WindsurfingUK issue 5 October 2017 | Page 33

31 I have been out of action for most of the year really, having just returned to the water a couple of weeks ago. come along as this can actually have the reverse effect sometimes – sail with zero expectations. Injuries I managed to go a good few years with only minor injuries (ah, the glory of youth), but over the past six or seven years they’ve been mounting up, perhaps unsurprisingly. Broken toes, broken fingers, broken teeth, torn ligaments, dislocated shoulder and four years ago a broken hip resulting in a hip replacement. Recently, after months of back problems, I found out I have four prolapsed discs in my lower back, which is going to be a little problematic I think. I have been out of action for most of the year really, having just returned to the water a couple of weeks ago. I’m having to supplement my sailing with core strengthening exercises and stretching, and it looks like this will form part of my daily regime forever now if I want to carry on sailing at a decent level. I’ve always hated yoga and even more so gyms but it would appear that they will now turn out to be ‘lifesavers’ for me. If I had to do it all again though, I would do it all the same except for the fact that I would probably listen more to all the physios who have uk WIND SURFING