DELPHINE COUSIN QUESTEL

28-year-old French sailor Delphine Cousin Questel secured the 2019 PWA women’s slalom world title in Noumea, New Caledonia at the final event of the season. Despite starting with results below her normal expectations, Delphine managed to fight back and finish the event in 2nd overall to clinch her 4th slalom world title. John Carter finds out more about Delphine’s success story.

- Delphine Cousin Questel

Delphine flying the flag! PHOTO John Carter.

BACKGROUND

I always lived close to the sea with my parents in Brittany. They have a business selling seafood, lobster and crabs to the big supermarkets locally. I began windsurfing when I was eleven with my two brothers just in front of our home. I followed the traditional windsurf racing path, starting with upwind and downwind racing. My first important trophy was a third place in the French Championship in the BIC 293 class, I will never forget it! I have been very lucky to have the support of my parents; they helped me a lot in my early career. Also, my brother Alexandre competes on the PWA world tour (Editor’s note – Alexandre is the 2019 PWA Men’s Foil Racing vice world champion!), so we’re a proper windsurf family. I decided to compete in slalom after doing three years of RS:X. After school I went to a business college in Brest close to my home in Brittany. I was there for five years to get my master’s in business studies. Now I live in St. Barts in the winter where my husband is from. We stay there from December to March and then the rest of the year I am in Brittany or at events. It is easier to be in Europe to compete and travel to competitions.

WORLD TITLE NUMBER FOUR