Starboard is thrilled to welcome Lina Eržen to the Dream Team! A rising star in the Slalom Foil discipline, Lina has already shone on the international stage by securing an impressive second-place finish at the first stop of the 2025 PWA Foil Slalom Tour in Guadeloupe. Her combination of speed, precision, and determination makes her a perfect fit for the team, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next on the foil race course further in the season. We caught up with Lina and asked her about her plans for the current season, Olympic Games in Paris, which disciplines she likes the most and much more! 

Hi Lina, many know you from the PWA World Tour but tell us a short introduction about you. Where are you from, how old are you, which is your home spot and what are you currently doing.

I am Lina Eržen from Slovenia, and I’m 20 years old. I am a professional windsurfer competing in iQFOiL and PWA. Most of my time I spend training on the water in my home spot in Koper, where I also study.

When did you start windsurfing and how did you come across this unique sport?

At the age of 6, my dad introduced me to this sport, and ever since I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by it.

Before your Slalom career, you were doing a lot of freestyle. Tell us more about that. Do you still go for a freestyle session? What made you change your main discipline? Would you return to Freestyle and join the PWA/FPT tour?

I was a freestyler and wave rider for quite a while, but when COVID came around, there were not so many competitions. At the same time, the iQFOiL class was introduced to me, and once I tried it, I fell in love with racing and never looked back. I rarely have time to go Freestyling since I am busy with all the training and studying. I like racing a lot, but Freestyle is also very fun, so I cannot say I will never return.

Your brother is also a windsurfer and is currently more focused on iQFOiL after also freestyling. Was there ever sibling rivalry that pushed your limits? And is it always the case that you support each other and push each other?

We are siblings, and like any siblings, we also have disagreements, but for the most part, we are very supportive and help each other in any way we can. We are used to each other’s presence all the time, and having each other at regattas and trainings is helpful and makes things easier.

You made a name for yourself in 2023 in PWA Japan when you had your first bullet on the PWA tour and on top, won the whole event. How was the feeling? Do you think that your experience with iQFOiL races was a big advantage on the Slalom course? Could you use that experience on the Slalom course? 

It didn’t feel real, it still doesn’t sometimes. It was an amazing achievement. iQFOiL helps me a lot and makes some things easier to control. I think any experience can help you anywhere if you know how to use it correctly. 

We returned to Japan a year later, and you finished again on the podium. Is this Japan event among your favorite events? You didn’t attend many PWA Slalom stops but you went to Japan. What makes it for you so special that you travel across the world to attend it?

Due to the Olympics, I didn’t have a lot of time during the summer for anything else since it was my main goal. During the winter, it felt best to attempt some different competitions just to mix things up, and Japan felt like a good choice. After two incredible achievements, it's safe to say Japan is among my favorite events.

What do you think about Slalom X? Are you tempted to try it? 

It looks fun and challenging. I have never really tried any Slalom at all. I think for now I will stick to just Foil Slalom.

You went to the Olympic Games in Paris. I believe it was a dream come true. Did the experience live up to the expectations? How were the conditions? Were you more nervous and under pressure, considering they were the Olympic Games?

Yes, a lifetime dream. There were not so many expectations, but more live in the moment and try to make as many memories as you can. The conditions can always be better, but I’m happy with what we managed to sail. Every heat has its memory and its indescribable. I was not nervous and I could feel it in my sailing., which was relaxed and felt easy. I feel like there were a lot of tasks to complete during the event and leading up to it that we normally didn’t have to do, which was quite different. I achieved my dream by qualifying for the Olympic Games, and I was also the first woman to represent Slovenia in windsurfing.

Tell us your plans for the 2025 season. Are there any Foil Slalom stops, or iQFOiL stops, you plan to attend? Are you starting the preparation for the LA Olympic Games 2028? Would you consider attending any Slalom X events?

For iQFOiL, we have two world championships as the main events, and then I will also compete in all PWA Foil Slalom events this year. The preparation for LA has already started this winter, and I’m excited for this new cycle. This year, I am not planning on competing in any Slalom X event.