30 PROFILESIMON BASSETT
What are your plans windsurfing wise for
the rest of the year? Got any overseas
trips planned, if so where?
Tenerife in a few weeks then Club Vass in the summer.
If you could start again what would you
do differently, if anything?
Probably not much. Maybe keep a few more original custom
boards I had and, as always, only sell what you believe in.
As a concept 2XS is quite unique,
resembling more an overseas centre
than UK based windsurfing club. How
much do you think this has played in the
success of 2XS?
Well why not? The UK is a great destination and West
Wittering beach is amazing. We just wanted to provide the
best option for windsurfing – the 2XS club, school, hire and
demo centre – and have the best choice of kit.
Where’s windsurfing sit for you in 2018?
For us it’s a 110% priority. We’re teaching 5 year olds to sail,
we’re selling the latest kit, we’re learning new stuff on the
water and we are generally on it!
What would you change about the sport,
if anything?
The weather! If we had more consistent wind we wouldn’t need
to go abroad windsurfing. It would be kicking here in the UK.
How do you see windsurfing moving
forwards? Is foiling the future?
I really like light wind foiling. I think it is epic gliding across the
water in low wind with small sails. I would like to see freestyle
grow in the UK. I think it should be part of basic windsurf
lessons. It is the basis of rig and board control. You can do
freestyle in lakes, flat water and at the coast in waves.
uk
WIND
SURFING
Tell us about your fave global windsurfing
destination and why you love it.
It has to be Maui – that is THE place – Pa’ia, North Shore.
Windsurfing with our friends the Mckirgans, riding and flying
over the reef at Camp One, Spartans Reef with Whitey, Fred
Haywood, Dave Ewer and Nicky Boy back in the day are
amazing experiences. As was going to the Quatro/Goya
custom house and getting a new board. Maui is the full
windsurfing experience, and then some!
You have three women in your life (two
daughters and a wife) who seem to be
into watersports. Is this more luck or
pure judgement?
Jane (wife) likes the beach and sometimes windsurfs or
SUPs. Holly and Daisy (daughters) both love the ocean and
windsurf, SUP and surf. We had a brief moment with horses
but warm beach holidays sealed the deal!
Do you think it’s harder for women in
windsurfing than men?
No I don’t. I think if you want to succeed it’s the inner beast
that drives your determination and you need lots! You do
need access to decent kit, coaching and a support network
for windsurfing, that’s what makes it hard for people to learn.
The lack of those things that is.
Any final thoughts?
Yes! Go windsurfing! Buy some new windsurf toys and take a
windsurfing holiday – you won’t regret it.