JEM HALL WINDSURF COACH CLINICS VIDEO AND INTERVIEW
The influence of coaches in action sports is definitely on the rise and Jem Hall has released the video in link above giving an insight into his flat water clinics and methods. We sat down with him for a quick catch up.
Photos: Nicholas Jones Photography
WS: You’ve been in the coaching game for quite a while – how did you get into it?
JH: I started my coaching journey on a Sports Science Degree course in the 90’s and in the summers I started teaching windsurfing, amongst other sports. I then did a Postgrad. course to become a qualified Physical Education school teacher, which I did not follow on into a job as I began to teach windsurfing during summer seasons in Greece, Turkey, Sardinia and in Cabarete, Dom Rep.
I followed up on all my windsurfing qualifications with a course in Life Coaching and this really honed my people skills, fault analysis, communication and target setting.
WS: Action sport athletes, particularly surfers, are now very focused around coaching and the current pro surfing tour leader has shot to the top this year with a new coach, what do you attribute the rise in coaching to at all levels?
JH: I think there are many reasons and perhaps it all comes down to the old adage “If we always do what we have always done then we will always get what we have always got!”
These athletes might have thought ‘what can I do to make a difference?’ and might be looking at a sport like tennis where changes of coach with some of the top 4 players have made big differences. And in a sport where you have to demonstrate immense physical and mental strength, agility, style and, of course, win your games.
We are more exposed to coaching now, from personal trainers, to business coaches to the team games coaches we hear about, both on a club and international level. These coaches are also a lot more professional now and better equipped to help people develop.
I have worked with some UK Pro sailors, like John Skye and Chris Audsley, earlier in my career and we all learnt a lot during our time together.
Lastly, I too benefit from some tips from the more astute and advanced sailors who come on my clinics. It is all about a different perspective and then taking that on board!
WS: You seem to blend a lot of different coaching styles from traditional sports coaching to motivational style teaching – what are your methodologies?
JH: I would say there is no one main methodology that I use as each person requires a different key to unlock their potential. That said I mainly use a style of empowering people to realise their potential and together we set targets that they can work towards. I give them focus, ask them to do certain drills and in the main let them know that what they achieve is down to them. I give them the tools to improve and they have to use them.
Some prefer a bit more of a direct approach and so I clearly show and describe to them what to do on the water and then coach them with what the next steps are. I get people to be more analytical of themselves, their kit and the conditions. This means they can continue to improve when they return home.
One of my main methods is to be able to really identify what it is people need to do in a move in order to get it, or perhaps how a change of psychology, physicality or tuning may help.
WS: What are the venues you use and why?
JH: I use a variety of venues that come under the classifications of; flat water, waves and exotics.
First up is Terrific Tobago, in the Caribbean and this is for flat water and warmth, and it is just a great winter get away. I use it as it is such a nice place to be and the flat warm, shallow water really helps people move forward, as do the trade winds in situ.
My most hardcore Wave venue is Magical Moulay, Morocco and I go here as the waves and wind give you the opportunity to move on up in both jumps and rides. I also love it as the conditions vary with the tide and it is a bit closer to home than some venues.
My longest serving venue is Prasonisi, Reliable Rhodes; this is a flat water venue with very consistent conditions and a happy atmosphere around both the centre and hotel. It has the highest return rate of all my venues. Many of my rippers are ‘built in Rhodes!’
The earliest venue to sell out is Perfect Punta San Carlos, Baja, Mexico and for good reason. As a wave venue it is amazing for both learning and improving your waveriding, and SUP/Surfing too. This and the whole adventure part of it is just amazing.
Beautiful Brandon Bay Wave weeks serve the needs of my people wanting to get a variety of conditions in Northern Europe and also for people who look going on a mission with their vehicle and their own kit. I love it there and so do my rippers, many return and for many years.
One of the Exotic venues I go to is Joyous Jeri, Brazil and this is awesome for easy waves and has wind pretty much guaranteed, and oh yes the drinks and ambience are just fantastic. I rate it as one of the best places in the world to learn to jump and loop!
Lastly, I go to Marvellous Mauritius every few years as this throws up both flat water and waves, and in a beautiful location, with a top end hotel available right on the beach.
WS: Finally what are the top tips most people take away from your clinics?
JH: First up it is that learning new skills on the water, and with likeminded people is fun. The main improvements they make are to focus on some simple key targets in their sailing and exaggerate key actions like – looking where they go, getting low and being precise in their hand and foot movements. Perhaps the biggest take away people get is to concentrate a lot on the preparation for their moves, and to sail with a strategy in place.
I would say that the most unexpected progression my rippers make is in the area of psychology. They become better at setting targets, self coaching and then reviewing what they do. This follows on to make them more disciplined and lastly, and most importantly, they learn to enjoy their sailing more, be kind to themselves with a better more positive internal self dialogue.
