WindsurfingUK issue 11 June 2019 | Page 32

32 PROFILEANT BAKER without doing clinics every single day, so myself and my Exec. Assistant, Jess, came up with the Facebook paid group. For a monthly fee of £30, the members can access a hybrid of a coaching group with a membership site. Members will get all the platform content, weekly coaching lives, questions and answer sessions, discussion forums etc. as well a monthly clinic at different locations around the country (and in the near future – around the world!). There is so much value-added content that I can offer members especially with the products I stock and everyone will also have a direct line to me and all the knowledge and tips I hold. There are plenty of coaches out there with varying levels of ability. The difference between a coach and an ‘outstanding coach’ is the ability to coach you on what really works best for YOU rather than telling you what to do based on what works for THEM. My recruitment consultancy, Chase Valentine, is the market leader in Consultancy in the UK and Scotland offering the Financial Services industry expert advice on staffing and development. I remember a self-confessed guru telling me one day that you don’t need to be amazing at sailing to teach it… well windsurfing is super complicated, and you need to understand equipment design, biomechanics and then how it all fits together, and if you don’t then you aren’t a coach, you’re just adult day care. Fortunately, I know my stuff and I believe 77sports Academy will benefit so many people in this modern digital age where they can be coached at their desk or on the sofa, or even lying in bed (!) and be ready and motivated to improve their sailing once they hit the water. You use social media extensively – particularly FB. Why is that? Does it bring success? I love Facebook, it’s a great way to reach a large amount of people across the world and across its various platforms you can get most things uploaded and ready for action almost instantly. I want to reach as many people as possible and this is the best way to do it. Windsurfing isn’t the only thing you do. Tell us about your other ventures/projects. Well, my family and friends will tell you I don’t ever stop! I have loads of things in the process. My recruitment consultancy, Chase Valentine, is the market leader in Consultancy in the UK and Scotland offering the Financial Services industry expert advice on staffing and development. 77sports Recruitment covers the recruitment requirements for professional football clubs which is awesome fun. And with the help of the amazing Jess I am starting to write a book based on a proven to succeed sales process which will be launched at the end of the year. I also love spending time with my family who love to windsurf, paddle and ride motorbikes. And my pugs…I love my dogs! What are your plans moving forwards for the rest of 2019 and beyond? 2019 has already been busy, but this will just keep on growing. I will be doing pop up clinics and demos and will be offing unique solutions to help the market get back the trust in the retail network. I would love to work with retail stores to help them improve as we need them, well at least the good ones, to survive as a sport. I answer every message and every phone call and love to help all watersports enthusiasts with uk WIND SURFING