73
YORK
SPEED!
MATT YORK PROFILE
WORDS: WSUK
PICS: MATTY YORK, MARCY YORK AND DAVE WHITE
SUPER KEEN SPEED SAILOR MATT YORK IS
CURRENTLY RECOVERING FROM OPEN
SHOULDER SURGERY TO REPAIR A NIGGLING
INJURY. As we go to press Matt should be on
the road to getting back afloat. During this
‘off games’ period though we thought we’d
catch up for a natter about all things speed
and dealing with obstacles such as this.
Tell us where you first started windsurfing and
what got you into it
I came from a sailing background, both mum and dad sailed along
with myself and brother. We were lucky enough to be five minutes
from a sailing club: Northampton Sailing Club (Pitsford it’s known as
that because of the village next to it). I still windsurf there.
Sailing wasn’t really my thing and one day a local sailor turned up
with a Laser Surfsprint, he let me have a go and that was it. I was
hooked at the age of eight.
Was it always the speed side of windsurfing you erred towards or did you fancy
other areas?
I just windsurfed because I loved it. It just became a way of life for me. I did try a bit of freestyle but couldn’t really
land anything and after a few bruises gave that up. I did a bit of longboard racing but nothing to serious. I even tried
slalom but it just wasn’t for me. I was always fast and just raced against the local lads which can hold their own.
When did the speed sailing bug really take hold?
I had an early midlife crisis I reckon. I fancied challenging myself so decided to try speed sailing and decided to give
Weymouth Speedweek a go before I got to old. Think that was 2007. I entered the amateur fleet – not sure why -
should have been in the novice fleet really. After what was the best week of windsurfing I’ve ever had I finished in
second place. I was well stoked as you can imagine. I just missed out on a year’s sponsorship with Simmer, which at
the time was first amateur prize. Second place got me a Simmer sail and the chance to meet a legend of mine:
Farrel O’Shea. GPS units were being used which made speed sailing very addictive, as every run you knew how fast
you were so you had to go faster on the next one and that was the start of it all.
Talk to us about your prep for a session. Do you train at all? Tweak your equipment?
So prep wise you rig and re rig your small sails loads of times until you’re happy you have them right. You need them
to be perfectly rigged on the day or you ain’t gonna go fast. Check all the batten tensions, downhaul, boom heights
and make notes. Same goes with the board: check the footsteps are in the right place, fins fit perfect, mast position;
you don’t want to be messing about changing loads of settings. You need to start from the same place every time.
Now, do I train at all? Well, I don’t do the gym or anything but I’m a builder by trade and do loads of exercise at work
(in my opinion). As for on the water training I try to sail as much as possible in any conditions There’s no substitute
for time on the water.
uk
WIND
SURFING