5: Can you remember your first ever PWA comp?
Yeah, it was in Brighton in the UK in 1997. It was a racing event and I was the tender age of 17.
6: What did you do before the PWA?
Before the PWA I had a few interesting jobs. I spent most of my summers picking garlic, tomatoes and sweet corn which was hot and sweaty work! And the rest of the year I spent in school. After I left school I started working as a lifeguard and water sports instructor down at Wight Water in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.
7: Tea or coffee?
During my healthy episodes I prefer green tea with some honey. But unfortunately I am a Starbucks junkie. There is nothing better than a nice Vanilla Latte!
8: Mac or PC? Why?
Apple – but just because I’m following the crowd. I’m trying my hardest to be cool but unfortunately I don’t even know how at least half of the things work.
9: Favourite place in the world?
Anywhere where I can go surfing in proper waves. I love sailing and hanging out with my friends.
10: Blondes or brunettes?
Brunettes – dark and sexy!
11: How many weeks a year do you spend in the UK?
Well – for the past 10 years I only got to spend maximum three weeks of the year at home. But now that I just started to work as the Gaastra and Tabou agent for the whole UK so I expect I will spend the majority of my time in the UK.
12: Where do you spend the most time abroad?
If I am not competing or travelling to events then I spend quite a lot of time in Marseille – testing equipment with Cedric Bordes or whoever else is there. When I have free time I like to be somewhere where the waves and the conditions are more radical- such as South Africa, Chile or Hawaii and of course I also visit my girlfriend in Germany.
13: Tell us about those note books you carry around?
Oh – if I tell you what is in those secret note books I might have to kill you!
No- actually I have one that I use for all my day-to-day things that I need to do. I need that because everyone that knows me knows I can’t even remember my own name unless I write it down! And in the second one I always write down my super testing secrets, which means all the settings of the equipment that I try.
14: How many tattoos do you have?
Three so far!
15: Why did you get them all?
I didn’t have my note books with me at the time! And I like pain.
16: What is the worst aspect of travelling around with all that kit?
Definitely checking-in at the airport because no one is ever willing to help you! And the airlines love to screw you over with the costs of the excess baggage. And if you are super lucky you pay a fortune to get it to your competition and it doesn’t even arrive because it has been sent to Alaska!
