WindsurfingUK issue 10 March 2019 | Page 76

76FEATURETRANSPORT The ULTIMATE WINDSURFING VAN (or the ultimate van is different for each person) WORDS & PICS: TOBY EDMUNDS I STARTED MY VAN JOURNEY AT 19 YEARS OLD WHEN I BOUGHT AN OLD VW T4, VERY MUCH AGAINST MY PARENT’S ADVICE. THE FACT IT HAD NO ENGINE WHEN I BOUGHT IT DIDN’T DISSUADE ME FROM TURNING IT INTO WHAT WAS THE ULTIMATE VAN, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS ‘THE BIG RED BRICK’. The big red brick died a few years later on its way to catch a flight abroad resulting in a frantic mission to Gatwick. A failure in longevity, it did however teach me some lessons on how to make my kit fit and what layout may be best for future vans. Thirteen years later, four vans bought, converted and sold, I am sitting in the back of a newly acquired VW T6. This is its first holiday and I can safely say I have for the moment achieved my ultimate van, although I am sure this will change as my needs change. ‘Twig’ as it has been dubbed (not sure where the name came from), has had a professional conversion done by the lads at SimplySurfBus, a new experience for me having previously done my own conversions. uk WIND SURFING