SITTING OUT ON HER FIRST POZO CONTEST IN DECADES
With an outrageous number of 20 titles to her name, and dominating womens wave sailing the last two decades, this year Daida Moreno has decided to watch the Pozo World Cup from the sideline.
After winning last year’s event, the Queen of Pozo retired from her incredibly successful career.
Wanting to know how Daida feels about not filling in the registration sheet this year, we threw her a few questions.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE POZO WORLD CUP AFTER 24 YEARS AND 20 WINS?
“Feels actually really strange, but I don’t really miss all the stress that produces to compete. After I became mother I tried to stay on the top in few events I could compete, but It was hard to brest feed and train and work and ask my boyfriend to take holidays from work so I could compete, it didn’t make sense anymore… It was clear to me I wanted to finish my competition career in the top, so last year I had the chance to say good bye. What’s also hard at the moment is dealing with everyone asking me every day if its true that I am no competing anymore. I have dominate the event in Pozo for the last two decade and it’s time for me to move on.”
WHAT WAS YOUR HIGHLIGHT YEAR IN POZO?
“Hard to tell but If I had to pick up one year will be back in 2012, were I became second after my sister Iballa, but just after fighting with cancer few moths earlier. It was also the first time we took over the organization of the event in Pozo. If I look back I will definitely take this year as my highlight year.”
DO YOU STILL ENJOY SAILING POZO?
“I love Pozo, not only here in “El Arenal” were everyone sails, also all different spots around. I go sailing still a lot, I live thanks to windsurf and I don’t want to stop windsurfing as long as my body allowS me to. I could also say I am sailing my best nowadays.”
WHERE DO YOU PLACE THAT COMPETITIVE DRIVE NOW IN YOUR LIFE?
“I am a perfectionist girl, so in everything I do I try to do my best. Being a mother, windsurfing, as a physio… My competitive drive is present in my life on a daily basis.”
WHO’S SPENT THE MOST TIME IN YOUR PHYSIO CLINIC AND WHAT’S THE MOST COMMON INJURY YOU TREAT?
“Robby Swift has been struggling with some injuries for a while so he is definitely the rider who has visit me most last few days, also Justyna, Johannes, Marino, Liam, Tobias Bjornaa, Pauline, Victor, Takuma, Takara, Tati Frans, Tim Van Dam, Miguel Chapuis, Mike Fridl, Pons, Ricardo … everyone wants to be ready for Pozo. Obviously sailing few weeks here is not the same than other spots like Hawaii. Here is hard core for the body, it is a choppier and most jumping spot from the tour and the level is so high at the moment that any small pain can be a difference in a heat. Most common injuries are foot, shoulder and lower back.”
Daida remains an active sailor, and by all accounts still sails at the highest level, so we’re sure to see more of her this season and beyond. Thank you Daida for this insane contribution to the sport of windsurfing. Severne is stoked to have been a part of this journey so far. Watch this space.
IMAGES BY: JOSE PINA & JOHN CARTER
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