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ARXON VS TYCHO

Arxon vs. Tycho: The Future of Slalom… and the Future of Talking Trash

When two Youth Pro Champions sit down together, you expect wisdom, discipline, and carefully curated answers. Instead, Arxon and Tycho gave us honesty, rivalry, chaos, and the kind of banter only two fast kids with even faster boards can deliver.

One’s from Bonaire, where the wind never stops. The other’s a natural-born competitor ready to jibe past anyone, including his interview partner. Both are carving their way into the future of PWA slalom, collecting titles, stories, bruises, and McDonald’s meals along the way.

In this double interview, they go head-to-head on everything: arm-wrestling, guilty-pleasure food, broken gear, weird music, who copies who, and what happens when banana branches turn a race into Mario Bros.

Youth champions? Absolutely. Serious athletes? Usually. Entertaining? Always.

Here are Arxon and Tycho, uncut, unfiltered.

“Who Are You Really?”
1. So, guys, first of all—who would win in an arm-wrestling match, and who would start complaining first?

TYCHO SMITH

ARXON GOMPERTS

I think I got to give it to Arxon and I can’t stand losing so I would complain first.

Tycho would complain first, but I will Win.

2. If your boards could talk, what’s the first thing they’d say about your training sessions?

“Give me a break” because on Bonaire we have wind every day we’re also on the water every day.

Tycho has to stop jumping.

3. Describe each other in three words… but one has to be slightly insulting.

Fast, young, fat.

Tycho is a goal-getter, he is always chill, but sometimes acts non-chalant.

4. What’s the weirdest superstition or ritual you do before a race? (Don’t say “checking the wind.”)

Nothing special only blasting some music.

Tycho listens to the weirdest music.

5. If windsurfing didn’t exist, what would you be doing right now—accountant, pirate, or TikTok star?

. Unfortunately, I’m still in school but would be doing something with cars probably.

“Serious(ish) Business”

6. At what exact moment during the final did you realize, “Oh damn, I might actually win this”?

I was in turkey last race of the event when the guy in first stopped planing at the last mark I knew just needed a clean jibe and then I could still have a chance. And I took it.

When Tycho jibed the first buoy he started getting comfortable.

7. Who’s the racer everyone secretly watches at the starting line just to copy their technique?

I don’t do it often but if I do it I watch Brandon lorho.

Tycho copies me.

8. Biggest mistake you made this season—but somehow got away with it?

In Croatia i went over early in the first race but the forecast wasn’t looking to good so we didn’t know if we where going to make a discard but luckily we did get one and I won all the other races so i still got the title.

Tycho lost a race to me in Aruba.

9. You train like machines… but what’s the most unathletic thing you’ve done right before a competition?

We don’t have McDonald’s on Bonaire so every time we’re going somewhere to compete the first thing we do is McDonald’s.

Eat MC-Donalds

10. If you could change one rule in slalom racing, what would it be—and how would it

The IFCA rule that you have to hold your line. I’d make it the no rule concept because I just want to battle it out not just let them go past.

We want Slalom X

11. When you post a photo in action—do you check how many likes before or after your coach texts you?

I don’t really check my likes

I check it after

12. Who takes longer to choose a wetsuit color?

Definitely Arxon I really don’t care

Be honest. Arxon

13. Tell us one thing you envy about the other. (You can’t say “his hair.”)

That he doesn’t have to go to school.

That we cant compete together so that I can beat Tycho.

14. If you had to swap sponsors for a week, who would survive and who would panic first?

I would definitely panic because I don’t want to lose my sponsors🤣

I would panic first, because Tycho would have my dad, and he is my biggest sponsor.

15. What’s your guilty-pleasure food right after the last race? (Extra points if it’s something that makes your nutritionist cry.)

I’m afraid I got to say McDonald’s again

In Aruba mine is shaved ice, extra condensed milk and candies, they call this my Go-Go juice

16. If you had to invite one rival to dinner, who would it be—and what awkward question would you ask them?

Johan søe, what’s the secret behind your success?

Victor from Denmark, do you think you could beat me in 2026?

17. Your playlist before the start—epic motivation or pure chaos? Give us one track each.

oh my little baby boy hardstyle by velours

Motivation & chaos= DMX - Rough rider. It inspires me to go all in.

18. Ever had a total gear fail in front of the crowd? Tell us the story—don’t hold back.

On Bonaire PWA this year we where in our last minute before our start when suddenly the Clips to decide the length of the boom snapped on one side and had to sail the race with a broken boom.

In Aruba Hi-Winds 2024, I was going 2nd place and all of a sudden I was stopped at my high speed, as I colladed with a branch with bananas. It felt like a Mario Bros game.

19. How do your friends back home explain what you do to people who have no idea what slalom is?

They don’t know neither🫣

I educate them and try to get them to try out windsurfing.

20. Finally: if the wind gods gave you one wish for next season, what would you ask

I’d ask for at least 12 knots or higher on every day of every event because I just want to race.

To get a whole week of racing full power of wind.

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