22PROFILE PETE DAVIS
My fave old bit of windsurfing kit is the Arrows
extension. We have had a set for almost 20 years now
and they’re still going strong. I wish they still made
them! New gear has to be my AL360 wave booms.
They’re soooo strong and light and if you haven’t tried
the new smaller diameter tear drop shape you are
missing out. They are so easy on the hands and I
couldn’t imagine going back to a standard style boom.
I am semi-retired now (old). We still have a small
property development company that keeps me honest.
But it gives me a lot of freedom to travel and do the
odd bit of windsurfing.
We windsurfers are always trying not to commit too much
just in case it’s windy. The ‘law of sod’ always makes it
blowy when you can’t get out of a work commitment or
on a Saturday when it’s your best friend’s wedding. My
mate Paul Burgess, in West Kirby, has the best job for
windsurfing. He is a tree surgeon and if it’s windy he has
no choice but to ring the customer, explain it’s too
dangerous to go up a tree in such winds, and then head
straight to the beach! But we can’t all be tree surgeons
so try and find the best work balance you can.
Remember, you will never see on any tombstone: ‘I wish I
had spent more time in the office’.
Windsurfing is a fun sport so don’t make it a chore.
Secondly go on a windsurfing holiday somewhere warm
and breezy – ideally with a good coach to hand. This
will turbo boost your learning and improve skills.
Finally, when buying your own kit purchase the best
and lightest gear you can afford. It will make such a
difference to your progression.
I’m still learning! That is one of the beauties of our
sport – you never stop learning. But the best advice I
had was the ‘head leads the way’. When gybing look
out of the turn – it still holds true!
Windsurfing is fantastic. It has taken me all over the
world and I’ve made some great friends from all
corners of the globe. Learning to windsurf is not easy.
When you see a windsurfer out there gybing and
blasting about you know that has taken them a good
deal of time and effort to get there. That for me makes
windsurfers special.
Thanks so much to the people and sponsors that have
supported me over the last 30 plus years. Special
thanks must go to Farrel O’Shea, (Dave) Whitey,
Graeme Fuller, Ceri Williams, Anders Bringdal, Allan
Cross and of course my lovely wife Zara – your counsel
has been invaluable. Thanks must also go to the
windsurfing industry that has given so much to the
events and projects that I have been involved in to make
the sport we love better. As well as the aforementioned I
must add Nik Baker, Tushingham and Tris Best from The
OTC have all been great supporters of what we do.
“The ‘law of sod’ always makes it blowy
when you can’t get out of a work
commitment or on a Saturday when it’s your
best friend’s wedding.”
uk
WIND
SURFING