Julien Mas. Everyone following the Freestyle Windsurfing circus in the last months has seen good results and impressive sailing from the skilled youngster. Yet, only little is known about this French hotshot. Reason enough for the EFPT to get together with Julien and talk about him taking his first steps in windsurfing, his status quo and his upcoming plans. EFPT: Hi Julien, let´s start from the beginning. How did you start windsurfing? Julien Mas: Hi. I started windsurfing when I was 6 years old, but it wasn´t love on first sight. I had to use the short board prototype board from my father, which, under my feet, felt kind of strange. Later my father realised that it would need another board to get me into windsurfing. He bought me my first Freestyle-Wave board with 77L, this one was just perfect for a 12 year. This was the point were I really started windsurfing. EFPT: What exactly attracted you to freestyle windsurfing? JM: Well, at my homespot the only good waves grow behind a boat, so Freestyle was the logical choice for me. When i was young I stayed with good Freestyle sailors who pushed me all time. Before the time when freestyle was popular, there was competition on my lake "Prince de la flaque" where they had Colin, Tonky and Taty who made already impressive moves and slide moves, which I really like. Now there is a new generation of Freestyle, it`s different ; it`s air moves and more sensation which I like more. EFPT: 2010 was your first year on the EFPT. You could finish 5th in the Mondial du Vent and show some good heats during the 2nd Sardinia Freestyle Grand Prix. How was your first year of professional windsurfing? JM: Yes, it was good experience for me, there is good atmosphere, good friends and good party. It was my first year of competition, but I still have a long way and I hope it will be better for me in 2011. We will see! EFPT: You are a very good free surfer. Do you feel comfortable being at contests? JM: The competition is completely different. You can stick every move in free sailing and at the same time fail so hard during a competition because there is lot of stress or for other reasons. It's really hard to perform your best moves on a constant level. You have to think about your moves before. However, during the competition I think I feel good. I don't have so much stress, only good stress to have power but if I fall like twice after, it can quickly demoralise me. I have to work on this! EFPT: You are currently sponsored by the brand new company of Patrik Diethelm. How did this come about then? JM: Last year I was in Bonaire and I broke my board, then my friend Tonky give me a "Chilli" board and I was really surprised cause it was an old board but working really good [Patrik Diethelm was the shaper of the "Chilli", ed.]. At the end of this summer I read an article who said Patrik made a new brand. I sent a message to Karin Jaggi [business partner at Patrik boards, ed.] and we agreed on a collaboration. I'm realy happy to use Patrik Freestyle board cause for me Patrik is one of the best shapers on this globe. EFPT: So, being 21 now, I think windsurfing is taking up most of your time. Besides that what else are you into? JM: In the last two years I concentrated all my efforts to windsurfing. I quit other sports and interests to spend more time and efforts on sailing. Before that time I used to ride a skateboard or go skiing. EFPT: What´s the next for Julien Mas? JM: Actually, I am preparing my next trip to Bonaire to train a lot (3 month). I will try to do my best for next season. Also, I´m thinking about a new move and I hope I can do it in Bonaire.