After finishing school, the extremely sporty lady spends several months in the Canary Islands and finishes fourth in freestyle at the 2025 World Cup on Fuerte - and that's not the end of the story. In the interview, she talks enthusiastically about her most important learning, "sticking with it", the toughest entry "Vulcan", a magical Skopu moment in front of the camera and the dream of van life between her studies and professional ambitions.
You took the international freestyle rankings by storm last season. Did you already have competition experience?
Well, not so much in windsurfing, just a few national foil competitions, but I have competed in many other sports, such as badminton, football and handball. But especially in athletics, for example at the European Youth Games in Prague 2019 or the European Championships in Bratislava 2019.
What motivated you to compete in freestyle in the World and European Cups?
When I started freestyle, I surfed a lot with the Eržen family. Siblings Val and Lina inspired me to enter the professional world of freestyle windsurfing. I started going out on the water all year round, regardless of the conditions or temperatures. Although I had never had the opportunity to compete before, it had been my goal since 2019.
What was the most important lesson you learnt last year?
That practice makes perfect and that effort also leads to results. You just have to keep going and keep at it - even in poor conditions or when you are tired or unmotivated.
What was the best moment for you?
When I managed my dream trick, the Skopu. It was a crazy, windy day and I was out on my 3.6, like many men. The water was completely smooth, just heavenly. My friends were filming me and urging me to give it a go, even though I was actually way too scared. After many hard falls, I finally managed the Skopu in front of the camera.
Would you like to have more freestyle events for women in your calendar to show what you can do?
Definitely! The competition is an incredible experience for me, where you meet friends and like-minded people. As not so many girls take part, I have set myself the goal of getting more women to take part.
Was it easy for you to be accepted into the troupe on the tour and make new friends?
It was surprisingly easy. I thought they would be aggressively competitive, but all the girls and guys I've met are such nice and helpful people. The best thing about the competitions is that I meet them again and we have a great time every time.
Where and how did you start windsurfing?
I started in Pelješac in Croatia, where we were on summer holidays with my family. My father was so enthusiastic about windsurfing that he also bought equipment for us children. He was a slalom rider himself at the time and spent the whole day racing back and forth. When I got on the board for the first time, I was so scared of drifting off that I never got more than a few metres. But from my first gliding experience, I knew I was hooked.
And how did you get into freestyle?
A few years after I tried windsurfing for the first time, we travelled to Vasiliki in Greece, where I attended a windsurfing camp. There I quickly learnt how to jump and some freestyle tricks in light winds. I managed my first volcano in the second week. I can still remember the feeling of happiness that ran through me when I landed.
What fascinates you about freestyle?
I find it interesting that every freestyler can find their own style and that, unlike other sports, there are no strict rules. You're always competing with yourself, and the best thing about it is that you can push your limits again and again while enjoying the power of nature with your friends.
Do you do any other disciplines?
I tried a bit of foiling, but I quickly realised that it wasn't for me. It was far too intense and I just didn't enjoy it that much. But I'm very interested in the wave discipline, even though I don't have the equipment for it. I hope that I'll get the opportunity to try it out at some point.
I find it interesting that everyone can find their own style in freestyle and that, unlike other sports, there are no rules."
What has been the most difficult trick for you to learn so far?
I think I speak for most people when I say that the most difficult trick was the Vulcan, such a strange combination of movements that you have to synchronise at the same time. I think it was the most difficult because it was the first one and because it took me three years to perfect it.
And the simplest?
The Grubby, which I absolutely love because it just "happens", you can't force it, you just have to go for it.
What moves are you currently working on?
I'm currently training Burner and Culo and improving my Konos and Shakas.
Do you have any advice for young girls who want to start freestyle?
The first rule is: have fun and enjoy it. The second is: never give up, success will come, even if it seems impossible.
Do you regularly get out on the water near your home?
Yes, at home I can go windsurfing once or twice a week when the local wind called Bora (Slovenian "Burja") or southerly winds, usually in Marina Julia or Grado, Italy. There are also some spots in Croatia, for example Preluk, where you can catch thermal winds in the morning. But of course I also try to prepare myself physically with running and strength training.
Where did you mainly train to get yourself to such a high level in such a short time?
I mainly trained in Italy in the off-season and on Crete and Karpathos in the summer and late spring. In 2025, I spent most of my time in the Canary Islands, first in Tenerife and then for about six months in Risco del Paso on Fuerteventura.
What are your favourite conditions?
Before last summer I would have said if I took the 4.0, so normally around 22 knots, but since spending a lot of time in Risco del Paso I have absolutely fallen in love with my 3.6, so stronger winds, around 26 to 32 knots.
Would you like to become a professional?
It is my dream to become a professional windsurfer and I will do everything I can to achieve this goal. I am currently studying bioinformatics on the Slovenian coast and hope to work in this field later on. I am also a big fan of other outdoor sports and love adventure. My goal for next year is to build a van and use it to travel to windsurfing spots and competitions.
How do you finance your travels?
Everyone knows that windsurfing is not a cheap sport, as both the equipment and travelling are very expensive. Fortunately, my father has always supported me not only mentally but also financially. He made sure that I always had the opportunity to train and had the right equipment to make progress. It was quite difficult to find sponsors for a sport with so little audience and awareness, but after a while I met some great people who were keen to see how far I could go. I am supported by a friend with his own board brand, Peniboards from Slovenia, as well as the windsurf shop Recharge.si, which supplies me with all the equipment I need. They also put me in touch with Gunsails, which I have been using for four years. I also recently became part of the team of a gluten-free product manufacturer called Dr Schär, which is very important to me personally as I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2019. This support means a lot to me.
What are your plans for the coming season?
The plan is to take part in as many competitions as possible and travel from spot to spot, practising new moves and managing a complicated study programme at the same time. I'm most looking forward to the World Cup in Fuerteventura as I can see all my friends from the island and take part in a PWA event for women. I also want to learn some bigger power moves, as I've mainly been practising sliding moves so far.
Do you have idols?
I have many idols, mostly people who absolutely love this sport and practise it because it is part of their personality inspire me. I see a piece of myself in them and that really makes them role models. To name a few, there's Balz Müller, because of his incredible enthusiasm. I met him on Fuerte this year and he just brings so much positive energy to the sport that you can't help but have fun. Maaike Huvermann, because of her loving support, and Lisa Kloster, because she always motivates me. And of course George Grisley, because of his great help I almost see him as my coach.
And your dreams?
My biggest dream is to make this my life - that I can afford to experience the magic of great windsurfing spots while working in a field of science that I love, and combine this with travelling with friends and family.
Profile Ziva Batis
- Age: 20 years
- Place of residence: Sticna, Slovenia
- Profession: Student
- Size/weight: 173 cm/58 kilos
- Surfing since: the age of 10
- Regatta debut: FPT Naxos 2024
- Discipline: Freestyle
- Successes: 4th place PWA Freestyle Fuerteventura, 2nd place FPT Overall 2025
- Favourite spots: Grado Pineta, Italy
- Favourite moves: Skopu
- Hobbies: Sport, dog training, art
- Sponsors: Recharge.si, Peniboards, Dr Schär, GunSails
- Instagram: @zivafreestyle
Julian Wiemar
Editor surf
