What gets the pros going? FPT riders on music, mindset and favourite stops
Julian Wiemar
· 11.09.2026
The result is a fairly candid glimpse behind the scenes: at rituals, favourite songs, legendary spots and memories that often have less to do with scores than with people, the wind, the atmosphere – and sometimes even a cut on the face.
Put your headphones on – or perhaps not?
Anyone who’d expect all freestylers to be striding across the beach to aggressive beats in their ears before their heat is only half right. Sure, they’re out there: the riders who get into competition mode with rock, rap or heavy guitar riffs. But a surprising number also say: ‘Music? I’d rather not before the heat.’
For Lennart Neubauer As it happens, P!NK is currently at the top of his playlist. “You might laugh, but I love P!NK,” he says – especially “U + Ur Hand”. His playlist also features 12os Pithikos, Of Monsters and Men, Green Day and Pink Floyd. It’s a wild mix that suits a rider who, on the water too, doesn’t exactly stick to the script.
At Newcomer Leander Halm Music is actually an integral part of his life alongside windsurfing. He sings in a rock band, listens to a lot of punk and rock, but also ballads by Elton John or Billy Joel. On constant rotation: Led Zeppelin, Maximo Park, The Killers and Zach Bryan. His all-time favourite? Either ‘Mr Brightside’ or ‘Pink Skies’. For him, having a good song in his head can also help out on the water: more flow, more stoke, more fun.
Linkin Park, Hendrix and Japanese rock
Manolis Chrysopoulos has a clear favourite: Linkin Park. Chester Bennington, in particular, has had a big influence on him. He listens to songs like “Points of Authority”, “With You” and “Figure.09” before sessions or competitions – because of the energy, the intros and the lyrics.
Also Adam Sims He likes to go for louder guitar music. Rise Against has been a go-to for him for years, as has Linkin Park. “It’s got to be at least 60 knots for me to put that on and head out,” he says with a laugh. More recently, he’s also taken to more atmospheric sounds, such as Aaron Hibell. After the session, he’s happy to switch to reggae – winding down, a cold beer, and calling it a day.
Pier Bongianni He cites rap and rock as the genres that help him relax and get pumped up before a competition. Lately, he’s been listening to a lot of ‘All Along the Watchtower’ by Jimi Hendrix, as well as Central Cee, 50 Cent and 2Pac. Yentel Caers He keeps it less specific, but just as energetic: hard, heavy, driving – the main thing is that it gets him going.
At Takumi Moriya Although music plays a big part in his everyday life, it’s less of a focus before the Heat. At that time, he prefers to hang out with friends and keep things relaxed. When he does listen to music, it’s mainly Japanese rock – most recently, for example, Back Number and Mrs. Green Apple.
The art of hearing nothing
Interesting: Many riders don’t use music to shut themselves off from their heat – they’re actually trying to avoid doing just that. Živa Batis She doesn’t listen to any music at all before windsurfing. Her ritual is something else: reminding herself why she’s going out in the first place. “For me, the most important thing is to tell myself: I’m doing this for fun.” When she heads out onto the water with that mindset, she performs at her best. In the car, she likes to listen to some old-school tunes – at the moment, it’s mostly Michael Jackson.
Also Maaike Huvermann She likes to listen to laid-back indie-folk tunes before sessions, but before a heat she prefers to stay on the beach, chat to people and soak up the atmosphere. She finds that getting too caught up in her own thoughts is rather counterproductive. Staying grounded and social – that works better than headphones and tunnel vision.
Steven van Broeckhoven He describes precisely this tunnel vision from his prime years: before heats, he used to be so focused that he wouldn’t have listened to music anyway. These days, it’s less about winning at any cost and more about enjoying the moment on the water. He tends to listen to music in the car – as long as it’s not too commercial.
Lisa Kloster She’s not your typical playlist fan either. Music? More for dancing at parties – she likes reggaeton. Otherwise, she only ever looks for songs for Instagram Reels. Her boyfriend, Konstantinos Nikoletos, remarks dryly: “If you want to talk about music, talk to me. Lisa knows nothing about music – just Reels!”
A soundtrack? There isn’t one
Ultimately, the answer to the headphone question is pretty clear: there is no right answer. Some people need Linkin Park, Rise Against or rap; others need P!NK, indie folk or Japanese rock. Still others just need the wind, friends and the feeling of letting their hair down.
Perhaps that is precisely the key insight: freestyle doesn’t start with the first move, but in the mind. And how you organise your thoughts is as individual as a good heat.
The FPT’s favourite stop: Why everyone’s talking about Naxos again
When riders talk about their favourite tour stops, the first things they mention are the wind, the water and their results. But you soon realise that the truly memorable moments come from a combination of factors: the conditions, the community, personal milestones, parties, post-contest sessions – and that feeling of being in the right place at the right time. One name comes up remarkably often: Naxos 2024.
Naxos 2024: The New Classic
For many in the current generation, Naxos 2024 has long been more than just an event. It was one of those stops where everything seemed to come together: the wind, the conditions, the organisation, the island vibe, packed beaches and a lagoon that, at times, looked like a freestyle camp featuring a world-class line-up.
Pier Bongianni He describes Naxos 2024 as unforgettable – because of the brutal conditions and the incredible standard of competition on the water. At the same time, he raves about the stories of EFPT Lanzarote 2017, an event he didn’t experience himself, but which has clearly long been part of the Tour’s folklore: strong winds, climbs, a packed peloton, a frenzied atmosphere.
For Živa Batis Naxos 2024 was the very first FPT event ever – and it was a particularly emotional occasion. Suddenly, Maaike Huvermann, Lennart Neubauer and Yentel Caers were no longer just names from videos, but were actually there on the beach. Their first heat was against Lisa Kloster; the atmosphere was electric, with children coming to watch and ask for autographs, whilst the Karpathos crew cheered them on. On top of that, there was exploring the island, cliff jumping and making new friends. For Živa, it marked her introduction to the tour community.
Leander Halm He feels the same way. His first FPT event was Bonaire 2023 – Caribbean Freestyle Vibes, where he saw the pros live for the first time; many of them are now friends. But his favourite remains Naxos 2024: top conditions, that island vibe, sessions with the whole crew, a packed lagoon and even his first ‘culo’ after the contest. Bonus: ice cream at Waffle House after every action-packed day.
A home match that gave me goosebumps
For Foivos Tsoupras Naxos held special personal significance for him in 2024. He’d first been there in 2009, which was the last time the tour had stopped off on the island. Fifteen years later, the tour returned – to the spot where he’d essentially learnt to freestyle. The boy who used to shy away from the choppy side with its waves had become a rider who delivered strong moves and heats in the contest there.
The home-ground atmosphere was even stronger at Lennart Neubauer. For him, the thought of special events immediately takes him back to Naxos. Friends, fellow riders and former teachers on the beach – they’re all cheering him on. Add to that perfect conditions and a stage where windsurfing could be showcased to great effect. The fact that other riders celebrated his home spot so enthusiastically and praised the organisation made it even more special for him – after all, his mother and his best friend, Manolis Orfanos, were involved in organising the event.
Also Lisa Kloster highlights Naxos 2024. Although she really enjoyed the On-Forecast event at Brouwersdam in 2023, with its flat pool spot, the wind died down during her heats of all times. In Naxos, on the other hand: endless wind, good food, great people, good vibes – everyone’s on fire.
Takumi Moriya Naxos links 2024 with his first trip to Europe, where he secured a strong fifth place in a field of 32. His heat against Jacopo Testa – whom he managed to beat for the first time there – was particularly memorable.
The Old Legends: Lanzarote, Tarifa, Sigri
It is not only Naxos that has left its mark. Yentel Caers He names Lanzarote without hesitation. Waves, ramps, freestyle, the perfect combination – organised by former European champion Antxón Otaegui. Yentel has won there twice and associates the spot with some of the most memorable moments of his career.
Adam Sims As a rider, he fondly looks back on EFPT Sigri 2012. Not because of the all-time conditions, but because of the community. Lots of laughter, basic accommodation, a great atmosphere – and Davy Scheffers, who was pulling off triple moves whilst others were still struggling with single moves. Tarifa 2017, on the other hand, Sims describes as the highest level of freestyle he’s ever seen on flat water in a contest: 40 knots, glass-smooth, Jacopo Testa with a Spock Air Kabi into Kono – gliding right through it. A move that Sims hasn’t seen repeated since.
From the perspective of the current Tour CEO, he also cites Cape Town as a highlight: a concept featuring a flatwater venue for the single elimination and a wave venue for the double elimination. He also praises Naxos, Vieste and Geneva for their organisation and variety of formats.
Career moments that last a lifetime
For Steven van Broeckhoven The EFPT Naxos 2009 remains a milestone: that’s where he became European champion for the first time. The final against Andre Paskowski took place in very light winds, whilst a helicopter carrying photographers and cameramen circled low over the riders. Some of the best aerial shots of his career were taken during that very heat.
Maaike Huvermann She cites Brouwersdam in 2018 as a defining memory. It was there that she beat Sarah-Quita Offringa for the first time – in light winds and at her own home spot, in front of friends and familiar faces. Naxos 2024 remains special to her too, however, particularly because of the group of women who pushed each other on and had fun together on the water.
Bijou Shahmirian I think back to Podersdorf. As a rider with an Austrian competition number, the home event was something special: my first podium finish, a strong performance on the board and a relaxed atmosphere with the whole freestyle fleet away from the competition.
Manolis Chrysopoulos He cites Cape Town 2025 as his most memorable event to date. It was there that he achieved his best international result and delivered some of his highest-scoring heats – finishing fourth behind Lennart Neubauer, Jacopo Testa and Jamie Howard. Paros 2025 also remains etched in his memory, albeit for a more painful reason: there, the clew of the boom split his lip. The conditions? “Insane”.
Conclusion: What really sticks in the mind
Whether it’s a playlist or a favourite spot – the riders’ answers show that freestyle windsurfing is about much more than just tricks, scores and podium places. Before a heat, some look for the perfect song, others for the perfect resting heart rate. And at the tour stops, it’s not just the best conditions that stick in the mind, but the moments surrounding them: the first heat, the first podium finish, a victory over an idol, a home spot full of friends, an evening with the crew. And that’s probably exactly why the FPT produces so many stories. The contest lasts a few days. The memories last a lifetime.
You might also find this interesting:
Julian Wiemar
Editor surf