Philip Soltysiak announced the retirement from professional competitive windsurfing.
The 31-year-old windsurfer from Toronto, Canada, is dropping out of the 2019 PWA World Tour after 12 seasons and seven Top 10 finishes.
Phil Soltysiak started sailing on an Original Windsurfer in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in 1995. Since then, he never stopped training and polishing his skills.
"I want to channel my energy toward travel and media projects. I feel like my best years on tour are behind me," said Soltysiak, who currently lives in Hood River, in Oregon.
Throughout his career, the Canadian freestyler suffered multiple shoulder dislocations earlier and minor injuries that have always hindered him from chasing a world title.
Soltysiak won several US and Canadian national windsurfing titles and finished in the Top 5 in several PWA World Tour events.
He has also helped improve the sport from the inside out.
"I have put a lot of time into the live scoring system, supported lowering the fleet to 32 riders and limiting heats to the man-on-man format only. I think it’s better for competitors and spectators alike," Soltysiak told Continent Seven.
"Freestyle windsurfing is what captivates and attracts the younger generation to the sport. It also influences wave sailing and freeride equipment development."
Philip Soltysiak says he will continue to freestyle, ride waves and do slalom events in North America. But a comeback is out of the question.