WindsurfingUK issue 5 October 2017 | Page 16

14PROFILE FINN MELLON What moves/skills are you currently working on and how’s this going? Talking onshore, my main aim for visiting the Canaries was to improve my jumping so I put work into my back loops and forwards. I also learned how to do backside 360s which is a pretty cool onshore move. Now that I am back at home I will be making it my goal to start smashing out wave 360s. They are one of favourite wave moves. They look so stylish on a wave. Recently you spent time in the Canaries having a dig at the PWA. How did this go? Any particular highlights? I spent six weeks in the Canaries training my onshore sailing in Pozo and Cabezo. I had real fun. I got on the water every day for the whole time I was there. I got to hang out with PWA stars like Jaeger Stone, Adam Lewis and Robby Swift. Not much more I could ask for really… For me the competition was not my best but I am still happy with how it went, as I know onshore Pozo style sailing is not my strong point. So to contest against the local hotshots is a result for me. And what about not so great experiences? Having my new 2018 GA sails get stuck in customs for almost three weeks was really a pain. I needed them on countless occasions such as my second heat in the uk WIND SURFING junior event where I was sailing super overpowered on my 3.6m while my 3.3m was sitting on the other side of the island. Oh yeah, I can't forget to mention the Pozo rocks, those mini boulders covered in slippery algae. They are pure carnage! Nobody escapes the rocks, even the stars have their fair share of run ins with them. It is either your gear or your body getting rinsed on them. If you were following the Pozo event you would have seen Loick Lesauvage break his foot in the shorebreak during his heat! It really surprises me how things like this don't happen more often on those rocks. How difficult (or easy) was it to get to these comps to take on the world’s best? Will you be doing more? It is a fantastic experience that is easily accessible for anyone, I would truly recommend it for every junior windsurfer. The Canary Islands are easily accessible from