- Date of Birth
- 02/07/1956
- Sport
- Pro windsurfer - journalist and presenter
- Battleground
- North and West coasts of Ireland, West Wittering and The Isle of Wight… OK I admit it… Maui
- Fav Fat Face weapon
- Fat Rashie
- Hometown
- Emsworth on the South Coast of England.
- Best/MOST RECENT result
- Former British Slalom champion. 3rd in World speed rankings. I was one of only a handful of windsurfers to break 40 knot barrier. I was voted 3rd most influential windsurfer of all time
- Why this sport?
- It's a constant challenge, there's always something new to go for; the environment is stunning; sailing out in the translucent waves of Ireland, Mauritius or Maui brings sights sounds and feelings to invigorate you for a lifetime. On a windsurfer you regularly reach the speed of a powerboat without the noise, smell or expense.
- How did you get into it?
- I was a student teacher working in a French school. I was a keen surfer/skier. One of the gym teachers in the school was into windsurfing and lent me his board for the weekend - that was it, from that moment on, despite lacerations to shins and elbows and an advanced case off hypothermia; I became a hopeless wind-junkie.
- What next?
- I’ve got some fantastic new locations for my clinics in 09, including Antigua, Brazil and Baja. I’ve got a new beginner/intermediate windsurfing DVD coming out this summer. I’ve also filmed a series of instructional skiing programs called ’Skiing Skills’, which will be released in time for next season.
- Any other sports?
- Surfing, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, tennis, golf - I'm a real 'master of none' when it comes to other sports!
- Favourite event and why?
- Every September I do a series of advanced wave clinics on the west coast of Ireland. The scenery, the conditions, the people, the music, the craic - it's pure joy.
- Favourite place in the world?
- At home on the south coast - OK, it's a toss up between Ireland and Barbados
- Training regime?
- Being primarily a skill sport, working specific muscle groups and demanding a specialist type of fitness, windsurfing is the best training for windsurfing. However, during times when the wind is down, I do a general cardio vascular routine including either biking, indoor rowing or circuits involving mostly bodyweight exercises... I usually follow these workouts with a good session down the pub.
- What makes you good at your sport?
- I was a gymnast and therefore have (or at least 'had') a good strength to weight ratio and am (was) quite quick on my feet. Also I relish the ocean and enjoy being fully immersed and pummeled - essential if you want to progress in waves.
- Advice to others wanting to get into the sport?
- Sign on to a recognized course where you know the kit and the instruction is up to scratch - it will save you hours of grief. Then rejoice in the fact that windsurfing is NOT a quick fix - the more you put in the more you get out and the satisfaction is heart-warming. Bite the bullet and invest in modern equipment.
- Married, Single, kids? Tell all!
- Married to Annette with a son ‘Mondo’ and a daughter ‘Lola.’ We met on the Hawaiian island of Maui. She's signed up for one of my courses.. the poor fool. Somehow I managed to persuade her to swap Maui for the Sussex coast where we now live - quite a result! Part of the deal was that we would continue to travel. True to my word, we spend about 4 months a year in sunnier climes.
