STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford sailing freshman Luke Muller took a break from sailing to talk about life in and out of the water as he begins his Stanford career.
Muller competed in his first event for the Cardinal this past weekend, dominating the field to win his singlehanded division at the Navy Fall by 23 points. Muller will look to build off that momentum this weekend at the PCCSC Men’s Singlehanded Championship, hosted by Stanford.
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Why did you decide to come to Stanford?
I decided to come to Stanford to be in an extremely supportive environment for people to pursue their passion. I think life is about passion and thriving through the energy it creates. On my visits to Stanford, I met a lot of people who were truly thriving regardless of their sleep schedules and workload.
What were you most excited about coming to the Farm?
I was most excited for the resources and the people.
How did you prepare for it?
For sailing, I spent a month training in Sothern California with the U.S. Team before going to the ISAF Youth Worlds in Portugal. I spent two weeks cross-training before going to the Nationals in San Francisco. Then I flew straight to Kingston, Canada, to train with the Canadian Sailing Team before the CORK Olympic Classes Regatta. Then I was home for a week again before heading to Santander, Spain, to train for for the ISAF Worlds, which I had to cut of short to attend NSO.
Academically, I just read books that sparked my interests (including the ones Stanford sent me). I hope that’s good enough. It might have been the calm before the storm.
What are you interested in studying at Stanford?
Energy resources engineering sparks my interests, but I’m really looking forward to exploring the engineering world and maybe majors outside engineering. I’m taking classes that I think that I’d enjoy for right now then going from there.
Is there a particular class you have already heard about that interests you?
There is a D-school class that sounds really hard and cool where your product has to be in the market by the fifth week and your grade thereafter is decided by the success of your product. It’s a graduate-level class but it still seems really cool.
What are you most proud of your high-school Sailing Career? Academic Career?
Athletically, I am proud to be the youngest Laser Sailor to ever win the National Title in the summer of 2013 when I was 17. Academically, receiving my IB Diploma amid missing 45-plus days of school each year was pretty tough. I’d like to think of that as my proudest achievement.
How did you start sailing?
My dad put me in a fully rigged 8-foot boat and kicked me off the shore. I cried for two hours, as it was the first time I was ever alone. I quit as soon as I started, played hockey and soccer for a year or two and tried it again. I started racing, loved it and never looked back.
Who are your sailing role models?
The greats of recent sailing history: Tom Slingsby, Robert Scheidt and Ben Ainslie, all for different but important reasons.
What’s your go-to pre-regatta breakfast?
A three-egg omelet with sautéed veggies, oatmeal and fruit.
Do you have any superstitions when it comes to competing?
Don’t wear the regatta shirt!
What’s your favorite part about competing?
Succeeding when it’s hardest. Knowing that you outdid everyone else by focusing more and suffering greater pain. Doing what you know correctly and never giving anything but your best. Also, the training aspect I love, being on the bike or in the gym when you know others aren’t.
If you could only watch three movies for the rest of your life, what would they be?
I might be cheating the question, but I don’t like to watch movies more than a few times.
What’s your current favorite song
“0 to 100” by Drake
What’s your favorite thing to do for fun?
Surfing or just hanging out with my closest friends. Also, I love anything that has to do with the outdoors.
What is one thing that your teammates at Stanford don’t know about you, but that you would like them to know?
I love to dance!
Which movie do you know all the quotes to?
None
Guilty TV pleasure?
"House of Cards." I didn’t start watching TV until this summer. Thanks Chris Barnard.
One television show you can’t get enough of?
I don’t watch much, but, "House of Cards"
If you weren’t a sailor you would be a …?
Some type of Athlete: a tennis player, F1 racer or a Red-Bull Athlete (Squirrel Suit Jumper)
