"Role models of yesterday" - Interview with wingsurfing world champion Olivia Piana

She has won three world championship titles on the SUP, was youth vice world champion on the windsurfing board and became the first wingfoil world champion in the discipline in 2021"Surf Race". In this interview, Olivia Piana reveals why new sports always appeal to her and how she manages to do almost everything at the highest level.

Olivia, you became the first female world champion in the wingfoil race in 2021. Before that, you won titles in other water sports. What drives you to keep trying new things?

I've always been a competitor, I think I inherited that from my mum. She regularly took part in regattas in the early days of windsurfing and of course I wanted to do the same. I started windsurfing at the age of twelve and became junior vice world champion in slalom in 2011. I then took part in a few World Cups but couldn't get the support I needed at the time. And then suddenly stand-up paddling came along.

What fascinated you so much about SUPing?

It was a new community, people came from different water sports, but also from running and triathlon. The vibes at the events were very relaxed at the beginning - without pressure and characterised solely by the desire to build something new. It was also a good feeling that women were treated as equals in SUP right from the start. We were always told: "There's equal prize money for men and women. If you don't like that, pull the cord.

In your opinion, is wingsurfing an attractive sport for women?

Absolutely! Because wingfoiling is less physical and generally very attractive for young people. Ultimately, however, it's always about having role models for the next generation who do it at a professional level. And unfortunately, I can already see that many old mistakes and ways of thinking are still alive.

There is equal prize money for men and women. If that doesn't suit you, pull the cord.

What do you mean? What do you think is going wrong?

On the GWA tour(Global Wingsports Association, the ed.)they are happy to have women on board. But they shy away from creating equal conditions and incentives. How often have I been told by male participants - whose names I better not mention now - that women are worse than men. That the level at the women's events is not good enough and it should therefore be okay for us to get less prize money. The sport is only a year old! The only thing that's bad is the mindset of these people. Unfortunately, it was similar on the PWA Windsurf Tour back then - nobody believed in women's power. You have to incentivise equal treatment, then more women will automatically join - and the level will rise. It's about having respect for those who dedicate their entire lives to a sport or lifestyle. Ultimately, the unequal treatment at events only highlights a problem for society as a whole.

Is the supposedly cosmopolitan surfing community ultimately quite intolerant?

In parts, yes. But let them do their thing. I hope that organisers will come from other areas and hold events where more emphasis is placed on equality. That could set a new direction if enough women take part.

What do you think is the reason for your failure to finish last year in the"Foil Race" win the title?

I think I have benefited a lot from my previous experience. I've been windsurfing for a long time and I was on the national IQFOiL team for a year in 2020(IQFOiL is the new Olympic windsurfing discipline for the 2024 Games, the ed.). You learn a lot of things like the flying start - and generally also about the feel and tuning of the foil. SUP foiling is my absolute favourite activity anyway: getting on the SUP at 40 knots and then surfing the endless swell waves 20 kilometres downwind is so great! So of course the path to wingfoiling wasn't far away. What's more, I don't usually worry about events. I took part in my first Wingfoil World Cup even though I could barely jump. A week later I did my first 360, it was so cool to just be there with like-minded people. For me, sport is always more than the activity and the result, it's the community that makes it special.

At the moment, people on the Wingfoil World Tour are riding the same wings in freestyle as in racing, everything is still pretty basic. How long will it take for everything to become specialised?

Sure, there will be specialisation, but that's normal. Wingsurfing will become a very diverse sport, that can't be avoided.

You've already cancelled your Olympic plans on the windsurfer. Where will you be focussing in the future?

The level in the field at the IQFOiL was simply blatant - and the investment was also very high. If you want to make it to the Olympic Games, you have to subordinate everything to that. That's not my thing. I have too many other plans: long-distance races on the SUP foil - I'm training for the "Molokai to Oahu" next year, which is almost 35 kilometres across the ocean with the wind. In 2022, I'll also be doing an 80-kilometre SUP race here in France. And then I still dream of gradually getting to grips with the big wave scene. I would love to surf the giant wave of Nazaré on a foil.

How do you train for this?

I run a lot, but I have to do a lot of breathing and swimming training for Nazaré and learn to ride on smaller and smaller foils, on which the high speeds in big waves are possible. The good thing is that as a triathlete I've learnt to torture myself for years. I have a training plan that a coach works out for me and I stick to it. I enjoy the vibes when I'm waving and want to be at theShe Wings events to get more women interested in wrestling.

What are your plans on the Wing Tour? Mission title defence?

As I said, I'm not so happy with some things on the tour and I don't see the point in investing all my heart and soul here. We'll see...

Want to know what Olivia Piana is up to right now? Then you will find HERE their website with all the information.