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PETE VENNIK: 50 YEARS ON THE WATER – AND HE’S NOT DONE YET!

Pete Vennik first got hooked on windsurfing back in 1976, aged just 19, after finally agreeing to give it a go during the last week of his summer holiday in the south of France. Five decades later, he’s still chasing speed, dialing in his gybes and still reckons he’s getting better every time he hits the water! From wooden booms and baggy sails to epic sessions at Club Vass, Pete’s journey is proof that there is no reason to take your foot off the gas as you get older! A loyal customer of 4boards (formerly Specialised Sailing) since 1988, he’s seen the sport evolve through the decades, but his passion remains as strong as ever. With windsurfing also bringing him his wife Jane and shaping their family life, Pete’s story is about much more than time on the water. And with a target of reaching 60 years in the straps, he’s certainly not hanging up his harness just yet! As an added bonus Pete has put together an awesome video of him blasting on his 4boards equipment in Vassiliki!

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WINDSURF: When did you start windsurfing and how did you get hooked?

PETE VENNIK: I started windsurfing in 1976 at the age of 19 on the beach of St Clair (near Le Lavandou) in the south of France.

I was working on the beach as a ‘beach boy’ setting up umbrellas and deck chairs, etc. and also selling donuts.

The owner of the beach was also renting out a windsurf board.  He kept telling me to have a go, but not being interested in sailing I kept saying no.

Until the last week of my summer holiday when I finally accepted his offer.  I uphauled the sail and immediately managed to sail about 20 metres until I fell in.

I then windsurfed every day of that final week! I was hooked!

WINDSURF: What gear were you riding originally?

PETE VENNIK: I can’t remember what that board was. Somehow, I don’t think it was an original Windsurfer.

However, on my return home from holiday (to Belgium) I did a windsurfing course on a gravel pit in Jabeke (near Bruges) where the school used the original Windsurfer as their equipment.

Wooden boom, baggy sail and pull-out wooden daggerboard.  Kit has changed a lot since then!

It went really well because after a week, the school offered me a job as a windsurf instructor! I then bought my very first board: a Windsurfer with sail number 52959.

WINDSURF: Where were you brought up and when did you move to the UK?

PETE VENNIK: I was brought up and lived in Belgium until 1983 when I moved to the UK at the age of 24.

I started working for racing car manufacturer March Engineering in Bicester as a design engineer.  During the weekends I would travel to the ‘nearest’ beaches, i.e. Calshot and Lepe to windsurf.

In 1992 I moved from Oxfordshire to live in a rented house near the beach in Calshot.  I now live in Romsey (near Southampton).

WINDSURF: Where have you sailed around the world?

PETE VENNIK: More or less in chronological order:

France: St Clair

Belgium: Jabeke and Ostend.

UK: mainly south coast but also some inland waters near Oxford.

California: San Pedro (Long Beach).

Greece: Vasiliki and Naxos.

Turkey: Bodrum.

Egypt: Hurghada and Dahab.

Western Australia: Perth, Lancelin, Margaret River, Geraldton.

Cook Islands.

Fiji: Nananu-i-ra.

Maui: Spreckelsville and Kanaha.

South Africa: Langebaan and Blaubergstrand.

Namibia: Swakopmund.

France: Gruissant.

WINDSURF: What are your local breaks and what type of sailing do you do now mostly?

PETE VENNIK:

Local breaks are mainly Calshot and Lepe. I occasionally go to Poole Harbour, Christchurch Harbour, and Hillhead.

I currently also go to Vassiliki every summer for 2 to 3 weeks.

Type of sailing: Fast and furious!

WINDSURF: What aspect of windsurfing is your main passion and why?

PETE VENNIK: Quite a few different aspects.

I suppose the main aspect is still the speed and the constant goal of the perfect gybe!  I also particularly like the technical aspect of the kit. How it has evolved over the years and how it is still constantly improving. It is always good fun to adapt to the aspects of a new board or sail, even though my style is very much ‘old school’ (I still prefer a seat harness!)

I also take great care of the maintenance of the kit, replacing booms, UJs and masts on a regular basis. You really don’t want to break something out there and have to swim back or having to be rescued.

I also enjoy having a van to go the beach, especially in the colder months!

WINDSURF: Did you ever compete?

Very little. I worked as a designer and race engineer in motorsport, so preferred not to compete when windsurfing. It would have been too much of a busman’s holiday!

However, I did do a couple of Windsurfer regattas in 1977 in Belgium.

I have also done the Ledge Point to Lancelin race in Western Australia a couple of times.

WINDSURF: What do you love about windsurfing?

PETE VENNIK: It is just so good to be on a beach and on the water, enjoying and showing respect for the wind and water conditions and how they constantly change.

I also love how the sport allows you to make new friends. Shooting the breeze is an important part of windsurfing!

WINDSURF: Tell us about your relationship with the guys at 4boards.

PETE VENNIK: I have bought virtually all my windsurfing kit from 4boards since 1988 (it was called Specialised Sailing then).

I have known Shop manager Stu Rose since he started there as a young lad in the early nineties.  They are both really knowledgeable about the sport and are always very helpful to get me the right kit.

WINDSURF: Now you are a bit older / more experienced…what does windsurfing do to help your mental side and general fitness?

PETE VENNIK: The sport is really great for general fitness.  You constantly use every single muscle in your body.

This obviously reflects on the mental side.  Definitely a case of a happy mind in a happy body!

WINDSURF: Any tips to keep fit enough to windsurf as you get older?

PETE VENNIK: I now go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week to do mainly weight training.  This allows me to stay fit and strong and have the stamina needed for long sessions.

WINDSURF: Have you had to peg back at all what you do on the water as you get older?

PETE VENNIK: No, on the contrary.  I am still getting better each time I go out!  You never stop learning when you windsurf!

WINDSURF: Do you think you will ever stop windsurfing?

PETE VENNIK: No, Touch wood!  Next target is 60 years of windsurfing!

WINDSURF: How do you like Club Vass and do all your family windsurf with you?

PETE VENNIK: Club Vass in Vassiliki is one of the best places in the world to learn to windsurf and to improve.  Their kit and courses are just brilliant.

My daughter Ella works there as an instructor, and my son Max and wife Jane also join me on the water in Vassiliki.

But the other windsurf centres such as Human Sports (near Hotel Portofico) and Neilson at Hotel Cosmos in Vassiliki in Vass are great too!

WINDSURF: How did you meet your wife?

PETE VENNIK: We started windsurfing together in Calshot in 1992 and the rest is history, as they say.  We immediately started planning a backpacking / windsurfing trip around the world, which we did in 1995/1996. This included windsurfing in Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji and Maui.

WINDSURF: Would you say windsurfing has shaped your life / your family’s life?

PETE VENNIK: Absolutely! Without windsurfing I wouldn’t have met Jane and obviously Ella and Max would not be here now!

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Some fun facts:

PETE VENNIK: My first time windsurfing in Vasiliki was 1988.  Club Vass was 1 year old!

I attempted to windsurf on a frozen flooded field in Belgium with a sail bolted to a small sledge. It did not work!

I mounted a Sony Handycam in a waterproof housing on top of a skateboarding helmet to film in the waves in Lancelin in Australia in 1992.  No GoPro yet in those days yet, but it did work!