming strong and that can be dangerous in one elimination. It would be cool to see Johan Søe on a whole season with pressure on and a real fight. He is an amazing rider, and it would be nice fighting with him under pressure. He sailed amazing with precision and speed, no mistakes apart a couple in Sylt, but I have to say it is also easier when you don’t have anything to lose. You just go for it and you don’t really risk anything. I was watching Pierre as Pierre was watching me… I didn’t really care about what Johan was doing apart in Sylt when he was behind me, then I pushed as much as I could.
WJ: You have won your world titles over several years. How do you maintain your motivation and performance level in the face of pressure and accumulated experience?
MI: I love windsurfing. I love my life, training, traveling, competing and winning. Winning is addictive. Winning in one of the best feelings of the world and once you try it once you want more and more. This keeps me motivated every year to give it all and try to be the best version of myself.
WJ: Now that the season is over, what will be your next goals, both in competition and in your personal or professional development?
MI: My goal now is to wave sail, surf and relax in Maui. Then I'll go back home in Tenerife and slowly I'll go back to training. As I said, winning is addictive, and I am not done yet.
Source: Matteo Iachino
Photos: Carter/Pwaworldtour.com
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