Mathis Ghio

Which dish can you not resist? And why? I can eat only sushi, fried rice, and duck with lychees for the rest of my life. I have loved these different dishes since my childhood. Ever since I tried them in local restaurants in my youth, I have been simply addicted.

What is your hidden talent?  Thanks to my girlfriend, I am good at preparing desserts and pastries. I have been practicing with her for 3 years and know all the kitchen utensils to make a beautiful dessert.

Who would you like to swap places with for a day? Why? With Kai Lenny. This water sportsman has been such an inspiration since I was a child. Since then, I have followed his journey and become a true fan. I would love to feel what it means to be paid to ride huge waves and be on the water all year round.

When I'm not training, you can find me… at the desk and studying for my degree in materials management. 

What "secret" is there still about you? My favorite food comes from Madagascar: duck cooked with lychees, my favorite music is "Way down we go" by Kaleo.

1. What sport do you do and how did you get into it?

I practice wingfoiling, a mix of kitesurfing and windsurfing. I use a foil (the same shape as an airplane) under my board, which allows me to fly over the water. I started windsurfing when I was 5 years old and my father put me in front of his board while he was riding. I immediately loved the feeling of gliding over the water. Since then, I have never stopped being on the water: 10 years of windsurfing, then 1 year of kitesurfing, and for the past 3 years, wingfoiling.

2. What makes your sport special?

I think the combination of freedom, lightness, and speed makes my sport something very special. The foil gives the feeling of gliding smoothly over the water at high speeds (70 km/h).

3. What criteria are decisive for the selection of your competitions?

I participate in all Wingfoil Race competitions (5 to 6 competitions per season). They are very special due to their format, which I love.

4. What has been your greatest sporting achievement so far?

World Championship in Wingfoil Racing last year. Standing at the top of the world after only 2 years of training was a great challenge for me.
My greatest success might also lie in the future: I won the European Championship 2023 and am currently leading the World Championship, so I am now aiming to win both titles two years in a row.

5. How do you deal with the "hole" after a big competition?

I always recover for 2 or 3 days after my competition and do not train immediately afterwards. In the following days, I always want some activity (stretching, short cardio session, quick run) to avoid being inactive after my competition.

6. What is your hobby outside of sports?

I enjoy riding a racing bike and playing Spikeball with my friends on the beach. I also like visiting the ancient Egyptian museum.

7. What motivates you to get up every day? 

Since my engineering courses take up a lot of time during the week, I think about the other drivers who train all week long. Since I have less time for training, I have to be active and push myself in the gym or during training.

1. What does perfect recovery look like for you?

For me, perfect recovery includes stretching & lactic acid breakdown with minimal effort. Sleep and hydration are also very important. All these methods combined help me to be fresh for the next competition day. This also means that I approach a competition day with light legs and arms, without having muscle soreness.

2. When do you like to use your Reboots the most?

I love using my Reboots after a long day of training on the water, one or two hours after my wing session. It helps me recover well when I have exerted myself a lot during my training/competitions.

3. How important is the topic of "regeneration" to you?

With usually 5 race days for a competition and 8 races per day, recovery is one of the most important things for me to perform well. Since I started competing, I always stretch and recover as best as I can.

4. What is your insider tip for using the Reboots?

I always combine my Reboots session with stretching, no matter the order. I use Reboots 1 or 2 hours after the end of my session, with a 30-minute program. Most of the time, I use the program G: Intensive Pulse at pressure level 10 for a deep recovery. This program helps to eliminate all the lactic acid produced during exertion by pumping each chamber from the feet to the thighs. My legs always feel fresh after this program.

5. What do you occupy yourself with while you are in the Reboots?

Normally, I always check the data from my wing session on my phone or I answer a few emails. But it can also happen that I'm too lazy to do any of that, then I read a book or do something other than watch Netflix. That's sometimes quite nice to just relax in peace.

6. What does the perfect day look like for you?

An optimal day should include at least one fun wing session on the water and a special time for learning. In between, I would eat a huge sushi platter.