Wave newcomer from Lübeck: Maria Behrens on the Sylt fairytale, goals for 2024 and front loops with mum

On your big day on Sylt, you sat with us in the surf tent during the long wait before the final and didn't want to be spoken to again.

(Laughs) Yes, exactly, interview requests suddenly came in and I hid, I just didn't want to get too excited at that moment. I've made that mistake before and it ended up going wrong. That's why I wanted to take a step back on Sylt at that moment. I'm a very emotional person and I know that I can quickly get carried away. But I wanted to remain professional and concentrate on the competition.

• World Cup Sylt: Maria Behrens surfs sensationally into the wave final

What was it like for you during the course of the day, as you got further and further ahead, did you realise at some point that "I'm up for it, the conditions suit me here"? What happened to you then?

I got very emotional, partly because my parents couldn't be there. When I saw in the seeding that I had to race against Lina in the first round, I thought it was going to be really difficult. When you manage to do that, it's a total adrenaline rush. All the people on the beach, Ingo on the microphone. I was over the moon, I couldn't stop smiling. And then I kept making progress, got good waves and was able to read them well. That was really awesome. After the semi-final, we were on standby for a long time for the next heats, which was really gruelling. Unfortunately, we didn't have such good conditions in the final, it was more typical Sylt.

I was over the moon, I couldn't stop smiling."

Before that, it was rather unusual with clean waves and a light sideshore wind. These are the conditions that suit you, right?

That's right, I really enjoy surfing, also because I love doing it in Tenerife. The waves were similar, there was a light wind, which was good for me. I rode the biggest equipment I had, which worked really well.

And at the Aloha Classic it went on like this ...

Yes exactly (laughs). I travelled here two weeks beforehand and practised Starboard Tack. I'd only ridden it occasionally in Denmark before. In Hookipa, I then trained intensively in the big waves. And, yes, I was really surprised at how well I did. I had good waves again and the wave reading worked well again.

Seventh place in Chile was another top ten result this year.

Chile was great! It was a five-star event, so almost everyone was there and I'm very happy with my seventh place. The conditions were a big challenge because we had very big waves, especially in the semi-final. That was the biggest I've ever raced in wind from the left, it was pure adrenalin! Unfortunately, the wave reading didn't go so well there. I should have travelled to Chile a bit earlier to train there even more. But sometimes it's difficult to get everything under one roof.

• World Cup Chile: Köster with top score, Behrens in the quarter-finals

Has support from sponsors also improved as a result of the good placings?

Well, in any case, the contracts have of course changed and I have received more attention. For example, I was voted Sportswoman of the Year in my home town of Lübeck, and the Lübecker Nachrichten often reported on me. That's always helpful, of course. I'm still in the process of writing to potential sponsors, but out of five enquiries, maybe one company will respond.

Are you doing an apprenticeship or studying on the side?

Exactly, I'm studying online at a distance learning university and it's going really well. I'm a bit behind at the moment, but that's okay with the lifestyle I'm living (laughs). I really enjoy it. I'm happy that I don't have to do without anything, that I can take as much with me as I want and that I can be spontaneous. For example, I was on the Maui shoot for Wingfoiling by Duotone. That was really cool, of course I couldn't do something like that if I was tied to a university location. I'm studying online marketing, which is the direction I want to go in. It's great fun and I'm learning a lot!

I'm glad that I don't have to do without anything!"

You just said you were wingfoil shooting. You do that at a relatively high level.

Last year I became German Race Champion. And I also take part in a few World Cups. Last year there were two events and I ended up in the top ten, but so far this season I haven't competed. You have to prioritise, so wingfoiling naturally takes a bit of a back seat to windsurfing. It's difficult when you want to juggle university and everything. This year, however, I've planned to take part in the Big Air event in Gran Canaria and the World Cup in Fuerteventura. As windsurfing freestyle is also taking place there, it's a huge event and I can combine the two. Many of the wing events are also in Brazil, Morocco or similar, so that's also a question of cost and time.

Do you often train specifically in certain conditions or do you rely more on your ability?

Most of the time I rely on my skills. I've never really skied down the line before, that was the first time in Chile. The only time I came close to something like that was in Hanstholm in Denmark. But in Pozo, for example, I'm focussing on training jumps, which are a bit of a weakness for me. That's why I flew there in mid-June so that I could train for a fortnight before the competition. I went to Tenerife with my mum in May, where I also practised jumps. I also went there spontaneously for a week in February because the forecast looked good.

Tenerife is the second home base for you, isn't it?

Yes, exactly! My mum's from Seville, so she's from the mainland, but we've been going to Tenerife for years, so we take windsurfing equipment and windsurfing gear with us and have fun! And now my mum and I are going on a girls' holiday, she wants to learn the frontloop, which is really cool. She started with wave riding, so I can coach her a bit.

And are you looking forward to Pozo as much as Chile? Or is it more of an important compulsory event, with different conditions than you would choose for yourself?

I'm really looking forward to Gran Canaria, also because a lot of people will be there. I know that the conditions are my weakness and that's exactly what I want and need to train for. I'm not putting any pressure on myself, it's more of a challenge for me because I see a lot of potential for improvement in myself. I want to get better at the jumps, I'm currently practising my pushloop. Backloops are also an issue, sometimes I land some, but I still don't land many. It's a super difficult move and I definitely want to improve it.

I'm really looking forward to Gran Canaria. I know that the conditions are my weakness and that's exactly what I need to train for."

Have you set yourself goals in terms of positions?

Last year I wasn't so good in Pozo, I could have given a lot more. I wasn't quite mentally up to it then, this year I definitely want to achieve a better result. So a top seven would be good. But I also know that I have tough competition, with Sarah-Quita, Lina, but also from many locals.

The women's field seems like a pretty tight community, no matter how big the competition is on the water...

Yes, that's the case, and it doesn't matter what age group you are. People get on really well with each other - even with the men. It's a really good vibe!

Do you train for yourself or do you also have a coach who gives you input?

I do a lot through video analysis, for example from friends like Henri (Kolberg) and Laurin (Schmuth), they gave me lots of tips. Sometimes I just ask other pros at competitions. I also often take part in clinics, for example in Tenerife with Dieter van der Eyken, and I've also worked with Dr Windsurf (Professional coach and caddy of Philip Köster, editor's note.) did a few lessons in Pozo for the backloop. That's where you pick your people.

And what are your favourite spots from home?

I have a VW bus and can easily get to Denmark for a few days or a weekend. And otherwise I spend a lot of time travelling around the Bay of Lübeck, Rettin, Kellenhusen, Weißenhaus, around Fehmarn. Of course, that's not comparable to Chile or something like that, that was a real challenge, but you learn a lot (laughs)