62 PROFILERUARAIDH SOMERVILLE
What’s the best complimentary sport to windsurfing do
you think?
SUPing, surfing or cycling. I’ve had some annoying injuries
the past few years so I’ve not done much surfing but I really
like SUPing when there’s no wind. Waves or no waves it’s
good fun. Cycling is also really great, especially for keeping
fit, but I don’t do it nearly as much as I should!
Who are your windsurfing heroes and why?
My dad, Antoine Martin, Thomas Traversa and Levi Siver.
And your biggest source of inspiration for getting wet?
Antoine Martin’s Dying To Live video. He released it around
Christmas last year and I must’ve watched it a thousand
times since then. It’s a high octane, crazy video where he
just sends it big time. I love it so much and it never fails to
inspire me to go out on the water.
Any big windsurfing goals for 2019?
Land the backloop, and just do the best I can in the
conditions I get.
Thanks and praise?
My main sponsors, JP and NeilPryde, provide me with kit that
I really love. I’m not saying “they’re the best, everything else
is rubbish!”, I’m saying you should try them and see what
you think. Not every board or sail is right for everyone, but
you don’t know until you try! -, so I can’t thank them enough.
Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers especially gave me my first deal and
it’s thanks to him seeing some potential in me that I’m
where I am now. Thanks to K4, to Wild Diamond and Swipii
for their support too!
Recently I’ve been working with Jason and Yvonne from
DUTCH-ENGELS, an independent content creators now
based in Tiree who have been so kind and friendly the past
few months, taking time to film and photograph me when I
go windsurfing. No matter what level you’re at, they make
you look way better. So, thanks so much to you two.
Give us a brief walkthrough of what kit you’re using,
and why?
I’m loving my gear just now. My sails are 3.3, 4.0 and 4.7,
all NeilPryde Combats, and my board is an 83l JP Ultimate
Wave. I’m quite a light guy, and while Combats are more
geared toward bigger people, I find they suit me perfectly. I
get loads of drive in my turns and power when I’m sailing out
when it’s lighter. When it gets windy I just crank on the
downhaul but keep the outhaul pretty much the same. them
now; I can’t wait to sail them everywhere I go. Lastly, my first ever sponsors: Mum and Dad. Mum for the
yummy cake - anybody who hasn’t tried Mrs Somerville’s
famous cakes is seriously missing out -, the pictures, and the
countless hours of love and help that I’ll never be able to
repay, and for never once not believing in me, and to Dad for
all the coaching, the long drives to the beach, for the time
spent watching me sail, and for everything else!
What’s your favourite piece of gear and why?
My board, or my wetsuit! We are who we are because of the environment we live in.
I’m surrounded by amazing, kind people, so I can’t complain!
Aloha, and happy sailing.
uk
WIND
SURFING