English version follows
11 times world champion and 3 times world vice-champion, Daida Moreno (Severne Windsurfing, VW, Ayuntamiento de Santa Lucía, Flying Objects, Heliocare, Anfi Group, Maui Ultra Fin) back on the podium of his Pozo.
RIWmag interviewed her after her recent victory at the World Cup stage in Gran Canaria.
RIWmag: Hello Daida, welcome to RIWmag and congratulations for your result!
Daida Moreno: Thank you very much, in the end it was a long but grateful week.
RIW: For many years you and your sister were responsible for the local organization of the PWA stage in Gran Canaria. Then because of Covid there were two years without wave races. What factors led you to the decision not to deal with it anymore’ of the organization of this event?
D.M.: There were many factors, but to make a long story short mainly there were money problems with the government sponsor, who didn't pay on time for two years and we went bankrupt. Without money you can't start a big event. I personally asked Bjorn (Dunkerbeck) if he wanted to be in charge because we didn't want the event to fall. Luckily and with a lot of stress everything came, fortunately at least here in Gran Canaria.
RIW: What conditions did you have for this year's races? What are the characteristics you need to win the Pozo stage?
D.M.: Checking the forecast, the chief judge decided to force a result at least with female batteries. I pushed really hard for a result with marginal conditions. I sailed with the 4,5 and very small waves, which is not usual here in Pozo. We always trained with weather conditions for sails between 3.5 and 3.3 and we expected very good condition, but the forecasts started to be not optimal, so they had to move on. Obviously in the single elimination it was great to beat Sara-Quita in the semifinals with maneuvers that no other woman can do (Taka). Against Iballa in the final I was really unlucky and I played a bad battery, so Iballa deserved to win the single elimination. She is really composed and really trained in lighter wind conditions since she lives in Fuerteventura.
The days passed and the men made more and more heats to conclude even their single elimination, until the last day of Sunday, in which we managed to finish all the double eliminations with the excellent conditions of Pozo. Thank goodness there is’ it was a second chance especially with stronger winds. Once again I had to sail against Sara-Quita and once again I pulled out a 360 exaggerated. She kept saying she wanted to win the event., so this gave me even more motivation to beat her again, and in the end to defeat Iballa twice to reach the top step of the podium.
It's been a great week, I dreamed of going on stage with my son Axel so that he could live this experience and be proud of his mother.
RIW: After two years without competitions, this year we should have a PWA wave circuit with at least 2 women's stages: Gran Canaria and Sylt. You will go to compete in Sylt? If you, how you are competing in Sylt?
D.M.: I announced my retirement in the 2019. I have not completed the tour since 2017. With my son and my work I have already said that I would not do the Tour, it is practically impossible for me to travel with my son to Sylt and my boyfriend (who has to ask for long "holidays" to help me). Also winning the event in Sylt will not pay travel expenses, so no, I'm not going to Sylt. In addition to this, my goals are now different, I reach my main goal with this victory. I am happy and I enjoy this moment. Soon I have some training internships with girls and even children with cancer. Luckily windsurfing is not just competition and my windsurfing brands support me in my decision. I will continue to post my workouts and lifestyle on our social media as before.
RIW: The last few years have not been easy for you. Before you had to fight against cancer, then you had to face a difficult pregnancy. Fortunately and thanks to your willpower’ everything and’ went well. How do you feel today after winning this World Cup stage?
D.M.: It was a great feeling, after all I've been through I still feel rewarded trying to achieve my goals, goals that I have set for myself and that no one forces me to achieve. All I wanted to do was race in Pozo, push Takas and 360 in the waves and get on the podium with my son Axel. And’ it was a dream come true. Staying healthy and happy is my main goal now. I need to avoid stress, it's not good for my body and mind.
RIW: Maternity’ how it has changed your life and your windsurfing career?
D.M.: And’ was a change to 100%. Now my life and time are completely dedicated to my son. Can I work and train in Pozo when he goes to school. I fixed everything very easily, I live and work as a physiotherapist in my center near the windsurfing spot, so I can manage time more easily to do everything. At least I try 
RIW: The PWA stage 2022 of Tenerife and’ in the calendar but with a date to be confirmed. To your knowledge there are still good chances’ that can be carried out?
D.M.: I think they will organize the slalom instead., I'm not sure. We'll see soon, Guess, I didn't talk to the organizers, but I heard that this is the program. It's really risky to organize a wave event in winter.
RIW: Thank you for your availability’ Daida e complimenti ancora per questa vittoria!
D.M.: Thank you very much for the interview, cosi’ le persone sanno qualcosa in più su di me e sui miei sentimenti.
English version
11 times world champion and 3 times vice world champion, Daida Moreno (Severne Windsurfing, VW, Ayuntamiento de Santa Lucía, Flying Objects, Heliocare, Anfi Group, Maui Ultra Fin) returns to the podium of “her” Pozo.
RIWmag interviewed her after her recent victory at the World Cup event in Gran Canaria.
RIWmag: Hello Daida, welcome to RIWmag and congratulations on your result!
Daida Moreno: Thank you very much, it was a long but grateful week at the end.
RIW: For many years you and your sister have been responsible for the local organization of the PWA event of Gran Canaria. Then due to Covid there have been two years without wave competitions. What factors led you to the decision not to take care of the organization of this event anymore?
D.M.: There were many factors, but to make a long story short the main one was money issues with government sponsor, who didn’t pay on time for two years and we went bankrupt. Without money you cannot start a big event. I personally asked Bjorn (Dunkerbeck) if he wanted to be in charge because we didn’t want the event to fall. Luckily and with lots of stress everything came along, luckily here in Gran Canaria at least.
RIW: What conditions did you have for this year’s competition? What are the characteristics needed to win the Pozo event?
D.M.: Checking the forecast, head judge decided to force a result with woman at least. Pushed really hard for a result with marginal conditions. I was sailing with 4.5 and really small waves, which is not usual here in Pozo. We were training with 3.5 and 3,3 weather all the time, and we were expecting great conditions, but forecast started to be wired so they had to go ahead. Obviously in the single elimination was great to beat Sara-Quita in semifinals with moves that no other woman can do (Taka). Against Iballa in the final I was really unlucky and sail a bad heat, so Iballa deserved to win the single. She is really consisted and really trained in lighter conditions as she lives in Fuerteventura.
Days were passing by and men were running more and more heats to finish up also their single elimination, until the last day Sunday, which we manage to finish all the double eliminations with great Pozo conditions. It was pretty fare to have a second chance specially with stronger wind. Again I had to sail against Sara-Quita and again pulled off a sick 360. She kept saying she wanted to win the event so this gave me even more motivation to beat her again, and finally defeat Iballa twice to reach the top podium.
It was a great week, I was just dreaming about coming up on stage with my son Axel so he could live the experience and be proud of mummy.
RIW: After two years without competitions, this year we should have a PWA wave circuit with at least 2 events for women: Gran Canaria and Sylt. Will you go competing on Sylt? If so, how do you feel about competing on Sylt?
D.M.: I announced my retirement back in 2019. I haven’t complete the tour since 2017. With my son and my work I already said I was not going to do the Tour, it’s basically impossible for me to travel with my son to Sylt and my boyfriend (who has to ask for long “holidays” to help me out). Even winning the event in Sylt won’t pay the costs of the traveling, so no. I am not going to Sylt. Besides this, my goals are different now, I accomplish the main goal with it was winning here. Happy about it and enjoying it. I have some training camps with girls and also kids with cancer coming along. Luckily windsurfing is not all about competition, and my windsurfing brands support me in my decision. I will continue posting my training and out live style in our social media as before.
RIW: The last few years have not been easy for you. First you had to fight cancer, then you had to go through a difficult pregnancy. Fortunately and thanks to your willpower, everything went well. How do you feel today after winning this event of the World Cup?
D.M.: It has been an amazing feeling, all I had been thru and I am still rewarded trying to reach my goals, goals that I set myself and nobody forces me to reach them. All I wanted to do was to compete in Pozo, pull Takas and 360 in the waves and step on the podium with my son Axel. It was a dream come thru. To stay healthy and happy is my main goal now. Need to avoid the stress, not good for my body and mind.
RIW: How has motherhood changed your life and your windsurfing career?
D.M.: 100% change. Now my life and my time is fully dedicated for him. I could work and train in Pozo when he goes to school. I have it all settle really easy, live and work as a physiotherapist in my own center near the windsurfing spot, so I can manage the time easier to do everything. At least I try
RIW: The PWA 2022 event of Tenerife is on the calendar but with a date to be confirmed. To your knowledge, is there still a good chance it could happen?
D.M.: I think they will organize slalom instead, not sure. We will see soon I guess, I haven’t spoken with the organizers, but I hear that’s the plan. It’s really risky to run a wave event in winter.
RIW: Thanks for your availability Daida and congratulations again for this victory!
D.M.: Many thanks for the interview, so people know a bit more about me and my feelings.
interview: www.RIWmag.com
photo: JC (c) PWA
