JC: Describe a typical day for you in Maui?
MB: Normally I wake up around 7am and do some cross training before breakfast, either running, cycling or in the gym. Than back at home I eat breakfast, answer my emails and go down to Ho’okipa around 11. I normally stay there until 5pm or later if it is firing, but I take breaks in-between sessions. After I arrive home, I do a stretch and roll out before dinner. Than eat some food and try to watch a movie, but I normally pass out during the first 20 minutes as I am so tired from sailing.
JC: How did you develop those crazy tweaked airs you have been throwing at Ho’okipa?
MB: There was a day that the wind was really light and I was going to try an air off a really small wave, but could not really tweak it. So I used my head to try to dip that low so that my legs would come up. It was a kind of accident. A few days later I saw a really cool shot somebody had taken of it. So after that I have been trying a few more when the right set up comes along. I am not totally sure about those head dip airs, sometimes the board does not tweak as much as when you do a regular tweaked air. It really depends on the set up of the wave. Some waves help you tweak the board around further. If you have a wave where you can go vertical and you are not going too fast, the head dip helps to get the tail up higher. When you swing your head down low your legs naturally go up more. The most important thing is the speed I have when I am approaching the lip. If I am not going too fast, then that helps to tweak the board a little further. Sometimes I can be completely upside down, it is a sick feeling. I am almost looking back at the rocks and the photographers on the hill although I don’t really see anything in the middle of a move; it is all black to me!
“ I just keep on telling myself that all I have to do is to enjoy my windsurfing and that usually helps me into a positive mindset. Then I end up sailing better. ”