WHAT’S UP JAEGER STONE?: A CHANGE IN DIRECTION

As a former World Cup and Red Bull Storm Chase winner… Jaeger Stone was at the pinnacle of the wave sailing scene pre-COVID – we hear from the Aussie ripper why he swapped being a full-time pro windsurfer / physiotherapist to become a fire fighter? If he has any aspirations of returning to the World Tour? And his thoughts on asyms plus more.

Words: Jaeger Stone Photos: Two Goat Media, Jens Hogenkamp

FROM PRO WINDSURFER TO FIRE FIGHTER

Maybe somewhat unusual from the outside looking in, but I had always really enjoyed having something other than windsurfing. I love learning and being challenged in different ways, and for a while physiotherapy fulfilled that desire alongside windsurfing, but I couldn’t see myself continuing to work as a physiotherapist long term. 2020 gave me the opportunity to think about what I wanted to work towards going forward, what I enjoyed the most and what my values were. Professional competitive windsurfing is an amazing lifestyle, but my interest in competing itself began to change, and I thought about my transition away from full-time competition months before I decided to commit to it. I realised that being completely focused on competition was no longer what I wanted to do and that I wanted to go after some new opportunities.

Making that decision and committing to it was hard. Transitioning from being a full-time competitor who gets paid to windsurf, to someone that works a full-time job is a significant change. That transition is going to be difficult no matter when it happens, but I like knowing that it was my decision and that I have options.

I decided that I wanted to work towards finding a job that offered me challenges, opportunity, flexibility, financial security and a lifestyle similar to that which I had when I was competing full-time, so I applied to become a fire fighter. Perhaps there’s a little more certainty with contracts and events now, but during 2020/2021 there wasn’t, so it seemed like the right time to commit to making that transition. I’ve kept my options open, even to compete occasionally if that’s what I wanted to do, but throughout this whole process I’ve realised that just because I’m not competing anymore, it doesn’t mean that my windsurfing goes backwards as a result.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

My work/life balance is awesome. I spend more time doing the things I love now than I ever have. Western Australia is such a great place to live, and my lifestyle is built around the ocean and being active. I windsurf, surf, swim, dive or fish basically every day depending on what the weather favours. I’m also now able to spend more time in the shed with Dad, trying to absorb as much as I can from him about boards.

My partner Chelsea grew up in a small farming town called Mingenew, about an hour east of Geraldton. She’s always loved the ocean, but she has also always loved that spacious country lifestyle and all the animals that come with it. We ended up buying a beautiful home and property just north of Geraldton, close to Coronation Beach. The garden, fruit trees, pet sheep, chickens and horse occupy us when we’re not at the beach, and it’s so much fun learning about different things.

MISSING COMPETING?

I still keep track of most of the events and I’m definitely interested in competing in an event from time to time, especially if it’s in a location that offers amazing conditions or an opportunity to visit somewhere new. The current PWA/IWT wave schedule visits some amazing locations, so I’ll keep my options open.

I haven’t really missed competing, but there are certain feelings or memories that I associate with my time on the World Tour. Generally, events are really enjoyable. You get to go windsurfing with your mates, hang out and push each other as hard as you can. However, to be consistently at the top or to go for a world title, I think you have to invest and dedicate a large amount of time into each event, and that ends up being a significant amount over a year. I really enjoyed that for a while when windsurfing was my main focus, but now I would rather prioritise different things. In saying that, if I do choose to apply for a wild card and compete in the occasional event, I’ll go to have fun, but I’ll also want to make sure that I am completely invested in doing the best I can.

MARGARET RIVER WAVE CLASSIC

I was lucky enough to win the Margaret River Wave Classic this year. The conditions were challenging but the event itself was a success, and the organisers did a great job. Severne were sponsoring the event, and the organisers put in a huge effort, so I think it’s important to show support and attend local events so they can continue to grow. It’s now the biggest wave sailing event on the W.A. calendar, and I would say it’s the biggest wave sailing event in Australia with a strong fleet of sailors.

Main Break is such a unique wave and there are so many factors that always come into play. I make every opportunity to spend as much time as I can down there now, and it is one of those places that really pushes you out of your comfort zone if you want to ride it well.

DEFINING MOMENT?

Difficult question! I’m not sure I can pinpoint any exact moment, but some of my injuries have shaped my path and how I look at things. My intentions straight after school were to compete on the World Tour for a few years before going to university, however, my studies were somewhat fast-tracked when I did a Lisfranc injury. I had two significant injuries in Hawaii and then at the end of 2019 before the season ended, I injured my knee which put me on the sidelines for 4 months. Those times challenge you physically and mentally, but I think it’s about what you make of them and realising that you’ve got the time and an opportunity to do something, or work on something completely different. That first injury meant that I went to university and completed a Physiotherapy degree by my early 20’s, whereas the injury in 2019/2020 gave me the time to begin working towards becoming a Fire Fighter. Injuries also teach you gratitude and patience. They’re a reminder to be grateful for everything you have and can do every day, and they teach you patience because although you just want to get back on the horse, you must give things time. When you do that, and you work hard towards your goals, you’ll always come out the other side a better windsurfer and person.

INSPIRATIONS?

So many – there’s inspiration from athletes in all sports. To me, Ethan Ewing’s surfing is incredible and embodies everything I wish to emulate when windsurfing. His style, flow and power are so easy to watch. In the windsurfing world, there’s plenty of people that have inspired me or continue to inspire me in different ways. Brawzinho [Marcilio Browne] and Marc [Paré] are two people that are always aiming to become better windsurfers, and their progression is very motivating. Tom Traversa inspires me to go outside of my comfort zone, not many people commit to hitting big sections on waves like him. I’m competitive with them as well, but what they do inspires me to get better.

HIGHS AND LOWS OF WINDSURFING CAREER?

I feel like there’s been many highs and lows in and out of competition, and I’m sure there will be more. Particular competitive moments would be winning the Red Bull Storm Chase (RBSC) and then winning the PWA Tenerife event in the same year (2019). The RBSC was a huge highlight and something that I really value and means a lot to me. I didn’t really think of that as a competition at the time and just enjoyed the entire adventure. I enjoy that format, those conditions, and the opportunities an event like that allows. Winning that gave me confidence, but I also wanted to prove to myself that I could win a more “traditional” PWA competition. Having made finals before, but not finishing first, it was quite special for me to do that in the same year in Tenerife, a place I enjoy spending time. Scoring 11 points for a push-forward and making the podium in Pozo is something I think is pretty cool too! There are so many moments outside of competition as well and I’m looking forward to more.

I spent so much time training in Maui and Morocco, prioritising starboard tack training to become the best all-round windsurfer I could be. I wanted to get to a level where I could go into any heat at Ho’okipa knowing that I had a chance of winning. However, other than my first year on Tour when I was finding my feet and figuring it all out, when I did get that confidence to win, I missed the last 3 PWA events in Maui due to injury. I don’t need those results to give credit to my windsurfing, but it would have been nice for me personally to get a decent result in a PWA event there. I accept that though, and the training would have paid off at every other starboard, onshore, offshore, or port tack event I competed in.

STRESS COMPARISON – COMPETING VS FIRE FIGHTING

They’re completely different situations, but one of the main priorities with both would be remaining calm when you’re under pressure. Nerves and stress are normal, and they’re factors that you need to manage and deal with so you can focus entirely on the task at hand.

TIME ON THE WATER?

I mentioned it briefly above, but I’m probably on the water nearly every day. Whether that is windsurfing, surfing, or something else depends on the weather, but I windsurf in W.A. just as much now as I was when I was competing. Previously I was in the Canaries during the Australian winter, so I windsurfed much more at that time of the year, but whenever there is wind over our off-season I’m still out there. My intentions are to continue to progress my windsurfing and particularly wave riding; that’s my focus. I don’t have the opportunity to sail starboard tack for 3-4 months of the year now, so that wouldn’t be as consistent as it was, but I believe my port tack sailing and sailing in general is still getting better.

ASYMS… FAD OR FUNCTION?

They rip. I think they’re just another option and offer a different riding experience. The concept isn’t new, and it’s nowhere near as extreme as it used to be so there’s no compromise to overall sailing ability, but at the moment the asymmetrical is generally perceived as being too niche in the current windsurfing market. Most of the asymmetries are very subtle and just facilitate the top or bottom turn on your biased tack. Those subtle asymmetries mean that I’m able to achieve a different approach, feel new sensations and attempt to draw different lines. There’s quite a few of us still using asymmetricals on a regular basis in W.A., and we’ll continue to do so, but working alongside Severne and Stone Surf Designs we are unlikely to release an asymmetrical board for mass production at this stage. Like most things we do, we will try different things, learn from them, and take the positives to progress equipment and design forward.

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