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When did you realise that you could be really good at this sport?

In the initial stages I just liked the challenge of it – competing against the elements. But the more and more I practised…I don’t know..I never realised I could be good at it – it just happened!

How did you make the decision to turn Pro?

It wasn’t a conscious decision to turn Pro, it was a gradual process. From what I know (or from what I’ve missed out on) nobody ever turns up with a massive sponsorship contract from JP or someone and you’re whisked off to Maui to go and train! You start off at the base levels, work through the UK events, more international events, you get more coverage and suddenly you find yourself windsurfing more than working.

Financially, how do you fund your windsurfing?

Funding windsurfing – now’s there’s a tricky one! It’s mostly my sponsorship through FP Mailing & Lease UK. They are not related to windsurfing (other than through me) but they pay me money to train & compete and get coverage for their brands. I’m also funded through JP/Neil Pryde; I couldn’t afford my equipment so that’s essential.

Do you think it is a disadvantage living in the UK?

I’ve got to travel more. Many pro sailors spend their winters at home…. in Maui! Cape Town is becoming my second home as I spend a large part of my year there and that’s where I get most of my training. This month, in August, my plan was to come home and chill out and do some sailing but I only got half a dozen days of wind. However, it does make you enjoy the really good days and stay out longer.

What are the worst things about being a Pro sailor?

It’s not all glamorous! You’re away a lot from your family, girlfriends etc. You make your friends on the World Tour. Also money is a problem – you always do as much as you can afford so you never make money. It’s a great sport but it would be nice to make some money out of it!

You have competed in all 3 disciplines: Super X, Wave & Freestyle – which one is hardest to do well in?

This year I’ve concentrated on the wave sailing, and freestyle has taken a back burner. I can still do enough freestyle to be competitive at UK events but in the World Cup I’ve realised I’m never going to be World Champ at it so I’ve focused on waves.
Out of all of them, wave sailing is the hardest to get good at. It takes years of practice; you can’t learn it over night, you need to sail in all sorts of different locations and try and make the most of all the conditions – port tack, starboard tack. It takes up all my time – which is good!

Many top sailors are NOT competing in freestyle because they say it’s too hard, but they don’t say that about wave sailing – why?

That’s a tough one. To be the best in the world of either discipline you’ve got to do it full time. The days of multi-discipline world champions are behind us. But there are sailors who concentrate on freestyle and not waves. You don’t see Gollito dropping freestyle and practising waves because he thinks it might be easier. He sticks at freestyle because that’s what he is good at.

Do you get psyched out against the big names?

I did get psyched out, especially in the first couple of years on the Tour. But now I have sailed some of my best heats against the bigger names and I see it as an advantage. I’m not concerned about losing; I’m more concerned about doing enough to win. If I go against Kevin Pritchard or Robby Swift I think, I can’t do any worse than sail my best and try and beat them. The big names now provide more of a challenge.

Do you ever see yourself as a PWA World Champion?

I’d love to be and you can never say never, particularly with the PWA World Tour. You get some excellent competitors who could do really well and be World Champions but who are not necessarily the best sailors out there. For example Nik Baker: awesome sailor, knows how to win heats, he’s the model professional. But he’s not Alex Mussolini or Victor Fernandez, who have all the tricks and probably invented most of them. If you put the hours in and make yourself a better competitor – you’ve got a chance.

If you could change one thing about the World Tour, what would it be?

The locations we have to compete in. When I was growing up, I saw the events in Fiji, Hawaii, and Australia …but those events have dropped off the Tour. We’ve got to have a Hawaiian event as that’s the pinnacle of windsurfing. However, the Canaries events are held in good locations – it would just be nice to have more of them!

Best wave sailor in the world, please?

Jason Polakow. When I was in Maui this year, some of the stuff he was doing during the JP Photoshoot was just amazing. He goes out in massive waves, does a tweaked aerial and looks totally in control. He’s an inspiration in the waves and someone to emulate – but I think there’s a long way to go for me!

What is the move you have struggled with the most?

The hardest thing to learn was probably gybing! I was doing forwards and vulcans before I could properly gybe. More advanced move? Maybe the spock. The spock is one I still struggle with!

What are your strengths in windsurfing?

Windy port tack jumping! I get a lot of practice here at Rhosneigr and in Cape Town . They are my favourite conditions and it suits me well for the Canaries.

Do you ever get scared windsurfing?

There are a few moments that are scary, normally involving big waves and a lack of wind when you are put in a position you are unable to manoeuvre out of. Here at Rhosneigr, you can get big waves but always on windy days so you can work your way around them. But a big wave coming towards you with no wind – not good. Jumping can also be scary, for example when learning to do a new jump, like the push loop, I kept letting go. Once I held on, it was less scary.

Do you ever worry about life after windsurfing?

No, because something always comes along. For example, I never planned to do windsurfing competition initially. One thing ends as another one begins. It would be nice to continue to windsurf for as long as I can, but when it comes to the end, something new will begin. I’m not worried about it.

What’s your advice for someone who wants to do what you do?

Spend hours on the water, but also be smart about everything else. To get coverage in the magazines you need to plan photo shoots, plan travel trips and generally work out how you’re going to benefit your sponsors. It’s not just about competition results.