86FEATURETHE TRENCH
Private beach
West Wittering is a private beach so you must be a member
of 2XS or you can get a day ticket to windsurf there. This not
only ensures that everyone is safe, but also gives a great
sense of community, from everyone rigging up on the lawn,
to guys pushing each other to go faster down the Trench and
round the gybe, to the banter in the clubhouse after about
someone’s catapult! It’s one of the things I love most about
working and windsurfing down here.
There are a core group of us who freestyle down here.
Comprised of myself and mainly people who I worked with
abroad whilst doing seasons. We all consider ourselves very
lucky to have this incredible spot on our doorstep and as soon
as conditions (and work hours) allow it, we are always out there.
It’s not always just about doing the biggest and best move, it’s
about sailing with your mates as well; pushing each other to
get better at what we all love doing. Every time we come off
the water, there’s always a great vibe from everyone, even if
someone’s session wasn’t the best, the general stoke is
always there.
The Witterings
Coming to an area like the Witterings, you find most local
windsurfers are mainly wavesailors, despite having a world
class freestyle spot on the doorstep, the waves draw nearly
everyone once they reach a certain level. With the current
level of freestyle going through the roof it’s easy to look at
freestyle as something unattainable, something for the kids
with elastic ankles, something I can’t even pronounce. But
freestyle is something as simple as taking your front hand off
on a gybe, a downwind 360 or an upwind 360!
All these moves are often so overlooked yet they translate into
so many more advanced moves. So it’s great to see some of
our members starting to take a bit of an interest, whether it’s
wanting to finally nail that vulcan they learned all those years
ago or wanting to get their upwind 360s dialled to help with
their takas. I’ve even got my boss Simon Bassett up for trying
some shove-its to mix up his backside wave sailing!
It’s a shame freestyle isn’t as big as it could be. I’ve heard it
described before as the instructors discipline, merely
something to learn on flat water once you’ve finished
teaching, yet it is so much more than that. You find which
moves you think look good, and some moves form the basis
for so many more, which will hugely improve your general
windsurfing. From Antoine Albeau to Campello, to Brawzinho,
all have been freestyle world champs before they took to
their respective disciplines they’re now known for.
So if the waves aren’t so good, or the tides are low that day,
head down to the Trench. You don’t need a freestyle board or
any specific gear – freestyle can learned aboard your
standard freeride kit. At the end of the day we all want to
spend as much time on the water as possible, freestyle is
just another avenue to make the most out of windsurfing.
Especially if it can be done in a spot as sick as the Trench.
You may find that elusive move you’ve been yearning for, yet
doesn’t have to be so elusive…
uk
WIND
SURFING