Home Turf, High Hopes: Jacopo Testa Talks FPT Sardinia

With the Freestyle Pro Tour’s return to Porto Pollo right around the corner (June 5–8), we caught up with 2x European Champion and hometown favourite Jacopo Testa (WeOne/GunSails) ahead of what promises to be an action-packed stop.

Porto Pollo is more than just another tour location for Jacopo—it’s where his windsurfing journey began, and the return of the FPT to this iconic Sardinian spot brings an extra layer of meaning and motivation. We took some time with Japo to chat about the nature of the spot itself, new moves in the making, how his approach to competition has evolved over the years, and what keeps him pushing for more—both on and off the water.

You’ve had a strong start in Cape Town this season—how are you feeling going into FPT Sardinia? Is this stop one you look forward to more than others?

Jacopo Testa: I’m very happy and excited that Rupi’s—the place where my windsurfing journey started—will be hosting an FPT event! I’m looking forward to seeing all the riders and friends on a proper windy day in Porto Pollo!

Porto Pollo is a classic spot with a lot of freestyle history. What makes it a good competition venue from your point of view?

JT: Porto Pollo is one of the windiest spots in Sardinia. Corsica is not too far up north from the spot, and together with Sardinia they create a wind channel that most frequently sees winds from the West and Northwest. In Porto Pollo, every wind direction except south can come in quite strong, and with the right amount of wind, it creates very different kinds of conditions. When the wind blows over 25 knots, the chop also starts to reach a size that allows us to go for more air power moves.

You’re competing on home turf in front of Italian fans—does that add extra pressure, or does it give you more drive?
JT: I’ll be extra motivated to do my best!

Your sailing always seems to mix technicality with flow. Are there any new moves or combos you’ve been working on that you’re hoping to bring into your heats?

JT: Yes, I’ve landed some moves I’ve never seen live or in videos, but they need special and perfect conditions—with some luck or many failed attempts. When we were competing at the EFPT event in Balneario, Tarifa  a few years back, there was a day where the wind was blowing at around 50 knots and I landed a Spock Kabi into Kono. The only other place I managed to do it again was at Sa Barra, Sardinia. Another one that I landed there was the Spock Kabi Culo, which I haven’t been able to recreate since. 

I’ve also been working on some new stuff when I was in Brazil last November, but I haven’t landed those moves again yet – Loop into No-Handed Flaka and Shaka into No-Handed Flaka are two that come to mind. For those, I need the perfect conditions and more practice.

You’ve been on tour for quite a few years now. Looking back, how has your approach to competing evolved?

JT: I take a more serious approach. I’ve learned to plan my heats, writing down move lists depending on the spots and the conditions. I try to create and them follow a plan.

When I go out on the water and have a one and a half-hour session, I kind of split it in three: I start out by trying new moves, or moves that I cannot yet land consistently, then I put together two imaginary heats, sailing them exactly like I would in competition. Then towards the end of the session, I focus on variations and improving moves that I’m already consistent with—working on getting more height, trying them one-handed, or adding a 360 at the end.

This year’s level has been super high, especially with younger riders stepping up. Are there any fresh names or performances that have really caught your attention?

JT: So far, I haven’t seen any new names, but I’m sure Takumi (Moriya) is one to watch! He’s progressing quickly, sailing amazingly and throwing down some top-class moves.

Your style has always stood out—smooth and flowy. Do you think that comes more from how you train, or just how you naturally ride? And when it comes to heats, do you find yourself prioritizing certain moves to fit your style, even if they’re not always the most high-scoring?

JT: It’s kind of natural, but at the same time it’s something really important for me to focus on. At the end of a move, I kind of know if it was stylish or not. If not, I’ll try to make some changes in my body position to try to get a better feeling of what the move looks like. For example, when the body is fully stretched, or one leg is bend and the other is fully straight, the rotations for certain moves will feel way more controlled and deliberate.

Watching back footage of myself also helps a lot – especially when looking for what gives certain moves the “stylish” factor. 

When it comes to sailing heats, I always will prioritize moves that fit my personal style as well as the conditions that we are competing best. I believe that a move that’s landed fully planing counts more and is way more stylish than a higher-level, more difficult move that’s landed wet and feels a little forced.

In the lead-up to an event, what does a typical day look like for you? Is it all about time on the water, or do you mix in other things to stay ready?

JT: I take care of my hours of sleep, the food I eat, and how much water I drink. I never sail for more than an hour and a half in the days before an event. In the end it’s all about finding a good combination of time on the water, stretching, and some mobility exercises to stay active and ready before competition.

After all these years, what keeps you excited about competing on the Freestyle Pro Tour?

JT: I’m still motivated to improve and fight for the top spots on the podium – The motivation comes from many things. Steven van Broeckhoven is for sure one! He’s around five years older than me and still is a top contender fighting for podiums at every event he attends, kicking ass on the water!

Also, all the riders posting clips on social media drive me to be more motivated and to push more on the water—to make sure I constantly improve my own level and keep up with the younger generations of riders on tour, and in the freestyle scene as a whole. 

And to finish off—if you could steal one move from any other rider, no learning curve, just instantly land it—whose move would it be and why?

JT: The Sucker from Tonky Frans! I know it’s kind of “useless” for competitions because there are moves that score way higher, but I like it – not something you see on the water a lot, but super stylish!

The Freestyle Pro Tour lands in Porto Pollo, Sardinia from June 5–8, 2025, bringing world-class freestyle action to one of Europe’s most iconic windsurfing spots. With Jacopo leading the local charge, the stage is set for an exciting few days of competition.

Be sure to follow all the action on our website and across our social media channels for live updates, heat results, behind-the-scenes content, and the latest news from the tour. You won’t want to miss a moment of what’s shaping up to be a standout stop on the 2025 FPT calendar!