With age comes knowledge, respect and expertise. For OTC group rider, Simon Pettifer aged 44, it was love at first sight when he found windsurfing aged 10 in Cyprus. Younger windsurfers look as much as our extra skilled group riders and the very important information they go on conjures up the subsequent era.
Simon mentioned: “I began windsurfing in Cyprus when my household moved there. There was a membership on the seaside I gave it a go and fell in love immediately. College completed at 1.00pm and I used to be on the windsurfing membership by 1.15pm day by day.
“The issues I take pleasure in most about windsurfing are getting out on the water, away from all the pieces. The sensation I get, the adrenalin from slalom crusing: it is an actual buzz.
“Going to Weymouth, all the way down to The OTC has been a serious half of my windsurfing life for the previous couple of years. The environment down there may be superior all year-round; it is a hive of exercise.”
“I additionally love the scene, the folks and the buddies I’ve met and I am nonetheless assembly now, you may’t beat it. I have been a group rider for The OTC for about two years now, however earlier than that I used to be an undercover group rider for about six years.
“I grew to become a group rider, as a result of I spent a lot time at The OTC, Tris in the long run, felt sorry for me and invited me to hitch the group! Tris has helped me out lots, with sponsorship and makes my slalom racing all doable; with out him it simply would not occur. He is aware of his stuff too, so he’s all the time good to get recommendation from about all kinds of stuff.
“Being a part of The OTC group is superb. We have now a few of the finest slalom/pace sailors within the nation – three of the highest 5 in slalom – Kev Greenslade, Scotty Stallman, Sam Anstey, James Faley and Tyler Baker mixing the previous and the brand new collectively, we’ve a good time crusing and coaching collectively.
“Going to Weymouth, all the way down to The OTC has been a serious half of my windsurfing life for the previous couple of years. The environment down there may be superior all year-round; it is a hive of exercise.
“Being a group rider entails being there when Tris requires some assist; after I’m down there coaching I all the time attempt to be useful – it will get busy at The OTC. I additionally assist out at coaching camps and usually spreading the OTC love.
“The kind of gear I journey is slalom race gear, Fanatic boards and Duotone sails. My inspirations within the windsurfing world? So many! After all Bjorn Dunkerbeck after I was youthful; then there’s Antoine Albeau, however nearer to residence, Ross Williams is pretty inspiring I suppose! It is good to have the ability to watch the PWA slalom and see one in every of our personal kicking arse. On prime of that he is tremendous good at any (and each) kind of windsurfing, however please do not inform him I mentioned that, for god’s sake!
“My favorite kind of crusing is slalom crusing, as that is what I am finest at. I prefer to strive my hand at a little bit of pace crusing too and I am even getting some wave gear this winter; it has been some time however I like wave crusing too.
“My favorite place to sail? Properly that is simple: Weybitha! The OTC in the summertime, 20 – 25 knots, 7.7m climate with the group, champagne windsurfing all day lengthy. Having mentioned that, Mauritius can be a shocking place to windsurf – hmmm it is a robust alternative!
“I do participate in racing, I compete on the British Slalom Tour (UKWA), I have been doing it for possibly 9 years and I am nonetheless bettering, so I will be doing it for a number of years but. I will not be completely happy until I’ve completed a season on the rostrum. I am all the time 4th or fifth it appears! Additionally there may be Weymouth Velocity Week: a should within the yearly calendar, loads of enjoyable however tremendous tiring.
“To anybody pondering of attempting windsurfing or wanting to enhance their windsurfing I might say, get your self all the way down to The OTC. They actually know what they’re doing down there. Joe, Maurin, Bryony, Dan and all of the others make it occur for thus many individuals it is incredible, they usually love passing on their information. The pace they get folks up and crusing is unbelievable they usually’re eager to assist and advise all ranges and talents too.
“I do have an everyday job, which I match round windsurfing. I am a carpenter. So if the wind actually blows I typically get to sack off work and go for a sail; however on the entire, it is after work in the summertime, and weekends at the hours of darkness months of the winter.
“By windsurfing I’ve met many superior folks and it is nonetheless occurring now. New associates are made yearly, and my finest associates have been made by windsurfing; who you’re!
“Memorable moments down The OTC? There are simply too many! Together with many different sailors, serving to Scotty Stallman and Sam Anstey flip into superior windsurfers, then taking them to the Mauritius Perspective Problem this 12 months. So many sundown classes with Kev Greenslade and Scooter and Andy Stallman (the boss photographer!). Velocity crusing on the OTC tandem boards, once more with Kev and Scott. Crusing from Portland to Lulworth Cove with Tris, Kev, Ross and Joe and plenty of many extra.
“I’m wanting ahead to creating hundreds extra recollections down at The OTC. I actually cannot thank Tris and the crew sufficient, they make windsurfing in Dorset completely superior.”