Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) resides from the world famous Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria, making his debut at home during the 2011 season where he finished in joint 33rd. However, one year on, and with crucial extra experience gained, Pijoan began to show his true potential as he broke into the top ten for the first time ever during the final event of 2012 - Sylt - where he claimed joint 9th.
The Canarian has just returned from his maiden trip to Asia, namely Vietnam, which may not be the first place every wave sailor would think of, but windsurfing is more to Pijoan than purely competing and training in the waves. As a sailor who is still climbing the rankings and continuing to progress at an alarming rate we caught up with Pijoan to find out more about him and his winter away. Read the interview below:
PWA: What were you doing before you decided to concentrate more on windsurfing and what made you make that change?
AP: "I am a graduate in Nautical Science which allows me to work as a captain for all kind of ships. I was pushing a lot to become a gas and petrol cargo officer but sometimes life shows you a new path to walk into and now after 3 years here I am still alive and with full commitment on what I am doing now."
PWA: Why did you want to compete and why do you like competing?
AP: "The year before restarting windsurfing I got into long distances triathlons. The aim of that sport is basically to challenge yourself with endurance and organizing a plan to achieve your goals. So from race to race you improve your skills as an athlete and as your own coach, you can prove your training strategy is going well or not. It was really interesting for me and I learnt a lot but then I realized that I could transfer all this to windsurfing, my real passion. Competing is not just about winning, there is a lot more behind, something that you will just figure out once you are 100% involved in it."
PWA: You spent your winter in Vietnam...not the first place many wave sailors would think to go, is there a wave spot there and how are the conditions?
AP: "This year I was trying to bring something new to my life. The options are quite limited sometimes just looking for wind and waves although windsurfers travel a lot. I had never been in Asia before and Vietnam was a really interesting place to go so I contacted the Starboard and Severne Vietnam and they helped me to live for the last 5 months in Mui Ne working for Jibe's Sailing Center."
PWA: Are you also doing different types of windsurfing? Freestyle/slalom? How do they compare to waves for you?
AP: "Yes, I do a little bit of everything at the moment. I have freestyle and slalom equipment too and I use it regularly. As a wave rider I will always travel with my Nuevo Twin fin and few Blade sails as a first option but I love to stay on the water. I like staying in the sea and I don't mind if it is on a beginners board, SUP, surfing or on a 9.2 and a 147l. Ultra sonic. I need it!"
PWA: Have you been purely free sailing in Vietnam or also doing something else?
AP: "Well, Vietnam has been a really on working side and sailing, let's say, my both unconditional sides on my life. Between sailing as a job and a training routine, I really do a big difference. I organize a lot the days to have time for both but there is a moment when free sailing disappear, you always have a mission in the water, a new trick to train, and exercise for a customer, or a board to test. And I like it this way much more."
PWA: How have you found the whole experience?
AP: "For me windsurf is very important at this moment, working is a need for every single person and traveling around the world is always awesome. I have the combination of all three and the best of it is that I learnt a lot on my way. Achieved new experiences, knowledge and growing as a person is really what I looking for. I will repeat again."
PWA: Back to life on tour... Best result to date?
AP: "Sylt 2012. Pretty nice memories from that time. From Klitmoller to Sylt we sail many days, we shared really good moments with very nice people. Living with the other competitors is sometimes a chance to meet them, people with the same passion and commitment. Sylt was my happy ending for that season - 9th."
PWA: What would you like to achieve in the future?
AP: "At the moment I feel very confident with my sailing. I've been surfing a lot in Vietnam and now the jumping period begins in Pozo Izquierdo. I am heading to the UK to compete on the British Wavesailing Association (BWA) tour next month and I would like to perform good wave riding. Achievements for this year. I really would like to score good conditions on the contest and perform good enough to achieve the top 10 will be my goal. Last year conditions were really disappointing. Let's see how it goes!"
PWA: Favorite conditions and location to sail if you could choose?
AP: "Now I really would prefer to travel to a new place rather than staying everyday at the 'cool' spot with too many people. Discover a nice spot located on a wild and green area mixed with wind and waves, clear turquoise waters and coconut trees! And about the conditions. please give me a playground which allows swells and wind changing everyday, monotony is boring!"
AP: "I like jumping but my favourite move would be wave riding. I love to see how Alex "Musso" does his waves 360, he has its own "mojo" with them. I wish I could do this one with a personal style as he give it to this move. Wave 360 can be very stylish but can also be pretty sh***y."
PWA: What was the most difficult move for you to learn and why?
AP: "Definitely the Shaka. My god! Took me few month of constant crashes and the evolution was really slow. It's quite tricky in all the steps: the entry, the rotation, the lift, landing. all them with it own tips. Now every time I see someone trying it I really love to help because I really keep in mind how much I struggle on it. On the other hand now I am learning many new moves from freestyle and many of them still out of my range but coming!"
PWA: When you aren't windsurfing, what do you like to do?
AP: "Most of the time working. If there is no wind and I am free I guess surfing. Being in the water is a feeling that gives me good vibes and energy. Surfing is basic on the level I practice it and gived me a lot of technique for windsurfing. I use 3 boards (5.10, 6.0 and 6.2) with really cool shapes for the conditions I use to play in the Canaries. The smaller are extremely fast and give me really nice feedback I love them, the biggest is when the swell is charging. I introduced a lot of SUP on my activities and I keep running regularly. I guess I suffer a kind of addiction to feel alive doing sports."
PWA: Do you do any other fitness or gym work part from windsurfing to keep fit? If you do, what?
AP: "Of course I have my personal training program but I really avoid to go to the gym. I have some tools at home like the TRX for example to do enforcement and core but If I can I do most of the training in the water or running. No more hours in the gym of what is really necessary."
PWA: How will you be spending the rest of the year?
AP: "During the summer I will remain in the Canaries for training and preparing the competitions. Of course I will keep working teaching windsurfing and taking care of the customers who come to town to improve their skills. They stay often at my house and this year I want to give an exceptional service inside and outside the water in collaboration with LPWS shop."
PWA: Thanks Albert, good luck with the training before the first event of the season and we look forward to seeing you competing again very soon.
If you haven't done so already then be sure to 'like' Albert Pijoan's Facebook Fan page, which can be found here, to stay up to date with all of the Canarian's latest news.
Casey, TAS
