Spotlight on a Pro: Rob Sand

		Nickname: Sandman Age: 30yrs Hometown: Klitmoller, Denmark How long windsurfing: 16 yrs How long Pro: First international contract in 1999 with JP and Arrows. Current sponsors: Tabou, Gaastra, Plasma Boardwear
		Best result: 17th PWA Waves

Yes, from my contract with Tabou/Gaastra and through making windsurfing DVD’s & clothing. The DVD's and PLASMA Boardwear is something I do when I have time and I make a few bucks out of it, but my priority is still being a Pro & pleasing my sponsors.

Tabou/Gaastra: Why did you move from Fanatic/Simmer?

Fanatic and I did not really have the same sort of plans. Fanatic is very focused on the world tour and I wanted to focus on videos and stories. I approached Tabou and Gaastra after trying some of their kit and fortunately they wanted me on the team so now Matt Pritchard is my manager! The sport of windsurfing has now changed; unless you are in the top 10, you need to have more going than just competition. A lot of the guys are now photographers and videographers and do a whole load more than just compete & that’s what I am trying to do.

So the DVD’s….

I have been heavily involved in making the DVD’s Basic Windsurfing and Spam and we have a few new things in the pipeline for 2006. We have been filming for a new DVD in Cape Town which will be coming out later in the year. It’s called Africana - watch out for it.

And Plasma Boardwear?

I have wanted to start my clothing label for a few years now. I am in the process of getting the stuff made. It will be available in Scandinavia from summer 2006 but I am just starting off really small with a few t-shirts and stuff.

What’s this new move we keep hearing about – the ZULU?

It’s like a one-handed table top - but not! You find a steep ramp and then try and stay upright whilst grabbing the back of your board and extending your front leg & bending your back leg so you are lying down with the board. You want to have the board pointing down towards the water. The hard part is staying upright and landing without snapping the board! I have been working on this move for a while, it is a move like the wakeboarders and the kite boarders do & I thought it would look cool in windsurfing.

Finally, what is the future for Rob Sand other than cracking the Zulu?!

This year I will be competing in port tack events on the world tour and some other smaller events. But I am going to shift my focus to producing videos and travel stories. To me windsurfing is the greatest sport in the world and I love doing it, but there are also other things in life. When you are a pro on the tour, you sometimes forget that, but one day reality will hit you and it’s good to have a backup plan.

» Rob Sand from Simmer/Fanatic to Tabou/Gaastra

» Ruth Elliot from
Starboard/
Tushingham to
Fanatic/Simmer

Young Gunz corner

Team Ariborn were ripping in Cornwall over February half term - what a winter it's been!

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