30PROFILE OLLIE SCOTT
from a shop or sponsors point of view I’ m useful as I can be used as a sort of sales tool for equipment.
Guests are a captive audience. But just because you’ re a hotshot PWA freestyler doesn’ t mean you can talk kit with the general windsurfing public. You must have good knowledge, understand each individual’ s wants / needs and then have the people skills that making conversing with guests from all walks of life comfortable and relaxed.
Windsurfing is ever changing. I was with Bubble in March windsurfing at Avon( Dorset) and there must have been 50 people on the water so I’ d say it’ s doing OK. The vibe and buzz was right on! If Club Vass is anything to go by then there are still lots of people from the UK wanting to get their windsurfing fix. Everyone in the industry has a different point of view though. I suppose it depends if you’ re selling gear, the lifestyle, teaching or competing.
I see people progress very quickly at CV but most would say this is because it’ s an easy place to coach and sail. Sun and flat water = huge improvement.
Club Vass coaching
We coach windsurfing in a slightly different way at Club Vass to most other venues. We teach the RYA syllabus for Start Windsurfing but we also coach the skills required to progress as a windsurfer in the purest sense. We’ re not just about collecting tickets, although it’ s still important to do so. Maybe update the syllabus?
SUPs are keeping the windsurf game going now, to an extent – or at least inflatables. The foiling thing has got people’ s juices flowing again. We’ re running foiling tuition with Max Rowe this summer at Club Vass on our JP foil boards. Maybe foiling could go to the Olympics?
Female pro sailors
It’ s good to support female windsurfing as well – we do this a lot. It’ s grown more in the last few years. Some female pro sailors are nailing all the bigger moves but they are coaching to a higher level as well. I have four advanced female instructors working at Club Vass( check out Clare Elliott’ s profile from issue two – ed) – now that’ s impressive in my book! These girls can do spocks and loops so it’ s good to see progression in the sport from all ages and all levels. The last few Diva Weeks at Club Vass had close to 40 female windsurfers per week, which we’ re super proud about.
Windsurfing is a hard sport but an amazing one – a never-ending journey whatever your level. Club Vass is a special place that anyone interested in getting into windsurfing should visit. After that you’ ll be back year after year.
There are too many shout outs to thank everyone. I’ m just grateful to be part of windsurfing in the UK and abroad! uk
WIND SURFING