To kick off my windsurfing competition career, I decided to sign up for a local event at Coronation Beach, Western Australia, where I was training at the time. The event was called the Wave Rally World Championships – a contest format with roots dating back to the 1980s. It’s essentially a slalom race through breaking waves, using wave gear. Only multi-fin boards were allowed, and sails were limited to a maximum of five battens.

It was the perfect way to get a feel for competition – figuring out heat timings, choosing the right gear, and, of course, aiming to be the fastest in every heat and all the way to the final! The event focused on giving every competitor as much time on the water as possible, which made for excellent training. In the end, I was able to compete in around ten heats. Unfortunately, most of them took place in light winds, but thankfully, the conditions improved just in time for the all-important final rounds, setting the stage for a proper showdown.

Each heat saw up to ten sailors starting from the beach. At the signal, we had to grab our gear, sprint into the water, beach start as quickly as possible, and race around three buoys before making it back to shore. I competed in the women’s division. The local favourites had an advantage due to their lighter body weight in the marginal winds, but with solid technique, I managed to gain ground during the jibes, picking the best line through the breaking waves – and in the end, I crossed the finish line first!

What an incredible way to start my windsurfing competition journey! Coming back to the beach and being lifted onto shoulders in celebration was an unforgettable moment. Still, in my mind, I was thinking: Now I know what it feels like to win, and I know exactly what I’ll be fighting for in the next events. Little did I know, I wouldn’t have to wait long for it to happen again.

A huge thank you to the event organisers and sponsors for making this possible. Windsurfing in Western Australia is thriving – it’s fantastic to see, and this positive energy should spread across the globe!