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MARCILIO BROWNE: THREE IN A ROW!

After notching up his third straight win, Marcilio Browne is on a serious roll this season. We caught up with the reigning world champion fresh off his latest victory in Maui to find out how he’s maintaining this unstoppable momentum and why he’s feeling stronger than ever, both on and off the water. In this interview, Marcilio shares what’s driving his success and how he continues to stay at the top of his game.

Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries

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CHILE

Tell us about your trip to Chile?

MB: “It was great to go back in Chile, I have been there a bunch in the past and love the place, was excited to see friends and sail those perfect lefts again :).”

How did you fly from Maui?

MB: “It was a long trip for sure, I travelled via San Francisco and Houston. I was definitely pretty tired by the time I got there, but luckily got a day of rest before the wind came up. That always helps.”

Did you rent your own truck?

MB: “No, luckily, I had friends who let myself and Robby use their truck, it worked out perfectly! We also stayed at their house in Matanzas, which was beautiful and super comfortable. Also, we were staying super close to the spot. It was a mere two-minute drive to the parking lot at the beach. Can’t beat that!”

How many days before the event did you arrive?

MB: “I think i arrived four days before the event started and luckily scored two fun sessions at Matanzas for some warm-up sessions. The conditions were insane, but it was hard training as the crowds were crazy and everyone was hungry for waves and getting tuned up for the events.”

What gear did you bring?

MB: “I brought all my Goya sails  the Banzaii 11 from 4.0m, 4.2m, 4.5m, 4.7m, 5.0m, 5.3m and 5.5m.  Also, I brought back-ups for 4.7m, 5.0m and 5.3m (10 sails!). For my boards I had 2x Goya 84L, 2x 88L and 1x 94…All quads! On top of that I had 4 booms, 6 masts, 5 extensions and 4 bases.”

How tough was the level this year and what was the atmosphere like at the contest?

MB: “The level was super high and the atmosphere was fun but intense. It is always a bit like that right before an event! Everyone wants to get their waves and practice in! The sailors are a bit more eager and serious than usual, especially at Matanzas being a point break, it was challenging to get sets for sure.”

What was your strategy this year…go hard or go home…or try and play it safe as you made your way through to the finals?

MB: “The main thing for me was to be on the sets. Last year I felt like I sailed ok but I kind of picked the wrong waves, this year most of my focus went into wave selection. After that there was no room to play it safe! I was going for it on every ride and taking risks. At this level its either that or pack your bags and go home!”

What was your toughest heat before the final?

MB: “All heats were hard, but especially the semis the day before was tough! It was nearly dark and there was no wind in the shore break…so one bad choice and you could have spent the heat swimming. That to me was the hardest one for sure! It was also probably the only heat I rode a 5.3m!”

Was the tabletop aerial part of you game plan this year in Chile?

MB: “The tabletop air was not exactly part of my plan, but that is a move I like and also can only do it at port tack, so I was looking forward to try and get a good one during the event! I really enjoy that move and don’t get a chance to try it that often, so stoked it worked out.”

How different is it sailing in Matanzas to Topocalma?

MB: “Night and day difference! Matanzas is a much more powerful wave, kind of like a heavy beach break that breaks lots of gear, light wind on the waves and lots of current with slightly cross on wind. It is definitely a challenging spot to sail, but really fun when you get it right, it is also very good for tricks.

Topocalma is just perfect… it is full skate park conditions, not as much consequence and just a dreamy wave with cross-off wind. I have dad some of the best sessions of my life out there!”

What were you thought when they announced the finals would be in Topocalma?

MB: “I was super stoked… it was my first session there of the trip pretty much and felt really special to score it with only three guys for thirty minutes during the final. To be honest I was just excited to go sailing that day! It felt like a real treat to have the final there and I am stoked it worked that way. In the past I scored that place a lot with Swifty, but in recent years during the event not as much because of the crowds, so it was nice to get it uncrowded again after so many years.”

In the final did you know that Marc had a super high scoring wave or were you just concentrating on your own heat?

MB: “I had no idea, there was no way to know anyone’s scores, so I was just focusing on my own heat. But for sure I knew those guys must have been posting high scores. They had all been ripping throughout the event.”

How did it feel when you nailed that goiter on your last wave?

MB: “It felt great, I was stoked to land it as I knew it was a bit off a bigger section, it was more critical than the ones I had done before! So, I imagined it would have been a good score, I also had a couple of decent turns before on the start of the wave.”

It must feel pretty satisfying to win against such tough competition in Chile this year?

MB: “100 %, the level was so high! So many guys were sailing well. Guys like Marc Pare, Victor Fernandez, Morgan Noireaux, Antoine Martin, Swifty and the Fabres brothers … the list goes on and on! The contest was very difficult from round one and it forced me to really concentrate on my own waves and not think too much about how good everyone else was sailing.”

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MAUI

You then flew back and had to get ready for the Maui ProAM…what was it like to recover and get ready for the next event?

MB: “There was not much time to recover! I just went straight into it full on. Maybe that is why I have a head cold now and feel so tired he he! But yes, I just went straight back into lots of sailing, jumping practise, trying boards and basically many hours on the water. After the event when I finally stopped, I realized how tired I actually was.”

How were the conditions for the Maui Pro Am?

MB: “It was really fun, typical Maui Spring conditions, but the wind was above average. I was riding mostly 4.2m, which is kind of rare in Ho’okipa for me. The waves were great, fun size, overhead to logo high, which is pretty much the best Ho’okipa size I would say.”

You must be stoked to win the event also on top of Chile and Japan…That is three in a row?

MB: “Yes three in a row! I still can’t believe it. I am super stoked but don’t want to be thinking about it too much! My focus is just keeping sailing and enjoying every moment in the water.”

How does it feel to keep winning?

MB: “It is a satisfying feeling, kind of surreal to be honest. I am trying not to focus on that, but simply to keep working on my weaknesses and keep enjoying the process as much as possible!”

What about the likes of Marc Pare and Takara Ishii they are also pushing hard at the moment?

MB: “Those guys are ripping and they both have been doing all the right things, like travelling around, dialling in their gear and spending time on a huge variety of conditions and its showing on their sailing and their results.”

What gear were you using at Ho’okipa?

MB: “During the event I rode the Goya 4.2m mostly, 4.5m for the final and my 84L custom board for the whole event.”

What was it like having a Spring event in Maui?

MB: “It was great, it felt like a completely different spot as the conditions were so different from the winter. There was plenty of wind, smaller waves and we even counted a jump. I had a blast and felt like most of the competitors had a great time too. Hopefully this event will become a tradition again also during the spring.”

What would you say is the key to your success at the moment?

MB: “I am not sure. I have trained extra hard for the past five or six years and it is nice to see the fruits of it for sure. I have also dedicated a lot more time working on my mind-set, for those key moments. So, I feel a bit more relaxed and happier than I did in the past! It is more fun competing this way. Obviously, I still have low, stressful moments! It is not all happy days all the time, but having kids put things in perspective of what really matters and it definitely took some of the pressure off those events for me.”

What is the plan for the next few months?

MB: “Enjoy time with my family and get ready for Pozo :)!”