“This is no lip gloss baby! Why windsurfing doesn’t attract women”

Name: Lucy Robson
Age: 24yrs
Home town: Brighton

I guess there are those that may think that going away to compete at events, travelling abroad at every available opportunity and being photographed living it up at either the beach or the bar all looks pretty glamorous and cool. Cool it may well be, but lately I’ve found out exactly how unglamorous windsurfing can be and perhaps also provide an explanation first-hand to explain why this sport does not attract more women!

IRELAND: ANDY’S CRAIC

This was all illustrated quite aptly for me at the recent event in Ireland – “Andy’s Craic” – a memorial sail and get-together held in memory of Andy Funnell. I left the UK for Ireland encumbered by tendonitis in my right forearm, a cracked cheekbone (admittedly not from windsurfing!), the flu, sunburn and very unsightly holes in my hands from just sailing too much!! Whilst I did manage to warrior through with an assortment of prescriptive drugs and plain stubbornness (I’d taken 5 days leave and refused to be ill!) it did set me to thinking as to how demanding windsurfing is and the kind of determination required to get where you want to be…

YES, AN EVENT ON MY DOORSTEP

After Ireland I had a few days respite back in Brighton where I got some physio for my arm and generally sought to mend my broken self before the Hove freewave – at last an event on my doorstep which did not involve a mammoth trek across the country!!

Although this event was not well-attended by the regular pro-sailors it probably turned out to be the most humorous so far. Me and Terry Luxton had met early on the first morning and after we got a quick sail in before competition had started we watched as the tide came in and the ensuring shorebreak carnage of the formula crew with their giant-sized kit! I know, not very charitable – but just one of those guilty pleasures of windsurfing – watching someone else get worked!

After sailing solidly all day to complete 4 rounds we were not complaining too much when no wind showed for the next couple of days and we spent our time chilling on the beach, trying out the specialities of the local café and practising gymnastics - which has also led me to the conclusion that Terry should really join the circus!!

I was also shown at Hove just what fluid freestylers Andy Chambers and Simon Hurrey are. I was really starting to feel quite downtrodden by all the painful injuries and by-products of windsurfing until I saw these two in action. This was all it took to inspire me once again and demonstrate exactly why we do this sport and put our bodies through all these mental and physical hurdles!