How do you get along with Ben Severne?
I get along with Ben really well. When I first started sailing and Severne was just beginning I remember Ben made me a pink and yellow 3.0 that I used almost every day. I think it’s really cool that I’ve been using Severne Sails since they began and that I’ve known Ben since I was 11. He tries to talk me in to doing some pretty sketchy things sometimes (like dying my moustache black when I it was just blonde bum fluff) but other than that he helps me with everything and having his support, whether I’m away competing or not, definitely helps me windsurf as well as I can. I think of Ben as a coach and a mentor in many ways and often ask him for advice. Before competing against Alex in Round 1 in Pozo and Ricardo in Round 1 in Tenerife I was pretty nervous but being able to speak to Ben helped me to be mentally prepared for those heats. I don’t feel any pressure from Ben to perform well in contests or to get results and I feel like he always supports what I’m doing.
We heard Koester came out to Gnaraloo last year, what was it like to sail with him at one of your favourite breaks?
Yeah Philip came out in November/December and we had a sick couple of days in Gnaraloo with Scotty and Ben. It’s always good to sail with Philip and although we have different styles I feel like I learn something every time I do or I get inspired to keep working on new things and to push different aspects of my own windsurfing. Philip is the sailor that when he walks down the beach most people just stop what they’re doing and watch him sail and it was the same in Western Australia. I was happy to sit in the car park on the cliff and watch him for a while as well but after a few minutes I just wanted to be out there trying to learn it all myself. Now that he’s on Severne hopefully I get the opportunity to sail at different locations with him in W.A. every season.
What did you think of his sailing in Pozo and Tenerife?
Philip always sails well and he sailed really well in both events. Everybody is still trying to catch up to Philip in the air-game and although a few are starting to get closer he is still a level above. Pozo and Tenerife can be quite hard to adapt to and they are essentially Philip’s home spots but he looks so comfortable sailing in those winds compared to just about everyone else. There were a couple of times in Pozo and Tenerife when we were talking about gear and what size sails we were using and I felt a little feminine when I was taking out a 4.4 and he’s still holding down a 5.7. Philip let me know that though.
What are your plans for 2015?
Hopefully in 2015 I’ll be able to compete on the whole PWA World Tour again. I want to commit to the tour for a couple of years to give it my best shot and to see how I go. I can’t expect to do really well straight away on my first attempt at the whole tour so this year is to prepare for next year and to learn as much as I can. Depending on the support I get, I would like to have a bit more time off work to focus on windsurfing as much as I can and get to the events a little earlier to adapt and prepare. I want to spend a longer period of time training starboard tack as well. I would love to feel like I can sail equally as well on both tacks but that will just take some time and practise. I really like going on windsurfing trips with Scotty and Ben, chasing swells and perfect waves, so hopefully I can do a little more of that. JC
