40PROFILE CORKY KIRKHAM
Sponsorship
Being sponsored these days is a lot more technical
and precise in what companies expect of you. In the
old days you could receive pretty much loan
boards/sails to compete if you were good enough.
There was no social media – FB, Instagram and such
like. It was just you being at the beach, sailing and
pushing your supporters by having it on the water.
Nowadays it’s all about contracts: what/where you go,
which events you attend and basically it being a job.
My new role is as international team rider for
NoveNove, plus being their brand agent in the UK and
here on Fuerteventura. My other deals are with
Challenger Sails from Italy. We’re hoping to get these
into the UK soon. Pawn Future Kings Clothing, Gecko
Headgear, Hey Dude Shoes, K4 Fins, Secreto del Sur
Ice cream and Coffee Shop and East Coast Airbrush all
help me out as well.
I showcase the kit, compete at certain events and be
on call, along with Luke Wilkes. He sorts out sales
visits for me. But also my job is to really spread the
name, highlight the logo and band the word about on
social media. This is how the world works now. To get
sales and have potential punters see what the gear
can do it’s all about action shots!
Fuerte
I discovered ‘the Rock’ when I was still sailing in
Newcastle. I’d follow Gary Gibson and see his pics of
insane conditions. I knew Fuerte was rough and crazy
and wanted to go! All my mates went to Matagorda in
Lanza, but I only ever dreamed of Fuerte. The crystal
waters and pure white Sahara sandy beaches definitely
drove me to come here and live.
Moving back to the UK isn’t an option. I own my own
home here and am very happy being 10 yards from Rocky
Point. I do head back to visit though. For all my sponsors I
need to be there sometimes for promo purposes.
Corky’s Bar
Corky’s Bar was infamous – a real colourful period of
my life (and no doubt any others who visited). It was
insane! I had it for 15 years but as town got busier,
and more bars opened up, each one had less people
in. Where I used to get 80 each night, the number
started dropping. When numbers dipped pretty low it
was slowly dawning on me that time had come to sell
up and sail even more!
I’ve had plenty of ‘names’ in Corky’s Bar. And I’ve
made some great friends through it that still come and
visit. Timo Mullen stays with me when he flies over.
uk
WIND
SURFING
Andy King, John Skye, Andy Funnell (RIP) and
numerous others have spent memorable summers
sailing Punta Blanca and other spots.
One particular story I do recall was Bjorn Dunkerbeck
one night stood on the pool table, shirt off, drinking
Vodka Red Bulls until 4am. Bjorn being tall got
caught by my ceiling fan and slashed his forehead!
There are countless other stories, most of which I
can’t describe here…
Now I’m free sailing more, we’ve been producing drone
videos of Fuerteventura breaks. Sponsors have been
very keen on this alongside other social media stuff.
My first drone safari video got over 6,000 views so it’s
working quite nicely.
Has windsurfing changed? I’d say it definitely dropped
off when kiting came on the scene. Only diehard
windsurfers wouldn’t look at a kite. But then so many
of my friends tried it and came back to windsurfing,
eventually. It’s having a resurgence definitely – all over
from the UK to the Canaries. There are increasing
“Moving back to the UK isn’t an option. I own
my own home here and am very happy being
10 yards from Rocky Point.”