Professional windsurfers Ingrid Lerouche and Fiona Wylde recently sent a statement to the rest of the windsurfing world that girls from the Gorge are not to be trifled with. When they’re not traveling the world in search of wind and waves, the two reside in Hood River, and they represented their home waters phenomenally over the last several months as they competed in the 2014 American Windsurfing Tour.
AWT contests are held in ocean conditions and are judged on wave riding, jumping and tricks, with higher points given for aggressive riding, high amplitude and technical tricks and critical riding in the power-zone of waves.
For Lerouche, winning the AWT all-around title is something she was doubtful of at the beginning of the season, as she was recovering from a foot and ankle injury. She battled through the pain, however, and finished first at Pistol River, first at Pacasmayo (Peru), third at Punta San Carlos (Baja) and second at Hookipa (Hawaii) to claim enough points for her fourth consecutive overall title over many of the top female windsurfers from around the world.
“This year was a tough one for me, injury-wise,” Lerouche said. “I began the season barely out of the boot after fracturing my foot and injuring my ankle over the winter. After skipping the first event in Santa Cruz (which ended up not happening due to lack of wind), I decided to go compete in Pistol River in Oregon. I had tried windsurfing only a couple times, so my expectations were quite low, thinking I would go to accumulate a few points, but managed to come in first, which helped tremendously gaining my confidence back.”
In summer months, Lerouche is known as one of the hardest-charging ladies in the Gorge.
“I love the Gorge,” she said. “The river doesn’t have the big ocean breaking waves, but when we get those crazy windy days at the Hatchery and the swell is rolling, it’s pretty intense and quite fun. Windsurfing on the river is still great training for the wavesailing tour. It’s good jumping and it helps your sail handling and comfort in high wind. I also enjoy doing freestyle. Even though it’s a different discipline, having those skills can come in handy in the waves.”
At 17, Wylde has exploded onto the scene over the last couple of years, when she quickly went from turning heads as a young up-and-comer to a top contender in the world of competitive windsurfing and standup paddling. In her first year competing in the AWT – which she says was a “dream since I was seven” – her second place overall finish included a win in Mexico and a runner-up result at Pistol River. Adding to her list of 2014 accolades, Wylde’s AWT results were enough to claim the 2014 World Tour Women’s Wave Youth Champion title, which she was awarded at the season-ending ceremony earlier this month in Maui. She also won the 2014 Youth Title and the Hottest Trick Award. She also came through with a big performance last month in her Professional Windsurfing Association contest in Maui, where she pushed Spanish sailor Iballa Moreno to the brink in the final heat and finished second.
“Since I started windsurfing when I was seven I have looked up to PWA and thought someday maybe I will get the chance to do that,” Wylde said in an interview with PWA. “I had nothing to lose; I just went out, sailed and had fun. I made it through a few heats then found myself in the final. I can’t believe I made the final, and then finished second; it’s really special.”
Earlier this year, at the conclusion of the competitive standup paddling season, Wylde was recognized at the 2014 SUP Awards ceremony with the Female Breakthrough Performance of the Year award. She also recently joined the Goya Windsurfing team.
“Recently I received a perfect opportunity that I was not going to pass up,” she wrote in a recent interview. “I couldn’t have imagined being on the Goya Windsurfing team a couple years ago along with my heroes, Levi Siver, Brawzinho, Keith Teboul, Bernd Roediger, and Francisco Goya. Signing with a company dedicated to wave sailing and traveling the world looking for perfect waves has been a dream come true.”
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