“I’m Aiming for a World Title” – The OTC Pro Rider Scotty Stallman on Fuerteventura, the PWA World Tour and Chasing the Ultimate Goal

Team OTC
2 minutes ago
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The Official Test Centre (OTC) Pro Rider Scotty Stallman has returned from one of the toughest Slalom X events imaginable with a top-16 finish, renewed confidence and his sights firmly fixed on the biggest prize in professional windsurfing – a World Title.

At 25, Scotty is continuing to establish himself among the world’s leading racers, competing sail-to-sail with the very best while constantly learning, developing his equipment and pushing his own limits.

His latest challenge took him to Fuerteventura, where winds of more than 45 knots, breaking waves and huge swell created some of the most brutal racing conditions the PWA fleet has faced.

And while the event did not start exactly as Scotty had hoped, what followed gave him plenty of reasons to believe there is much more to come.

By Emma Maguire.

“It was epic”

For Scotty, Fuerteventura is one of those special events on the windsurfing calendar.

“Fuerteventura is definitely one of those events that every fin fanatic looks forward to, regardless of being a racer or a spectator,” he said.

“The conditions and excitement it brings really is something you can’t replicate at many other events.”

Scotty travelled out early alongside several other riders, giving himself time to get reacquainted with the venue and fine-tune his smaller equipment.

“The days leading up to the event were really nice. It was perfect 5.7m and small-board conditions, so most days were spent with other riders making small changes to our set-up and doing gybe practice in between.

“I was feeling great. However, come the day of the event, the forecast had gone ballistic and it was cranking from sunrise to sunset.”

The opening day proved difficult.

Scotty struggled to find a comfortable set-up and suffered several crashes, leaving him knowing he needed to reset before racing resumed.

He headed to the beach earlier the following day, changed his settings and turned to an old favourite – his F-Hot fin.

It worked.

“From then on I felt super competitive with the others and had some really, really enjoyable racing.

“So, bar the small niggle on the first day, it was epic and I got more and more confident as the days went by.”

The toughest Slalom X conditions yet

Just how difficult was Fuerteventura?

According to Scotty: “It really was the TOUGHEST ever!”

He explained that footage from the event could never quite convey what competitors were experiencing on the water.

“It’s always hard to explain this as the videos never seem to make it look anywhere near as crazy as it was. It’s either that or all us riders are getting a bit soft!

“I think having some breaking waves inside of the course and 45+ knot winds does show how hardcore it was.”

The race committee ensured the riders were tested in almost every possible way, mixing traditional downwind courses with long-distance racing, speed runs, chicanes and the famous sausage jump.

The physical punishment continued long after the racing stopped.

“Even now a couple of weeks later and my ankles are actually still a little sore!”

Staying relaxed when everything around you is extreme

Racing through huge swell and extreme winds against some of the best windsurfers on the planet might sound like a situation where hundreds of thoughts would be racing through your head.

For Scotty, the opposite is true.

“Not a lot, if I’m honest,” he said.

“I’ve found the best way to deal with racing in those types of conditions is when your mind and body are relaxed.

“When it’s really crazy, the main thing is telling yourself to just stay on the board. You may find yourself not racing at 100%, but in those conditions it can be the difference between making it through or being knocked out early in a heat.

“I always tell myself the more I think, the worse I do, so I just relax and let my sailing do the hard work and enjoy it.”

It is an approach that produced some memorable moments during the competition.

One came in a B-Final when Scotty nailed the start.

“I had an absolutely perfect start and a flying first reach and found myself at the first mark leading in front of some big guys.”

For a rider determined to prove he belongs at the sharp end of the PWA fleet, moments like that matter.

A top-16 finish – and plenty of ‘what ifs’

Initially, Scotty left Fuerteventura feeling his overall result did not fully reflect the quality of his racing.

Then came an unexpected email.

There had been a mix-up with some of the results and, following the correction, Scotty was moved up to 16th place.

“I left the event feeling I had done some of my best racing by far, but because of the first day it didn’t leave me with much room for errors.

“So it was nice to make top 16 in the end.”

Looking through the results afterwards showed just how tight the margins had been.

“It was really tight all the way to the top 10. Some places were only one point apart.

“Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Naturally, Scotty wondered what another elimination and an additional discard could have meant for the final standings.

But rather than dwell on what might have happened, he is choosing to focus on what he proved to himself on the water.

“There’s no point in wondering about the ‘what ifs’.

“So I have come away from the event really happy, just wishing there were more events!”

Learning from the world’s best

One of the greatest benefits of competing on the PWA World Tour is the opportunity to race directly alongside the sport’s leading athletes.

“You learn absolutely heaps racing with those guys,” Scotty said.

In conditions as extreme as Fuerteventura, two things become particularly important: knowing your equipment and having experience on the race course.

“No matter the scenario, whether it’s at the first mark, the start or any reach, the top guys are really dialled in with this.

“Because of that, you gain an incredible amount of knowledge just from watching them.”

Sometimes those lessons can even be turned back on the people who taught them.

“It’s even better when you can use someone else’s sailing trick on them!

“Ross Williams gave me one years ago which I use a lot – but I’m not letting that one go!”

Equipment put through the ultimate test

Despite the huge conditions, Scotty used the same equipment throughout the event:

GA Vapor 5.7 Tabou Manta 64 F-Hot RWS-2 33cm fin

“We’ve put a lot of time and development in over the past years and have got to a place we are really happy with,” Scotty explained.

His biggest adjustments involve changing downhaul depending on the wind and sea state, then finding the right fin to complement those settings.

“The 33cm F-Hot I have is a bit of a special one and worked really well all event.”

Fuerteventura is also an invaluable testing ground.

“The event in Fuerteventura is where we manage to understand the most about the production gear we have that year.

“Despite thinking we are in a good place with development, there are always small changes we can make to try and improve control, speed and handling in the gybes.”

Those conversations have already begun following the event.

“We’ve already had our meetings about the equipment and we have some exciting new things to try once the prototypes start to arrive.”

The support from home

Behind every international campaign is a network of people helping make it possible – and Scotty is quick to acknowledge those supporting his journey.

Asked how important the backing from the Official Test Centre and everyone following from home is, his answer was immediate.

“To say it’s incredible is a bit of an understatement.

“The messages of support are really motivating and definitely make you want to push to the absolute maximum to show how much the support means.”

Scotty highlighted the support of Tris throughout his events, alongside his family and girlfriend, as well as the many others who follow and encourage his racing.

He also praised Kev Greenslade, the UK agent for GA/Tabou.

“Kev is a huge supporter and with his experience of racing in the past he has plenty of knowledge and support to pass on.”

And there is another familiar name keeping a close eye on proceedings.

“Even Dave White follows the events and has his words of wisdom, which normally have a huge effect on how I race.

“I think the biggest thing is to thank you all. It really does mean a lot!”

From fin to foil

There is little time to stand still at this level.

With Fuerteventura behind him, Scotty is switching his focus from Slalom X to foil racing.

But while the equipment changes, his mentality does not.

“The preparation and mindset remain the same as they do with the Slalom X – do my absolute best and not come away from any event feeling like I could have done more.”

His last event in 2025 produced an impressive seventh place in Japan, setting a clear benchmark for his return.

“I’m looking to come back into the tour aiming to beat that and continue to be cemented in the Top 10.

“The only difference is it will be on the foil, but I’m already back training on the foil and feeling good.”

Next stop: Sylt

Scotty’s attention will also turn towards the PWA event in Sylt – another venue capable of delivering extremely challenging conditions.

“Sylt is always a tricky event with the conditions we get, but I feel like I’m yet to have an event there where I really show what I’m capable of.

“Top 10 is the goal and I’ll be making sure I give it my all.”

That ambition is backed by what Scotty believes has been a huge amount of progress over the past 12 months.

“I recently turned 25 and every year and session that goes by it really is a school day.

“I’ve become more mature in myself and that has really reflected in my windsurfing.”

His work with Windsurfer Magazine has played an important part in that development.

Testing a wide variety of equipment while at home has exposed Scotty to different designs, settings and characteristics, adding another layer to his understanding of the sport.

“I really am learning a hell of a lot and that is then reflected in my sailing.”

“I’m aiming for a World Title”

For all the individual races, top-10 targets, equipment development and lessons learned along the way, there is one ultimate ambition driving Scotty forward.

A World Title.

“At the end of the day, I’m aiming for a World Title. It’s what motivates me every session and event.

“To take home one of the prestigious World Title trophies is the ultimate goal.”

But success for Scotty isn’t solely measured by trophies.

He wants a long future in the sport he loves and, importantly, wants to help inspire the next generation coming through behind him.

“Aside from that, it is to carry on windsurfing for as long as possible, enjoy every session whether that’s slalom sailing or in the waves, and to help motivate the youngsters whether it’s their first session or as they progress to international competitions.”

Scotty’s message to the next generation at the OTC

For the young windsurfers learning at the Official Test Centre today and dreaming that they might one day stand on a PWA start line themselves, Scotty’s advice is refreshingly simple:

Enjoy it.

“Just enjoy it. That’s the biggest thing, and perhaps something a lot of people look past.

“When I come off the water from a session and have a smile on my face, then I know it was a good one and I have probably learnt the most.”

And for those already thinking about taking their first steps into competition, there are opportunities to begin that journey.

“If you are looking for ways to break onto the scene, look out for the Youth PWA events. They are in some super cool locations and will be such a good start to your international racing career.”

From learning and training at home to battling through 45-knot winds and breaking waves alongside the world’s best, Scotty’s journey shows where talent, determination, experience and a genuine love of being on the water can lead.

Fuerteventura may have delivered some of the toughest racing of his career, but it also delivered something potentially even more valuable: proof that when everything clicks, Scotty has the speed and ability to race at the front of a world-class fleet.

At 25, he is still learning with every session.

The next target is the Top 10.

Beyond that, the ambition couldn’t be clearer.

A World Title.