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When it comes to windsurfing, Sarah Hauser loves a challenge. Her life choices, shaped by unfailing perseverance, have guided her towards the professional circuits. At 34, this dedicated and committed young woman dedicates her life to the sport that inspires her.
An encounter with the wind
For almost twenty years, Sarah Hauser has been driven by a burning passion. Her windsurfing adventure began on the waves of her native New Caledonia.
Can you tell us about the catalyst that led you to choose windsurfing as your sport of choice, and how have your experiences influenced your path in windsurfing?
" I think I had two important triggers. The first was when I went planning for the first time, that moment when you build up enough speed and feel like you're flying on the water. I was about 12 years old. Then, three years later, I surfed my first wave on a windsurfer at the Saint-Vincent pass, on the Ténia spot in New Caledonia. I discovered a magical sensation of communion with nature, of thrill and of surpassing myself. From that moment on, it was clear that windsurfing had to become a major part of my life.
I didn't immediately set out on a career as an athlete. I studied engineering, which took me away from the sea and the waves, but once I'd graduated, I decided to drop everything and set off on the American Windsurfing Tour (now the International Windsurfing Tour), and little by little, I managed to break through and make a living thanks to sponsors. The fact that I had lost my way, so to speak, before finding my way, made me realize that I was capable of adapting and finding my way. As a result, I was able to pursue my career in my own way, as I saw it. "
Ambassador of women's surfing
For Sarah, surfing is a powerful means of inspiring and empowering young girls. Committed to the cause, she donates her time to a non-profit association based in Peru, which seeks to introduce girls to surfing in order to offer them prospects other than those to which the majority of them are destined.
You show a strong commitment to women's empowerment through surfing. How do you see this role and what impact would you like to have on the representation of women in the world of sport?
" I was lucky enough to be able to co-found the Women & Water project in Peru thanks to Beyond the Surface International, an NGO aiming to support coastal villages impacted by social and environmental pressures. Surfing is a fantastic tool for connecting with young girls and women in these communities, because it's both fun and challenging for those who don't necessarily have the opportunity to try this kind of activity. It's also a way of getting people to think about their own abilities; we often find we can do things we'd never imagined. It's also a metaphor for dealing with things you can control, and adapting to things you can't change. It's important for me to take part in this kind of project because, as an athlete, I want to entertain but also inspire people, and from time to time it's good to do it in a very direct way like this. Then, of course, there's all the communication I do with the media, on social networks, which I hope also fulfils these two missions, to entertain and inspire. It's an important role. I know that the women athletes I follow and who inspire me bring me a lot in conscious and subconscious ways, and I think I contribute to that for others in my own small way. "
The challenge of the titans
Some exceptional days are long overdue, occurring episodically, a few times a year. In 2019, at Peahi, a spot known to insiders as Jaws, an imposing swell and a 25-knot wind created the ideal conditions for a colossal wave to take shape. This day marked Sarah Hauser's entry in the Guinness Book of Records with a wave measuring 10.97 meters.
You've surfed Cloudbreak in Fiji and Jaws in Hawaii. What happens once you're on the wave?
" This kind of wave requires enormous concentration, as there's a high risk of injury or even drowning. But the hardest part is choosing the right wave. Once I'm on a wave, there's no need to hesitate, just ride, feel and respond to the sensations, and let the work done beforehand pay off... or not! Sometimes things don't go according to plan, but for that too there's preparation, so you don't hesitate and you make the right moves. "
A few tips
Sarah constantly pursues mental and physical training techniques to be fully prepared for whatever the big waves or life may throw at her.
As a coach, you invest in both mental and physical development. What training techniques do you find most effective in preparing you for the challenges of big waves, and what advice would you give to those aspiring to excel in windsurfing?
" As far as physical preparation is concerned, I practice muscle strengthening with targeted objectives for each season according to my needs. If I'm not sailing, I stay active with complementary activities such as surfing, foiling, open-water swimming, dynamic apnea and yoga for relaxation. I really like hypnosis as a mental preparation tool. There are a lot of techniques you can practice on your own, and they're very effective. What I often recommend is open-water swimming in waves, as it helps you learn to be at ease in the event of a mishap. Some people are fine until they can't stand up on their board, and that's a barrier to progress. To improve, you have to fall, so you have to be comfortable once you're in the water. "
By dint of perseverance
The victories represent a consecration for this athlete who has devoted her life to her development in sport for the past 10 years.
In 2017 and 2018, she established herself as a two-time winner of the Aloha Classic competition, considered the "Super Bowl" of windsurfing, held every autumn on the north coast of Maui, Hawaii. In 2022, she came second. In June 2023, she added another triumph to her list of achievements by winning the Fiji Surf Pro in the women's category, then in October 2023, in Ho'okipa, Hawaii, she finished third at the Aloha Classic, marking the final stage of the Windsurfing Wave World Cup.
These results underline the company's consistent excellence in international windsurfing.
As two-time champion of the Aloha Classic and winner of the Fiji Surf Pro, what are your impressions of these competitions, and what are your future plans in the world of windsurfing?
" I have the impression that these competitions are the stuff of dreams for those who take part in them and those who watch them, because they take place on "mythical" spots. I hope that they will continue to take place for a long time to come, both for me, who feels that I can still improve my performance, and for future generations.
As for the future, I intend to continue this mix of competition and exploring the possible in big waves, as well as the Women & Water project. I'm also sharing my knowledge as a coach through the NC6training.com training programs and I'm embarking on the production of a Youtube blog in 2024 called "Life of Adventure". "
