There's something about Lucy
Name: Lucy Robson
Age: 23yrs
Home town: Brighton
“In pursuit of stunts and self-promotion”
Is the summer always this windy?!! Like everyone
else I have been spending July getting on the water
nearly every day and trying new stunts. This has
been prompted by the realisation that I can pretty
much tick off all the basic boxes in my windsurfing
repetoir and want to push myself to the next level.
I have also been embarking on a self-promo marathon
and have managed to gain sponsorship from my firm
so I thought I had better get my act together and
start impressing…
I guess what inspires me about windsurfing is
that adrenaline laced challenge of pushing, surprising
(and admittedly punishing yourself!) to get your
personal sailing to the best it can be - and not
sailing in the comfort zone. So what with the abundance
of wind and digging out a pink lid I use for surfing
reef breaks I have been launching myself off ramps,
sailing overpowered like a kamikaze and trying
for a bit of aerial action! (Much to the bemusement
of the locals who are always closing their eyes
and grimacing when I go out!)
I have been getting into jumping for a while now,
well, since at least Easter when I went down the
west country and saw exactly what sets surfing
and windsurfing apart. And I am finding that I
no longer have the complaint of "I can't tuck
the board" cause it has suddenly come together
and with this in mind I have been watching lots
of videos and deciding that I am going to embark
on aerial freestyle, starting with the vulcan...
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Well firstly I found out that a small fin is definitely
the way to go. Since I have destroyed my MFC 26cm fin
in my earlier reckless days (and before I knew how
much fins cost) I got myself a new small freestyle
weapon and suddenly I am popping and sliding like a
dream! The first few (well 50) goes are obviously a
bit naff but I think the key to it is committment to
the move. Half assed attempts have been the causes
of bruises and scrapes so my advice to anyone would
be - don't hold back! Aside from this contortion and
self-destruction I have been taking advantage of the
consistent south-westerlys on the south coast and managing
to get lots of wave action. I'm finding that the onshore
challenge (when overcome) is definitely good training
and my confidence is building in backside riding and
cutbacks. It's not exactly Hookipa but it is certainly
a good place to start. Full power to my 67 litre waveboard!
And as for that matter of self-promotion... well,
although I haven’t been windsurfing for long
I have been cohersing anyone that will listen into
sponsoring me and thought that what better place than
my work!
It all started with a regular email sent to all the
partners in my firm, along with a 1000 word proposal
and lots of enthusiasm, promises and a meeting…and
our conversation went a little like this…
“Ahhh Ms Robson I see you do a bit of sailing...”
“Windsurfing, yes, definitely, all the time,
I love it! Not as much as I love my job of course”
“And why should we sponsor you hmm?”
“Well… it would be great advertising,
exposure, tapping a new client base….”
“What sort of publicity can you get? Do you
compete?”
“Well I am hoping to compete next year”
“Tell you what do it sooner and we may have
a deal. Yes, a great opportunity. What with these UKW
thingies we could have marquees and stands on the beach,
team t-shirts and hats, hand out flyers…”
“Well I was just thinking about some stickers
on my sails…”
“Come on Robson don’t underestimate these
things. Ok let’s call the ad agency, let’s
get some colours and graphics drawn up and we have
a deal… Do you wear a bikini when you windsurf?”
“ummm no a wetsuit”
“Oh well never mind”
So after some hefty negotiations, I am now sponsored
by a free 24/7 personal injury advice and referral
service "Fair Claims". Just look out for the
"OUCH!" logo!! (pretty appropriate after another vulcan near miss!).
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