COMPREHENSIVE
On top of what is perhaps the most crucial part, the race simulation, the training in Lanzarote incorporates physical training on land as well as important psychological aspects. Besides Mark Hosegood, who has assumed the role as head windsurfing coach, the athletes in Lanzarote are working with Giuseppe Pugliese, a physical education specialist with a background as a trainer in the Italian army and of course he is also a keen windsurfer with racing experience and a big passion to push the sport and especially the athletes. Talking to Andrea Cucchi, who was the driving force behind bringing in Giuseppe, he said: “I wanted Giuseppe to be here in particular so that he can teach the younger members of the team ‘how’ to train, what is involved in a good training program and in especially what I see as one of the most crucial parts of land training: using it as a tool to speed up recovery after a long training day on the water. Back in the day when I first started racing on the world tour none of these tools were available to me, at this stage in my career as a pro windsurfer I personally thoroughly enjoy finally being able to train with a professional setup like we have here.”
With Giuseppe as our physical trainer this is indeed what has been happening in Lanzarote, we have been getting presentations on training science and have been pushed to always warm up before racing, even if this involves looking completely ridiculous jumping up and down on the beach in our wetsuits doing strange movements for at least 10 minutes! I feel that whilst warming up is of course important, it is one of the aspects most often skipped when you are in a rush to get on the water, but with our Italian army coach on the beach watching us there was no way of skipping warm ups, so what has been done effectively and without really noticing it, is that habits have been installed, whether or not people take them away with them is another question. Personally though I have actually started enjoying the weird and bewildered looks I get from people when I do my warm up routine, so besides injury prevention, these looks and a little private giggle definitely make it worthwhile!