Paula Novotna has achieved a dream of hers, to be a world champion! We find out all about her recent win at GWA Tarifa.

Introducing our new World Champion, Paula Novotna! On 14th October, competing in the 2022 GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle event, Paula secured her victory at the Tarifa Wing Pro. Even with one more event to go in Brazil, Paula had enough points to take the overall win for the year. We just had to catch up with Paula to find out about her year in competition.

Hey Paula! Firstly, massive congratulations! What made you move from kiting competitions to winging competitions?

Thanks! I started wingfoiling 2 years ago. I learned in Union Island during quarantine with Jeremie Tronet. I really got into it in Brazil in autumn 2020. I got my own equipment from Duotone and Fanatic during my time in Brazil and I instantly fell in love with the sport. I have always been competing in freestyle kiteboarding, but over those two years, I started to wing more and more. I always like to challenge myself. My dream was to be number 1. My first competitions didn’t go so well, as there were girls that were in the sport already for longer than me. But when I want to achieve something, I work hard for it until it happens. And my dream came true a few weeks ago when they crowded me a Wing Foil World Champion in freestyle in Tarifa, Spain. I still kite a lot, but I don’t want to compete anymore as I did it for the past 10 years. I have built a passion for wingfoiling and I am always motivated to learn new moves. That is the beauty of a new sport. What I enjoy the most is riding the waves with my wing. It is a new challenge and completely different than kiteboarding. I love it. 

That's awesome. How did each event go?

I started competing right at the start of GWA. I didn’t know how to properly wing yet, but they were missing girls and I thought I could learn from the other competitors and understand the sport more. In 2021 there were not so many competitions due to Covid but I did few. I ended up 3rd overall in 2021. This year I already had in my head that I wanted to win. So far we had 4 events and there is one more to go in Brazil. The first event in Leucate I ended up 2nd and I was not happy. I knew I can be first. I never really trained in really windy spots and I didn’t know how to use my small wings. I was missing training in strong wind. That motivated me to really step it up, learn new tricks, and be more consistent to be able to win the next competitions. I won 3 other events that made me a World Champion. Now I have a feeling it's gonna be hard to keep 1st place, but I am very motivated to push the sport further and land tricks that female riders haven’t done before. I have the motivation, dedication, and hard work in my blood. Next year we should also have some wave events so I am super motivated for those stops as well.

What are the competition format like at GWA events? 

We have two disciplines in the GWA tour. One is surf-freestyle and one is slalom. I was never really into racing, but I can go fast if I want to. Over the past few weeks, I have started training in this discipline as well, to be as competitive as possible. In the Surf Freestyle discipline we compete in freestyle and when there are waves then the format can change to waves. We normally have 4 tricks and 9 or 10 attempts. When there are waves, it can be a pure wave event. It is also possible for us to do 2 freestyle tricks and 2 waves. What counts in freestyle is the execution of the trick, the difficulty, speed in & out, and the smoothness. In waves, it is similar to all the other wave sports. As I have been competing in kiteboarding it is a similar format, so I am a well-experienced competitor and I know how to prepare myself for a heat and for competition. 

What tricks are required to win in the women's fleet at the moment?

I have a few tricks in my back pocket. I can land 360’s, 540’s, and handle passes with the wing. I have also started to land backflips, but not yet in the competition. What made me win all those events is the power I have in my tricks, the smoothness, and the style of each executed trick. I am motivated to start doing backflips and frontflips, but that’s my next goal and I still need to work on it. 

We love that this element of the sport is growing so quickly. What does this win mean to you?

It is amazing. I have always dreamed to be a World Champion. Before the competition in Tarifa, I was imagining myself winning. I knew I could do it, it was so close. During the last event, the ambiance and the organization gave me a lot of pressure as everyone knew if I win I can become a World Champion. All I needed was to be in my own world, relaxed, happy, and do what I love. I am very happy I got into this sport this early. I am also a fast learner so I improved very fast. This sport is very attractive for people from different backgrounds and it is definitely bringing me a lot of other opportunities in my career. 

Amazing. Where do you think the sport is going in the years to come?

Kiteboarding is growing massively but wingfoiling is booming. I see more and more people wingfoiling every day, getting into the sport. I am motivating mostly women to get into the sport as it's very friendly for women and older people I would say. There is way less impact on the landings and the feeling of flying is so beautiful & addictive. I can see the stoke on everyone’s face getting into it as they love the feeling of flying above the water. Wingfoiling is accessible in many locations. You don’t mind gusty winds or choppy waters. You can wing in very light wind as well.

We couldn't agree more! What your goals are for next year and beyond Paula?

I want to stay on the top and push the sport further. I also want to win in racing and slalom disciplines. I haven’t been training this so much, so now I am gonna be spending more time doing this as well. I want to win again and again. Sometimes it is more difficult to stay on the top than to reach it, so we will see how it goes. But motivation and dedication I have, so let’s see what achievements I have in front of me. I am a fighter, an ambitious competitor and I want to compete until my body allows it. The sport of wingfoiling is very healthy and friendly for your body. You need a lot of core stability and that is what makes you a better overall athlete and protects you from getting injured. It is amazing to see all the generations from youngsters to masters being blown away by this sport and addicted to flying above the water. 

Best of luck Paula! Thanks for chatting with us.

Videos

Paula Novotna GWA Wingfoil Surf-Freestyle World Champion 2022
By Jack Galloway

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