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What’ s the ultimate goal re work? Is being a sponsored sailor not enough? Do you have to work outside of windsurfing? My goal is to continue to prioritise windsurfing for as long as possible and find a way to make work fit in around that. One day my fitness and health will run out so I can’ t do it the other way round. I bought myself extra time when I was 16 years old after a knee operation fixed damage done by a bad skateboarding accident. If I work on this premise with the awareness, that this won’ t always be possible, I think that’ s my best shot at being happy. Hopefully I can make it all tie together. This way, I also stay true to the commitment I made to myself as a kid which rightly or wrongly I still hold as extremely important. I’ m extremely grateful to have been using what I consider the best equipment for such a long time- Quatro Boards and Ezzy Sails. Them helping me with kit really makes a big difference.
Any out of industry sponsors? What’ s the deal with them if so? Some wheels are turning with Conker Spirit whose vision and enthusiasm I feel we share. Hopefully we’ ll put pen to paper and do something that is really productive for both parties. I feel that something great is possible. Meanwhile buy yourself some Conker Dorset Dry Gin and you’ ll understand where I am coming from( we have! – ed).
How does it work with your supporters? Are you expected to compete or are you free to follow the soul sailing path? They’ ve never told me they expect me to compete but I feel it’ s important for me anyway. Competing against others provides me with a yard stick and makes sure that I don’ t get soft. Fortunately I often windsurf with some incredibly talented windsurfers so I get that from them too but getting beaten in a heat has a good way of rubbing off the need to improve. I think that my sponsors are aware that it is challenging to mix professional level windsurfing with modern life so they do offer me a good degree of flexibility. I’ m hoping to pay them back by doing some big and interesting things over the next few years.
Who do you get your kit from and why do you love it? Boards from Quatro, sails from Ezzy and fins from K4 fins. I sort of feel like these brands not only have the quality and thinking behind them that I respect but they are run by people with a passion that really filters in to the products. That’ s invaluable as far as I’ m concerned and it’ s really noticeable to me when I use the gear. I’ m not a hype man, I like good quality gear that lets me focus on what I need to do.
In the shack
WIND
uk
SURFING