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It seems like only yesterday that two young Spanish twins took the PWA Tour by storm but Daida & Iballa Moreno have been competing on the World Tour for nearly 10 years. They became the poster girls for the PWA and took Ladies sailing to another level. Other than Karin Jaggi, no one got a look in on the numerous titles up for grabs. However, this season things changed as finally some of the other lady sailors began to challenge the dominance of the Morenos.

We talked to the girls individually about life on the Tour now, how they deal with competing against each other and just what happened at the PWA Fuerte event this summer.

Footnote: This interview was done at the PWA event in Sylt. We asked Daida what it felt like to always be ahead of her sister and Iballa what it felt like to always lose. Well, we jinxed Daida & helped Iballa as she turned the tables around and went on to win the Aloha Classic and with it the overall 2006 PWA Wave Title. Spooky!

Iballa in Sept 2006:

I know if Daida can do it, I can do it too. I just need more time and to keep the motivation up.

(Iballa went on to win the Aloha Classic and with it the PWA Wave Title!)

What changes have you seen in the Ladies fleet from when you started competing nearly 10 years ago?

In the last few seasons the level has increased and that has been really good for the sport.

In the beginning you were miles better than most of the Ladies fleet but now in freestyle competition, the other girls are catching you up and you are not automatically going to win every time – how does that feel?

Firstly, from the beginning it has always been a challenge for Daida & me to increase our own personal level. It’s good that the other girls are doing well, particularly in freestyle. But then these girls only do freestyle, they don’t do the wave sailing we do. It’s hard to keep up the level across all the disciplines all of the time. You either go to a wave break to sail or you go to a flat water spot like Margarita or Egypt to train freestyle. We will keep on doing our stuff and try and do the best we can. But it is a good thing that other girls come on the Tour and do well – this is a challenge for us.

You’ve been unlucky with injuries in recent years. Consequently, your sister consistently beats you at the moment– does that not wind you up?

Yeah, for sure! I’m always trying to catch up and do my best in competitions but it works better when I am free sailing. During competitions, because I want to do so well, I always f*** up! However, it’s good for my sister and I know if she can do it, I can do it too, I just need more time and to keep the motivation up and keep on practising.

Is it true you have also been competing in surfing recently?

Yes, the last event I did was a national Spanish Surfing competition and I did it just for fun because I really enjoy surfing and it is really good for my wave riding. So when I have some free time and there is a contest close to home, I try to do it.

Thinking long term – would you like to be a Pro surfer?

No, it’s just to complement my windsurfing. Also the level of girls surfing is really high and I would need to spend a lot more time in the water to improve my level. I just do it for fun and to spend more time in the water.

Mistral – how much input do you have in the R&D?

We help a bit but it is mainly Mark Nelson & Nik Baker working together. However, we do try the small size boards for them.

We had the Mistral Moreno board a few years back. Is there any other ‘ Moreno ’ kit coming out soon?

That’s down to marketing and we don’t really get involved in that. It’s good that other brands do women only products but with North & Mistral all the kit works for either sex!

What about North?

Daida is more involved in the testing with Jimmy Diaz, Nik Baker & Kai Hopf. I do try the kit but those guys are more involved.

What’s the most scared you’ve been windsurfing?

If think if I see a shark in the water, that will be terrifying for me. But other than that, I know when NOT to go in the water and respect the weather. I just don’t go out if it’s too sketchy or too much current or light winds when it could be dangerous for me. I won’t go out or I try to be really careful.

What are your sailing goals this winter?

I realised after the Fuerte event that I need to put more time into my freestyle so I am going to work on that. Last year was a comeback for me from my last injury so I hadn’t practised all the switch stance moves. Of course, I will practise my wave riding but I have more of a freestyle mind now and I want to do better in that discipline.

And where are you going to go?

After here (Sylt) we plan to go to Maui and practice freestyle there, then it’s Christmas and then in January I go somewhere to practice my freestyle…for a couple of weeks…no more!!

So you’re 29 in December – what about babies & marriage?!

My goal for now is to do my best in windsurfing. I’m still pretty young for all that – I like to think so!!!

If you were only able to sail at one beach for the rest of your life – which would it be?

Pozo! I have lived there since very young and I only started sailing when I was seventeen. It’s my favourite place and I really enjoy being at home with all my friends. There may not be the best conditions in the world but on average, throughout a year, it’s a very good place to sail.

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Daida:

For those people who were jeering at me – I didn’t pay much attention but it still hurt.

How has being on the Tour changed for you since 1997?

For me, there is a big difference from when I first started. Yes, I still have a lot of fun but I feel like I have more responsibilty towards my sponsors and it has become a bit more serious. This is now my life and my work.

You have won everything hands down for the last few seasons but this year in Fuerte you didn’t and it felt like people wanted you to lose (jeering when you crashed etc). How did this feel?

You know, I have been training freestyle a lot last winter and I am definitely behind on the switch stance moves and this was Sarah’s strength as she trains a lot in flat water. (Sarah Quita Offringa won the Fuerte event) But there is a huge difference between wave sailing & freestyling. I apply my time to both but I enjoy waves more even though freestyle has helped me in my wave moves.
For those people who are jeering at me – I didn’t pay much attention but it still hurt. I have been trying to get the other girls to move forward and get better and I knew the day would come when the young girls like Sarah & Laure Treboux would kick in really strong and I was begging for that day when it would happen. I will always try my best but Sarah was obviously better. Overall, this is all a good thing for the sport and I will still be there, trying to win, doing my best and getting more girls onto the Tour.

Freestyle is one thing but in the waves, particularly jumping, you are much better than all the other girls – why?

I think it is a bit of everything; a lot of training, obviously, and a lot of strength. I think I just passed the bar where I wasn’t afraid of trying something new. I am obviously scared but I just go for it and I have had the conditions to go for it in Pozo. This is the way I am – I express myself better in the waves, than in freestyle.

Why can’t a woman be the best wave sailor in the world?

It’s a hard question. I am always telling the girls that they can do much better. I think within the girls we have one level, and with the boys there is another level and I have always wanted to aim for that level. It’s not like I’m obsessed by it, it’s just I have fun doing it. It’s just a matter of training – you don’t have to be a Robocop to sail like Victor Fernandez or Jonas Ceballos but you have to be inspired by them, watch them and use your time wisely on the water to get better.

Do you ever feel sorry for beating your sister all the time?

When we meet each other in quarters & semi finals, it’s really hard but the thing is, it is competition. You have to go for it, you can’t say sorry. This is what I have been trying to tell the girls, you just have to go for it no matter who you are against. Respect each other, shake hands after the heat, congratulate, be cool about it but still go for it on the water. But obviously for me it is much harder than beating someone else.

How involved are you in the R&D of North Sails?

They use me more now the Test Centre has been opened in Pozo. Obviously Bjorn does the racing and freeride sails but I do get used a lot which is cool as not many other brands use girls to test kit and North do have confidence in my opinions.

What are the next windsurfing moves for you?

I’ve just started doing the push loop table tops. We always have wind from the left in Pozo and it’s hard to learn all the moves in freestyle and waves on both tacks. Sometimes I have to write a list with all the things I can do and all the things I want to do! This winter I go to Maui for the last PWA event and the photo shoots but I also want to learn to do all my port tack jumps on starboard and get better timing in wave riding. Sailing well at Hookipa is one of my main goals this winter.

Do you ever want to sail Jaws?

Yes! I do have several invitations already. You need proper people to take you there and I have considered it; it could be an option this winter.

You’re 29 this Christmas. What about marriage and babies? Have you talked to Jimmy about this?!

We did talk about it, actually. But we do so much travelling and we do really enjoy our lives. Right now, it’s not on the agenda but I’ll let you know!

Finally, have you & Iballa ever played a trick on Jimmy and tried to be each other?

He really knew us from the very beginning – he knew what he wanted! We did try and play games with him but it’s hard to trick him!

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