Eva Oude Ophuis (Fanatic / North) made her debut on the PWA in 2011, and she stormed through the competitions in Pozo and Tenerife securing her position firmly in the limelight. Alongside studying to be a doctor she has been traveling around the world perfecting her skills in the air and on the water. We catch up with Oude Ophuis to find out a little more.
PWA: Firstly, what are your thoughts on the 2011 season and how would you rate your result?
Oude Ophuis: "In Pozo I was ninth and in Tenerife too. For my first contest, I guess that's not to bad. The most important thing, it was fun! For sure I'm going to try to finish higher this year ;)"
PWA: How long have you been windsurfing?
Oude Ophuis: "I started when I was eleven years old on a lake in Polen. Every summer holiday I went with my parents and brothers with the boat and windsurf equipment on the roof on trips to lakes somewhere in Europe. I almost never sailed in Holland, because the lakes where not close by. But when I went studying in Amsterdam I really started windsurfing. After my first trip to Maui in 2009, I was addicted."
PWA: Who has been you biggest influence on your sailing?
Oude Ophuis: "My dad, because he taught me how to windsurf in the beginning."
PWA: What would you be doing if you weren't windsurfing?
Oude Ophuis: "I would probably be a doctor by now."
PWA: Where is your favorite place to windsurf and why?
Oude Ophuis: "Gnaraloo (Australia), endless beautiful waves like in my dreams! Surfing in the morning and windsurfing later in the day! Just perfect."
PWA: What is your favorite move and why?
Oude Ophuis: "Pushloop so far."
PWA: What move did you find the hardest to learn and why?
Oude Ophuis: "Backloop, I am still learning to land it consistently. It's such a technical move! But the best soft feeling when you do land it and the nicest airtime to enjoy the surroundings from up in the sky."
PWA: What new moves are you currently learning?
Oude Ophuis: 'I am still learning to land my backloops more consistently, bigger pushloops and stalled forward... there are so many more moves I want to learn. I remember myself thinking three years ago: if I ever land a forward, I will be so happy.. See what I'm thinking now. Never give up, you can learn more than you can ever imagine!"
PWA: How do you learn your moves? Videos? Watching others?
Oude Ophuis: "I watch a lot of surf movies and imagine how to do the moves. On tour I see the best sailors right next to me on the water landing moves perfectly. Can't see it closer I guess. And at the beach most surfers are always willing to help and give advise."
