My top tip would be to get yourself out there, don’t be up your own ass, talk to people smile and be a happy person, approach people, help them out, don’t be shy to ask , show the sponsor what you have to offer and just love and enjoy the sport! – Colin Dixon (Club Vass superstar, Club Dahab Centre Manager and Co-founder of Windsurf Coaching)

The first level of sponsorship is being a “shop rider”. In this case, you are sponsored by your local windsurf shop/school and help them promote their products. Once the shop puts you on their “team”, you would push the shop to prospective customers and push the products the shop sells in your local area or online. You usually represent the shop at local competitions, demo days, or clinics, and you might even think about working for the shop itself. This level usually gets the rider discounts on products sold at the shop, and possibly some free gear. This is the level most riders start out at, and it’s the best way to get your foot in the door to the next step.

The next level of sponsorship is a “brand team-rider”. In this case, you may still be linked to the shop you set out with but you are now promoting one specific brand who sees potential in you. The brand or brands would ask you to also promote more on a national level, perhaps asking you to attend certain events like the National Windsurfing Festival and/or demo days. Being a “brand team-rider” usually entitles a rider to discounts on that brands products perhaps a bit better than the Shop Rider with some potential expenses covered to attend demo events (where you may also be able to compete, further improving your profile).

On an equivalent level to the “brand team-rider” is being a “rider/rep” for the company. This is similar to being a “team rider”, but it goes a bit further. In addition to doing what a “team rider” does for the company, the person also pushes the company and its products to shops. This can lead to discounts and/or free gear, as well as commission for sales to shops. This is more common for older riders, who have already gone through the competition route and who plan on maybe settling back in their home country. It is likely you would get all your kit on loan as part of a demo fleet which you would travel the country with.

The next level of sponsorship is being a “national level” or “low-level pro” rider. Usually this means that you’re on a company’s pro team under a contract (this can be a verbal contract). This contract usually entitles the rider to free gear, normally as loan equipment and perhaps some monetary incentives to help towards event travel and costs. A rider of this level will travel around the country competing and attending events to promote the brand, results are important but also exposure in magazines and online. Especially now in the times of social media, it can only work in your favour to regularly update about events, travels and new gear. In most cases the brands would want to see some video exposure also. As a “national level” rider there could be some exposure within the brands promotional material and opportunity to have your feedback on equipment reach the actual board designers or sail makers (this is a little dependant on the brands size and set-up).

The final level is being what most people think of as a “pro rider”. These are guys like Robby Swift, John Skye, Ben Proffitt, Adam Sims, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Max Rowe, Adam Lewis, etc… etc… This level of sponsorship is only given to the best in the country who then go on to represent their brands on the World Tour. Most will be within the top 3 in the UK and making good results on the European and World Tour. They will be submitting travel articles on their winter training and creating videos on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. These guys will be seen on the PWA Live Stream, may make TV appearances and could even be European/World Tour event organisers themselves (for example Robby Swift has sealed the deal on the 3 year contract to host the PWA in Chile from this December and Adam Sims managed to organise and run the first ever European Freestyle Pro Tour event in the UK last November). the brands will expect them to attend events, get the best results possible, create exposure not just in their country but worldwide yet at the same time they must still keep a strong link to their home country, perhaps attending some UK events and showing their face at the National Windsurfing Festival. In the best cases these guys will be paid a full salary for their work, travel and competition expenses will be covered and they will receive a healthy kit allowance depending on how many disciplines they do.

I would say you need to really be friendly and approachable but at the same time really passionate about what you do and pushing the brands you are supported by. I’ve always chosen the kit I like the best, then gone about asking that brand, maybe the slightly harder approach but then I always know that I can speak truthfully about what I use to the public – Adam Sims (2011 UK Freestyle Champion, 2012 European Freestyle Windsurfer of the Year)

The most common misconception that riders have is that they think they must be sticking the latest moves and getting the best results. This is not true at all. Obviously, being a great riders is very helpful and important in gaining a sponsorship at the very top stages where you want to be considered a pro.

However, it’s not necessary to have any certain number of tricks or skill level to start getting sponsored by a local shop or as a regional team rider. What’s truly important when trying to get sponsored is your attitude towards windsurfing and you’re ability to promote the shop or company in your local area. Nobody wants to sponsor someone who is full of themselves and their windsurfing skills, so don’t be that person. Being nice to others, passionate about the sport you do, complimentary to people and the equipment you use and just showing heaps of enthusiasm will get you well on your way.

Besides your attitude, you need to show a potential sponsor how you can promote their product. Are you good at talking face to face with others? Do you compete at competitions? Will you help at demo days/trade shows? Can you judge at local competitions? Do you help push and maybe even run local events? Do you have the ability to promote their products on the internet? Are you going to be in videos? Nobody wants to sponsor a rider who’s just going to ride at their home spot with their mates all the time, they want to sponsor a rider who is out there in the public eye promoting their produts in a positive manner and pushing the sport up. These guys are the ones any brand want on board, whether or not they choose to admit it.

If you have a great attitude and can promote well, you can probably step into the early stages of sponsorship without even having a huge skill set. However, if you want to get past the shop sponsor or rider/rep levels, you’ll need to have a certain amount of advance skills to go along with your promotion and good attitude. Much of this can be learnt on the Advanced Instructor Courses that the RYA offer but from there you have to take the learning into your own hands and focus on the disciplne/s of your choice. There are no rules on what moves you should learn or techniques you should adopt. The best advice we would give you is to adapt your own style, stand out from the crowd and make sure you have some ‘interesting’ moves under the belt.

Promote yourself, get a good camera, and talk to everyone you can. All sponsorship I have was really through people I know – John Palmer (Club Dahab Centre Manager and regular in the top of the UK Freestyle Pro scene)

How To Get Noticed

You’ve got the right attitude, you are positive about the sport and getting others interested in it, how do you go about getting noticed? There are a lot of techniques you can adopt but you do not always need to utilise every single one, don’t be pushy is the key thing, so see what you think you might be able to achieve from the following and put a plan in place over a certain time period to see if you can achieve it.

• Get in good with your local shop. Try getting a job there, or catch up with shop employees and join them on windsurf sessions/trips, just let the natural course of friendship guide you there. In the end this will allow you to meet the company reps that sometimes appear at your local shop and it is never a bad thing to have your name heard of with these guys. You’ll meet other good riders in your area, get to know what’s going on in the scene, etc. and at the same time learn a lot about the sport. This is also a good way into shop sponsorship and often the first and last step for many who don’t want to progress any further but are happy receiving some discounted gear for bringing new customers along. Be careful not to see the brand reps as the next step and try and skip out the shop, you won’t do yourself any favours by closing doors. In 99% of cases it is good to keep connected to a shop for as long as you can possibly hold onto them, even many of the PWA riders still have shops as one of their sponsors and it is always nice to have a base in the UK to report back to about events, etc…
• Participate in local competitions, demo days, and clinics. Most areas have competitions or demos of some type in their area. Go to these events, talk to as many people as you can, make connections, be friendly, and try to ride as well as you can. Don’t take competing so seriously it drives you crazy, but the better you finish the better your chances. However, finishing 1st in a competition doesn’t mean you deserve a sponsorship or anything of the sort. You can also offer to judge, help out with the event and do other things at a competition. You can usually ride in your discipline and help out in other ways, often you see the top guys also judging at UK events, whilst the most keen youngsters and fresh faces are standing over their shoulders seeing what scores the best. Shops and brands appreciate that hard work and like a person who is known in the scene.
• Start your own competitions or clinics. Maybe there aren’t any events in your area. Try starting some. This shows your initiative and your ability to promote. Invite the local shops and brands to participate in your event, and they’ll get to know you and what you can do for them. Often your shop will be only too happy to offer out some demo equipment for an event but make sure you check your public liability and insurance. There is also an easy solution for this, your shop may well be covered for small events and once again another positive about being connected to your local retailer.
• Try finding out who the brand reps are through your shop and try to be in store when they come and visit, you not only get to chat with them and get a face put to your name but you get to see all the new kit. Find out if they have time to hit the water in your local area, many reps like to also windsurf in different places and would jump at the opportunity to have someone to sail with, quite often you might pick up a few tips for moves off them as well.
• Meet riders who are already sponsored. Sponsored riders usually have connections, so it’s good to meet these people and start riding with them and again you can only learn more from them if they are better then you.
• Promote yourself on the internet. There are many web sites like Boards.co.uk and Boardseeker.com that love to receive content. You can post pictures of yourself, videos, participate on the forum, write articles, write trick tips, and do other things to get your name out there. The forums are a great channel for getting tips and travel advise also.
• Further down the line think about producing a half decent video alongside a windsurfing CV to give to brands that interest you. Make a rider CV similar to a job CV that lists information about you, your contest results, best moves, how you feel about windsurfing, copies of exposure and how you can promote and benefit that particular brand. Send that all in to the Team Manager and follow up a week or so later to check that they watched it, these guys are busy so it is a really good idea to follow up. If you make it on to the team these guys will become good friends and it is always good to send them exposure that you make, they may not notice it or just miss it, so send them a short email with a link.

There are a lot of good windsurfers out there who deserve to be sponsored, but there aren’t that many companies offering sponsorship. So don’t expect sponsorship just because you can do a certain trick or you won a competition. These companies and reps meet lots of riders, so you have to be exceptional with your attitude, promotional ability, and riding to get noticed.

Obviously, you also need to start small with your local shop and local reps. It’s also helpful to start pursuing sponsorships with smaller brands who are making their way into your country. These are the ones most likely to have openings on their teams. It’s hard to just get a sponsorship from the biggest brands like Starboard/Fanatic/Tabou. Usually riders have to get sponsored by their shop, then follow the chain up, but as we said keep hold of the shop for as long as possible, after all if all things cock up with one brand you will always be able to go back to them and begin to formulate a deal with another brand and remember they are your local shop, you’ll be seeing these guys for your entire windsurfing career.

Good Luck.

Get ready for your next windsurfing session, where ever it may be!

Words by Lagoon Watersports coach, Lucy McCormick.

I am first going to touch on why, as windsurfers, we need to warm up and cool down before and after our windsurfing session, and the importance of getting the right food inside our bodies.

WINDSURFER’S WARM UP

Most windsurfers aren’t too keen on the idea of warming up, prancing around on the beach doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it should as the benefits are massive and an effective warm up only needs to take five minutes.

The main purpose of a warm up is to prepare your body for your windsurf session, as well as reducing the risk of injury and helping to improve your performance on the water.

During the warm up you will increase the blood flow to your muscles and raise your body temperature, this will mobilise the joints and make your muscles more supple, leading to improved reactions and coordination. It will also help you prepare mentally, and put you in the right mind set to nail that new move.

An effective warm up will:

• Increases the blood flow to muscles, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients.
• Prepares your body and heart for your increased activity, whist you’re on the water.
• Prepares you mentally for your session.
• Warms your muscles, making them more supple and ready for action.
• Prepares your heart for an increase in activity.
• Prepares you mentally for the upcoming exercise.

The warm up video below can be used pre-windsurf session or before taking part in any physical activity. REMEMBER TO CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING PART IN ANY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

WINDSURFER’S COOL DOWN

It is as important to cool down, as it is to warm up and again doesn’t need to take up a huge amount of time. The main purpose of a cool down is to promote recovery and return the body to its pre-exercise state.

During our session our bodies will have been worked, certain muscles more than others, an effective cool down can help reduce muscle injury, stiffness and soreness, which will help you to be ready for your next session!

An effective cool down will:

• Assist your heart rate to return towards resting levels.
• Aid the removal of waste products from your muscles, such as lactic acid, which can build up during activity.
• Helps prepare your muscles for your next session, whether it’s the next day or in a few days’ time.
• Reduce the potential for delayed muscle soreness.

The cool down video below can be used post windsurf session or after taking part in any physical activity. REMEMBER TO CONSULT A DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING PART IN ANY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. 

WINDSURFER’S NURTITION AND HYDRATION

To perform your best on the water and have an effective windsurfing body you need to consider what you are putting into your body to fuel your sessions and in turn give you the energy, as well as helping you recover after.

A healthy balanced diet is a great way to keep in shape, no windsurfer wants too much fat, the lighter we are the sooner we will plane and the more manoeuvreable we will be. Our meals should consist of a good balance of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, protein and good fats, to ensure we get all the necessary vitamins and minerals our body needs.

To help you in the right direction here’s quick guide to what is best to eat pre, during and post windsurfing.

Pre Session

Most windsurfers will go for the quick energy fix – chocolate, coffee and sugary drinks are all easy to grab but are not effective in fuelling our body.

What we need to eat before our session depends on intensity, length and type of session you are going to do. Exercising on a full stomach is never a good idea; you will feel uncomfortable on the water and won’t perform your best. To avoid this make sure you eat your meal enough time before your session – this could be one to four hours, depending on what you eat.

Carbohydrates are the main fuel that powers us whilst on the water. So make sure your meal is rich in carbohydrates, and easy to digest.

If the wind hasn’t appeared and you starting to get hungry or you feel your energy levels are suffering then about 30 minutes before your session, grab an easily digestible snack before you hit the water. This could be a piece of fruit (banana is a great option) or perhaps a cereal bar.

During

It is important to stay hydrated whilst windsurfing. Coming off the water every 30 – 45 minutes to drink some water is a great way to stay alert and be at your best whilst on the water.

If you are having a long session then you may need to replenish your energy levels with a snack such as fruits or nuts.

Post Session

This is the time our body needs to recover and we can aid it by putting the right things into our body. Our post exercise snack is critical to recovery and assists us to get ready quicker for our next session.

It is important to consume a snack 30 minutes after getting out of the water; this snack should include both carbohydrates and proteins to be most effective. A good snack could be a protein filled sandwich, such as tuna or chicken with a banana.

Check out more fitness and technique features here on Boards. 

Thomas Traversa, known for his super high stalled forward loops! Image credit PWA/JC.

When I did my first forward loop I was 11 years old and windsurfing in Brandon Bay, Ireland. It was pretty light with waist to shoulder high waves coming through the bay providing some nice head on ramps. I was pumping onto the plane and just chucking myself into them when all of a sudden one just clicked, it felt so easy, all my kit went really light and just came round so smoothly and gently. It was the best feeling I have ever had and I have not been able to stop doing them since, the forward got me hooked on windsurfing all over again.

Aleksy Gayda – BWA Amateur Champion 2011

I started forwards with a lot of determination, perhaps too much as I went through some serious back slaps and lung abuse. After a few pointers from Jem (Hall) I started trying wymaroos, getting the rig across my body and my backhand all the way down the boom, which soon had me landing my first flat water spin loops, even on my weak tack. Through watching movies I then picked up how far off the wind I needed to go for big clean forwards, which is especially difficult in onshore conditions. I also found there was a balance between trying to be on the right kit (where you don’t feel too overpowered) and just having a ‘go for it’ attitude.

The best craic is going for forwards with a bunch of mates, where you can all push each other, keep an eye out and have a lot of fun. I still remember landing my first clean loop and sailing away; it was a sweet feeling and left me smiling for days.

Will Barrett - BWA amateur competitor

I started trying loops in Margarita off about waist high waves, I landed on my back a lot and it was so bruised, but I was super hyped! The next day I tried again with a life jacket, but then I popped my eardrum as I forgot to look back…oops! I decided a little self preservation was in order, so I stopped trying for a while. After trying again in the UK, it was in Brazil that I finally landed one; I was so happy! For a relatively simple move it took me a while, but I think it was because I kept closing my eyes so I couldn’t spot my landing and open out the sail so I always got stuck in the same place. I then went to Pozo to learn on the other tack, trying them on a 3.4 in really onshore conditions improved my spin loop technique, and I began landing them on port too.

Sarah Bibby – BWA 2011 Ladies Champion

With forward loops there was no real breakthrough point that I can remember as every attempt is different and you can hardly expect to come out fully planing on your first go (keep wishing)! So here are just a few key points that almost certainly helped me get to a point where I actually enjoy them; weird I know! NEVER (ever!) let go; if you hold on you are way less likely to land in a heap on your kit. Only let go if you really, really have to.

Do practice in light winds; practice catapulting yourself over the front (without your feet in the straps – obviously) over and over again until you are landing on your back or in the waterstart position before you try in strong winds.

Learn with someone; if you’re competing for that all-important win, then your brain doesn’t mind doing stupid things! Good luck and if you can get someone to video your attempts it will provide you with endless amounts of entertainment!

George Shillito – BWA competitor and man in the know at the Polkerris Beach Co.

My first forward loop was during my first season at Club Vass, I landed my 3rd one! I remember I was on an old Neil Pryde Soul 5.8, sailing towards the beach on port tack and I bore right off the wind and jumped off the back of a piece of chop, nose dived and looked behind me over my back shoulder, waterstarted up and hey presto!

Andy Bubble Chambers - Freestyle and wave competitor and windsurfing coach

My very first forward attempt was pretty pathetic. My best mate from school and I sailed into the middle of Brogborough Lake, did a tiny chop hop and flopped onto our sails. I don’t think it really counts to be honest! My first proper rotation however I still remember clearly. I had been trying a few more forward attempts in lighter winds but without much luck, never getting enough rotation and generally crashing face first into the water. The next properly windy day on the lake, I was flying around full power on a 4.0. When I tried my first forward this day, everything happened so much quicker. Instead of crashing into the water like normal, I did the full rotation and slapped down on my back. I can’t even remember if I sailed away or not, but I can still picture the exact spot on the lake and still have the image in my head of the rotation. It was so fast, but at the same time I can remember it all in super slow motion, with the sky, water and land, all flying by. It was such an amazing feeling.

John Skye – PWA competitor and British windsurfing legend

The full issue of the Spring Summer 2012 Boards Annual is still available for purchase here. 

Have you mastered the carve gybe yet?

My first carve gybe was around the rescue platform in Dahab, in the winter of 2006 while my brother captured the whole thing on video! I think I had been having problems with the step and the rig flip, doing them together instead of one after the other, therefore dropping off the plane and being totally unstable when trying to flip the sail. Counting out loud between the step and flip really helped with this, and made me hold onto the rig for longer before I flipped it. When I sailed out of the first gybe I was overcome with amazement, plus a little relief!

Amy Chambers – Windsurfing instructor, personal trainer and former top Diva for Club Vass.

The carve gybe had always been the ‘elusive’ move I had wanted to learn from about the age of 11. I remember spending years engaging the inside rail, getting the board to carve a little bit and then flailing the rig, limbs and board in an effort to come out dry, thinking this was a carve gybe. This changed when I got a few helpful hints down in Coverack, Cornwall. The big thing that made the move ‘click’ for me was vision. It’s really easy to say “yes I’m looking through the turn”, but it was only when I fully exaggerated the vision, looking right past the end of the boom that my foot-change and rig flip became so much smoother. It felt amazing, and still one of the biggest buzzes I have ever got from windsurfing.

Jo Wright – Slalom, freestyle and wave competitor, sponsored by Tushingham, Starboard and Sam Ross Windsurfing.

My first carve gybe happened when I was sailing at ‘Speedy’ in Dahab a week ago. I was on my 4.7 Ice and my 99 litre Chilli. It was the first windy day since I arrived in Dahab the week before and even though it was a bit off and on, it felt good to be powered up when I hit the gusts. I hadn’t been trying carve gybes that long and it was something I wanted to crack quickly too open the door to more carving manoeuvres. My main issue when learning was keeping my weight forward allowing the board to stay flat through the turn, instead of almost sinking halfway round due to my weight being to far back. Unfortunately my first one wasn’t caught on camera, but I was sailing with friends who witnessed the historic moment. Like many manoeuvres in windsurfing, it can take a lot more work to get them completely consistent, and I’m still working on getting my carve gybes to this standard. But that first feeling you get from bearing away into a carving turn, and the feeling when you finally get your first carve gybe drives me forward to continue learning.

Edd Seater – Recent windsurf addict, working and improving in Dahab, Egypt.

I had happily entered myself into the first youth ‘freewave’ camp at Christchurch with the rest of Team AirBorn when it suddenly dawned on me one of the prerequisites for the camp was to be able to carve gybe! “CR*P!” there I was studying a Jem Hall article on how to Vulcan and it hadn’t even occurred to me that I had to be able to carve gybe! The next few days quickly turned into a case of do or die as the last thing I wanted was to be booted out of the camp (in front of the lads) for not being any good! It was a super warm summers day down at Daymer bay (on the Doom bar side) and the outgoing tide meant the bay was waist deep and flat producing ideal carve gybing conditions. My dad was stood in the water taking pictures of my brother and I windsurfing, whilst at the same time doubling up as a very handy gybe mark. Convenient as it sounds it soon became annoying as with every failed attempt I went round him he would shout, “faster, get low and lean further forward!” For about an hour I thought my dad was a bossy, know it all, loser, who simply didn’t understand! Unexpectedly though it all suddenly clicked when, to prove a point, I threw myself as far forward as I could whilst going as fast as possible and in doing so, fully expected to crash and give my dad the ‘idiot’ look that kids do so well. However in attempting to over exaggerate, I adopted the correct stance and burned through a perfect carve gybe to come out planing! I had made it, my dad was a total LEGEND and what’s more I wouldn’t be kicked off the camp; AMAZING!

George Shillito – BWA competitor and man in the know at the Polkerris Beach Co.

I’ve got to be honest and say I don’t remember my first gybe, but I do remember my first planing one. I used to watch Peter Hart’s “Towards the Limit” video all the time and there is a section in that which breaks down two of Bjorn’s slalom gybes. One where he is overpowered, needs to dump the power and therefore lays it down, and one where he keeps the rig forward and uses all the power to drive the board through the turn. This second one was the key for me and when I tried to emulate it, suddenly I held my speed all the way through the turn and came out fully planing. It probably looked nothing like Bjorn’s version, but in my head it was exactly the same!

John Skye – PWA competitor and British windsurfing legend.

The full issue of the Spring Summer 2012 Boards Annual is still available for purchase here. 

Paradise

LAST CALL FOR PETER HART MASTERCLASS – BRAZIL
Jericoacoara, Brazil- 09-19 January 2012  – Intro To Wave Sailing

Peter’s 4th clinic is heading off to the amazing sailing venue of Jericoacoara in the New Year for entry level wave sailing plus general skills for intermediates-advanced. January offers the perfect ‘introduction to wave-sailing’ conditions. The waves are bigger, the wind a perfect force 4-5 and the whole place noticeably less crowded and laid-back. This fishing village, build on sand, has average temps around 30°C . All you need is your board shorts and harness as Club Ventos provide a first class service on the spot.  Here’s what Peter has to say about it:

“If it isn’t officially the best place in the world to learn to sail waves, it should be. It’s also fine for the intermediate free-rider just wanting to ‘hoon’ around on fast kit and attack the essentials of planing and gybing. Better still the authorities have released a special drug into the air that makes everyone smile and sway with the music. It is SUCH a relaxing place and hence is a favourite with non-windsurfing partners.”

Dates: 09-19 January 2012

Price: £2,195pp including Peter Hart Masterclass tuition, return flights, transfers and 10 nights Casa do John – room only board basis.
Single supplement £295pp

HALF PRICE BOARD HIRE: 10 days board hire for the price of 5 days – £139pp (SAVE £100!)

10 nights Mosquito Blue Hotel standard room on BB basis – £2,699 pp including Peter Hart Masterclass return flights & transfers.
Single supplement (Mosquitor Blue) £909.

Call Sportif on 01272 844919 to book your place or email here www.sportif.travel

READ ON FOR NEW 2012 UK COURSE DATES
£50 OFF OVERSEAS COURSES!

FREE windsurfing book when you buy a UK course or voucher before 31.12.11
NEW Winds of the World T-Shirts!
MORE XMAS Special offers!

As the season draws to a cool finish, we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us on one of our WINDWISE experiences in 2011. Whether it was on one of our improver-advanced UK coaching sessions, loop courses, West Country adventure trips or a stunning overseas clinic, thank you for all the positive feedback and making then such a great success! For those wanting more next year and for those who we haven’t seen for a while, we’ve got lots of choice and progress planned for you in 2012.

BIGGER TOUR / TECHNIQUE TOP UP / SORT OUT THE ESSENTIALS / MASTER A NEW MOVE

MORE 1-2-1 COACHING / MORE PROGRESS / MORE VIDEO FEEDBACK / MORE DEDICATION TO YOUR PROGRESS! WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!

Unsure which course, location or adventure trip is right for you? Or any questions regarding your windsurfing? Contact us ASAP as we’re very happy to help and can guarantee you’re improvement!

DON’T FORGET £50 DISCOUNT OFF OVERSEAS COURSES BOOKED BEFORE 31.11.11!
MARGARITA / MARSA ALAM / MOULAY / ALACATI / MAURITIUS! www.windwise.net

We’ll be letting you know about some forthcoming socials. In the meantime have a wonderful Xmas & wise New Year.

All the best, Simon!

XMAS SPECIAL OFFER & STOCKING FILLERS!
“Thinking of giving someone a present? Ask Santa for something you really want!”

FREE windsurfing book when you buy a UK course or voucher before 31.12.11

Windwise 1-day UK course voucher only £99! (Inc free book)
Windwise 2-day UK course voucher only £199! (Inc free book)

STOCKING FILLERS Intermediate or Advanced Windsurfing books (Only £12.50 inc delivery)

NEW T-SHIRTS! Limited Edition ‘Winds of The World’ T-Shirts (Only £25 inc delivery)

SPECIAL OFFER BOOK & T-SHIRT COMBO!
Grab a SB Windsurfing book and Winds of the World T-Shirt (Only £30 inc delivery)

NEW ADVANCED EBOOK FOR IPHONES & IPADS Includes 22 skill enhancing coaching videos!
1. Go to itunes & download the RYA free APP (search for Royal Yachting Association)
2. Once you’ve downloaded the APP you can download the free sample.
3. The full ADVANCED WINDSURFING EBOOK is available for only £8.99!

HAYLING ISLAND 2-DAY UK TUNE UPS – BOOK NOW!
Great food and accommodation!
The perfect 2 day tune-up & get away!

IMPROVER-INTERMEDIATE
Tues 22nd & Wed 23rd May (Improver-Intermediate)
Thur 24th & Fri 25th May (Improver-Intermediate)
Tues 3rd & Wed 4th July (Int-advanced)
Thur 5th & Fri 6th July (Improver-Intermediate)
Sat 30th June & Sun 1st July (Improver-Intermediate)
Thur 19th & 20th July (Improver-Intermediate)

INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED
Sat 28th & Sun 29th April (Int-advanced)
Tues 29th & Wed 30th May (Int-advanced)
Thur 31th May & Fri 1st June (Int-advanced)

LEARN TO LOOP COURSE: Join our HAYLING LOOPWISE group – dates scheduled for March/April/May!

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“PROGRESSION THROUGH ADVENTURE”

Website: www.windwise.net

Email: sb@windwise.net

SB jumps

To complete his Make Your Move series Simon Bornhoft looks at some inspiring training methods to start, improve and master your jumping skills. Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

Getting ‘air’ is far more achievable than gybing – what’s more, it feels great. So what are you waiting for? If you can blast comfortably on a sub-115L board you’re at a level to ‘pop’ that board off reservoir chop or a cresting wave. It’s been 18 months since we last covered the aspects of jumping in our Body Mechanics series, so I thought that with the spring breezes approaching we could work together to make this move a reality for you in 2011.

If you’re a fearless former motocross rider then simply sail flat out, lean back, and push on the back foot for take-off. If you have some sense of self-preservation, muscles rather than elastic bands, or limited time on the water, it’s imperative to build an understanding of what’s actually involved and look at ways to get the body to do what you want it to do. So, as ever, this is how you actually learn it, rather than just ‘how to do it’. A head full of tips is not as powerful as muscle memory achieved through easy skills training exercises, which enable you to apply the right skill at the right time.

WindWise Principles

To enable the board to ‘jump’ we momentarily reverse all the core windsurfing principles we usually rave about!

Vision: Look down at the trough of whatever size ramp is in front of you.

Trim: For take-off destroy this key principle by weighting the tail and un-weighting the mastbase.

Opposition: We heavily flex that front arm and pull the rig back TOWARDS the body!

Power: For take-off the rig is, momentarily, sheeted out to reduce mastbase pressure.

Stance: How often do you hear “stand upright and push down on the back foot”?

Click here to read WindWise 271 in full…

SB gets mega manoeuvrable

With deep winter on its way Simon Bornhoft looks at a fun, dynamic, body warming windsurfing exercise with great added value. Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

Considering the time of year I’ve decided to give you a fun, easy, rigorous winter warming exercise that will instantly improve your manoeuvrability, help your gybes and most definitely assist in riding swell or waves. Even if you’re at a non-planing improver / intermediate level you can still do this exercise – the only difference is that you can’t lean the body so acutely into the turns as you have less inertia and support from the rig. As ever, we’re going to break the move down into component parts and focus on proven methods that develop the muscle memory to MAKE YOUR MOVE. Accentuate and repeat each session, rather than just blast up and down all day. Finally, close observers will notice that the first three sessions link into previous Make Your Move features, such is the value and importance of these WindWise skills.

Session 1: Hook Out & Hold On

Session 2: Switch-Stance

Session 3: Clew-First Beachstart

Session 4: Extreme Flat Water Waveriding

Session 5: Strap-to-Strap Gybing

Click here to read WindWise 270 in full…

Simon Bornhoft makes a swift exit

As winter tightens its grip we all want to spend what time we can blasting over the cooler water rather than submersed in it. Simon Bornhoft offers some crucial skills and drills to ensure speedier waterstarts. Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

SCENARIO 1: Falling In Mid-Gybe

A common dismount is when body and rig fall into the turn mid-gybe (usually due to not leaning the rig out of the turn enough to counterbalance). A good sailor will do all they can to hold on to the boom and then pop back up onto the board and sail away clew-first. If you want to achieve this, get brilliant at clew-first beachstarts!

SCENARIO 2: Facing the Wrong Way?

How many times is the kit set up just right, but you want to go back in the opposite direction? Being able to spin board and rig round without dropping the sail saves time, exhausting swimming and the possible impact of oncoming waves. Being able to do a waterstart gybe is one of the most time-saving (and energy-economic) skills you can learn.

Click here to read WindWise 269 in full…

Duck-gybe with SB

Can’t gybe? Don’t worry, you stand a very decent chance of duck-gybing! Simon Bornhoft breaks down this seemingly elusive ‘trick’ to make it achievable – regardless of your level. Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

If you had two cloned intermediates and one focused just on gybing and the other just on duck-gybing, the odds are that the duck-gyber would learn their move the quickest and be most likely to plane out too. Despite limiting beliefs, my tests have proved that duck-gybing can actually be easier to learn than gybing. In fact, when someone comes on a course and dedicates decent time to light wind skills and drills and then makes 40-50 duck-gybe attempts in planing winds, the success rate is very high. I’m not talking about advanced sailors, either. If you can blast in the straps you can duck-gybe! Here’s how…

Skills & Drills

Session 1: Sail 180s.

Session 2: Switch-stance.

Session 3: Non-planing duck-gybe – involving our ‘upwind-downwinder’, ‘sail 180s’ & ‘switch-stance’ skills and drills.

Session 4: MAKE YOUR MOVE – the fully planing duck-gybe!

Key Principles

Exaggerate and commit to our WindWise Principles, adding finer detail to speed up MAKING YOUR MOVE!

Vision: Look forward and through the turn to where you want to go.

Trim: Adopt a wide foot spread to steer and lever the board.

Opposition: Rig moves one way, you move in the opposite direction (and vice versa).

Power: Wide arm spread, pulling down on the boom before and after ‘ducking’.

Stance: Going and out of the turn, adopt a super-7 ‘drop-&-push’ stance with flexed back leg and extended front leg.

Build your skills, confidence and neuromuscular propriaception (muscle memory) by trying the following sessions on land first then using a large enough board to uphaul with a sub 6.0m rig on the water.

Click here to read WindWise 268 in full…

Simon Bornhoft – gybing, part 2

Simon Bornhoft strongly suggests working on these skill and move enhancing drills, which will help you MAKE YOUR MOVE while having a great time on the water! Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

Hopefully you’ve had time to digest and try some of the skills and drills from last month’s feature. As we’re now heading into winter I thought we’d offer some higher wind action that not only guarantees gybe improvement, but also boosts your overall technique.

Unhook & Hold On simulates setting up for moves, jumps, gybes and duck-gybes.

Flat Water Waveriding develops blasting confidence, steering, all gybes, and waveriding.

Finally, the Rig Rotator is for all gybes, helicopter tacks and any other time you rotate a rig. So break that plateau with these fun run-by-run suggestions – all made, as ever, one accentuated point at a time!

Skills & Drills

Session 1 – Unhook & Hold On

Session 2 – Flat Water Waveriding

Session 3 – Rig Rotator

Session 4 – MAKE YOUR MOVE!

Click here to read WindWise 267 in full…

SB Gybes...

Simon Bornhoft breaks key transitions down into component parts to dramatically speed up the understanding, training time and probability of actually MAKING YOUR MOVES! Photos: Karen Bornhoft / WindWise

In windsurfing we talk in terms of weeks, months or years trying to learn something, but in fact it’s so often only seconds spent on the important part of our objectives.

As you might know, my coaching ethos is to break windsurfing down into achievable, transferable multi-level skills that link together to increase the prospects of actually learning something. Out of the many thousands I’ve coached, those who mix their precious sailing time with skills training always make the quickest progress. So this is how you actually learn something! Rather than just gybing and practicing common mistakes, genuinely try these WindWise skills and drills and I can guarantee you’ll make your moves!

Who’s it for?

First time or frustrated veteran gybers in non-planing and planing situations on any volume board. So get out there and go through the run-by–run suggestions, one accentuated point at a time!

Skills & Drills

Session 1 – Upwind-Downwinders

Session 2 – Shift-&-Switching

Session 3 – Clew-First Beachstart

Session 4 – MAKE YOUR MOVE!

Click here to read WindWise 266 in full…

Simon makes his move...

In this new series Simon Bornhoft gives us the best possible method to achieve the ‘stock moves’. A self-coaching, run-by-run methodology and specific skills training for land and water will get you well on your way to making your moves! Photos: WindWise / Karen Bornhoft

It’s always tricky to transfer the performance enhancing effect of coaching onto a written page. But my mission has always been to illustrate the actual skills which ensure that the key principles and minor details of windsurfing become embedded in your sailing psyche. It’s impossible to sail with more than one or two ideas in your head, so we’ve kept this very much action based and broken each run down into component parts to allow you to take it one stage at a time. As ever these skills are just as applicable to beginner-improvers as they are to intermediate-advanced windsurfers. So, no messing about – get active, accentuate and enjoy.

Click here to read WindWise 265 in full…

A counterintuitive backwinded moment

Simon Bornhoft identifies a counterintuitive eureka moment that enables beginners and intermediates to master helicopter tacks, and links the same theme into the granddaddy of counterintuitive moments, the forward loop. Photos: WindWise / Karen Bornhoft

In 1968 a relatively unknown athlete strode with pace and leapt skywards, but rather than projecting his lithe body forward, Richard Douglas Fosbury twisted and arched uniquely over the Olympic high jump bar. Fosbury literally flew backwards into the record books and a gold medal position! In that defining, counterintuitive moment, the ‘Fosbury flop’ changed the way people perceived, approached and went for the high jump. There have been a number of breakthroughs in windsurfing where new actions, skills and tricks are discovered. These evolve from gradual progress, but often they are also linked to an individual acting counterintuitively.

When coaching I’m often illustrating that what you might imagine to be true isn’t always the way it’s learnt or done, so I’d like to share with you a counterintuitive moment linked to helicopter tacks (heli-tacks) and other aspects of the sport. Please don’t turn the page if you’ve never fancied doing a heli-tack – it’s such an achievable light wind move that does wonders for rig handling and gybe exit skills! I’ve taught beginners to heli-tack in light winds, and many more experienced sailors to master them in stronger winds.

Click here to read WindWise 264 in full…