The name Schleicher has had a good reputation among regatta insiders for three years now. Moritz, Emma's younger brother, attracted attention before switching to iQFOiL Youth in the Techno 293 class by winning the U13 title at the European and World Championships. Now Emma is also getting off to a flying start, and at the World Championships in the pre-Olympic iQFOiL Youth class. In Mallorca, she was in seventh place for a long time, but was then knocked down by a Dutch competitor and had to retire injured. But it was still enough for eighth place.
Emma, are you all right again? Or is it still hurting after the huge crash at the World Cup?
Yes, fortunately my shoulder is much better again.
What exactly had happened?
We were on the cross in the first race of the fourth day. I was on starboard and a competitor coming into port overlooked me. I tried to turn to avoid the collision, but unfortunately it was too late and the crash happened.
In addition to the physical damage, the expensive equipment was also battered. Was a lot broken?
Unfortunately, my board and the foil mast broke in the crash and were no longer suitable for racing.
If the crash had happened on the fast space sheet course instead of upwind, the consequences would have been unthinkable. How did you deal with it mentally?
Admittedly, it was a big shock at the beginning and of course also very annoying in terms of the rest of the regatta. But looking back, I'm glad that nothing more serious happened, as we could have been seriously injured at these speeds.
Was there any support from coaches, parents, friends or fellow competitors afterwards?
My team mates and my coach were super helpful and immediately took my equipment from me on land and tried to organise replacement equipment for the other races. My parents even bought new equipment, as it wasn't clear at first whether I would be able to take part in any more races. Especially after the decision the next day that I wouldn't be allowed to continue, everyone tried to cheer me up again. Lots of nice messages and phone calls from friends and acquaintances also helped.
You received compensation for the next three races where you were unable to compete. What does that look like?
First of all, there was a normal protest hearing about the incident. After that was concluded and I was found in the right, I applied for compensation. As we were only able to sail a few races in the regatta overall, I only received the average of the previous day and two DNCs (DNC = did not compete) for three of the five missed races.
That would have secured you a place in the Medal Race Series. But that didn't happen. Why was that?
The wind conditions were not particularly good throughout the week and as there was no wind on the last day either, the Medal Race Series could not be organised for any of the age groups. So I kept my eighth place.
After the World Sailing Youth World Championship on Lake Garda in summer 2024, where you were nominated by the German Sailing Association, the World Championship on Mallorca was the next major international regatta. How did you prepare?
Over the summer we had a training camp organised by the BSV (Bavarian Sailing Association) with our coach Diederik Bakker in Athens. Apart from that, I train at my club in Greece, the Athens Nautical Club, together with my brother.
You live with your family in Athens, where your father works at the German embassy. You train there in ideal conditions together with your brother Moritz and other club members at the Athens Nautical Club. How often do you get out on the water?
We are normally on the water three to four times a week. A little less in winter, but more in summer.
The iQFOiL board not only requires strength, but also weight. What do you have to weigh to be competitive?
So in the Youth class, I would say the ideal weight is around 67 kilograms, depending on the sailing area. From 2025, however, the sail size will change, so this will probably shift downwards a little.
What does your strength training look like?
We have an extra performance coach here at our club, Elias Rokkas. He does strength and endurance training with us several times a week. There are different routines depending on which phase of the season we are in.
For some time now, it's been noticeable that the results lists for some youngsters, including you, include SV Wacker Burghausen. Is there a new talent factory there?
This sports club is very broadly based and also has a windsurfing department, among other things. The people in charge there support us - me and my brother Moritz, Lenny Friemel and Eddie Burger - together with the Bavarian Sailing Association (BSV) to help us progress internationally.
Competing in the World Cup one day would certainly be exciting - but it's not my focus at the moment."
What other support is available? The iQFOiL material is very cost-intensive, there is talk of up to 8,000 euros for a complete set of equipment.
My parents have actually covered almost all the costs so far. That is why we are also looking for sponsors, as this is not feasible in the long term.
The iQFOiL class has now decided to reduce the size of the sails from 2025. From 9 to 8 m2 for men and from 8 to 7.3 m2 for women and young people. What do you think of this decision?
I take a relatively neutral view of this, as I had no problems with the sail in either high or low winds. But I'm looking forward to the challenge with the new sail, as it's much more technologically advanced and faster than the old one.
Over Christmas, BSV coach Diederik Bakker organised a camp with you in Athens. Why don't you tell us what happens at a training camp like this? You've been there before.
We normally do two training sessions a day at the training camps. We work on various things such as manoeuvres, starts and speed. If the weather doesn't play ball, there are theory lessons and we work on our equipment and settings.
After former sailor Resi Steinlein's sixth place at the 2024 Olympic Games, the DSV realised that iQFOiL has a lot of potential. More female sailors should switch in the future. New competition?
Hopefully! Unfortunately, Germany is still very thin on the ground when it comes to girls, especially at junior level. I think it would be great if more young people were interested in our sport and we could form national training groups at a good level.
From time to time, iQFOiL surfers also compete in the PWA Slalom World Cup, sometimes with impressive results. Could that also be an issue for you?
At the moment, I'm only focussing on iQ foiling and my A-levels in spring 2025, but who knows, maybe I'll get the chance to compete in the World Cup in the future. That would certainly be an exciting experience, but it's not my focus at the moment.
What are your academic and sporting goals for the next few years?
First of all, I'm now preparing for my A-level exams and then I'll probably go to university. My goal for surfing is to continue to learn a lot, have fun and achieve good international results in my last U19 year. I will also be competing in senior regattas for the first time in 2025.
Within the family, your brother Moritz has a few titles ahead of you. When will you catch him?
Moritz has already won world and European championship titles in the Techno 293 class and on the iQFOiL, as he did last year. I'm obviously very happy for him, but we don't see this as a battle. That's why my goal is not to catch him, but to continue training with him and get better.
Thank you and good luck for the future!
Facts Emma Schleicher
- Born: 16.10.2007
- Place of residence: Athens and Erding
- Profession: Student (12th grade German school in Athens)
- Size/weight: 172 cm/67 kg
- Sail number: GER-1610
- Surfing since: 2018
- Regatta debut: 2018 at the Techno 293
- Successes Techno 293: 33rd place U17 Techno 293 World Championships Torbole/Lake Garda 2021, 21st place U17 Techno 293 World Championships Limassol/Cyprus 2022, 13th place U17 Techno 293 European Championships Cagliari/Sardinia 2022
- Successes in windsurfing iQFOiL Youth: 2nd place iQFOiL U19 Intern. Deutsche Bestenermittlung Wittensee 2023, 19th place iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships, Cadiz/Spain 2023, 8th place Youth Sailing World Sailing Championships, Torbole/Lake Garda 2024, 3rd place (1st lady) iQFOiL German Youth Championship Überlingen/Lake Constance 2024, 8th place iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships, Sa Rapita/Mallorca 2024
- Favourite spots: Athens/Loutsa
- Favourite discipline: iQFOiL Racing, Wing Foiling
- Associations: SV Wacker Burghausen, Athens Nautical Club
- Hobbies: Playing guitar, singing
- Supporter: My father, SV Wacker Burghausen, Bavarian Sailing Association
- Instagram: _emma.schl
