Article for my School

Hi, my name is Max Bushell, I am 13 years of age and I have been asked to talk about my sport which is competitive windsurfing. The kit I use is the Bic Techno 293 one design windsurfing board, it is a bit bigger than a surfboard you may have seen at the beach but this has a large sail fixed to it. I have the Bic T-Rig one design 6.8 meter sail; the kit is one design throughout the world for all under 15 competitors.

In the summer (2009) I took part in the Techno World Windsurfing Championship and out of 68 under 15 competitors I came 21st in the world. I finished last season by getting 3rd 6.8 under 15 Inland Series which consisted of 5 weekend events all around Britain and in these events you race on inland lakes. Also I achieved 2nd 6.8 under 15 in the Sea Cup Series which consist of a further 6 weekend events around Britain and in these events you race on the sea. At the start of this season I found out that I had been selected for the National Junior Windsurfing Squad which consists of the 18 best under 17 windsurfers in the United Kingdom.

Since I have been in the National Squad I have been to a number of training events. The first event I went to was a Land Day at Chichester University which is where we have fitness tests, weighing, measuring of height, core stability testing, nutritional training, sports psychology and goal setting. I have trained at Hayling Island and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy twice. When I went to Hayling Island we only had one days windsurfing because it was way too windy for anybody to go out windsurfing on the first day. But we did go out on the Sunday but while I was training I sailed towards the breaking rolling waves and while windsurfing a 12 foot wave came over the top of me and broke on top of me. The damage was so bad that I could not use that sail again, it was wrecked. When I last went to Weymouth it was so cold on the first day that there was only me and two other people left out on the water from our group till the day ended. On the second day all we did was raced and over the time of 3 training weekends and 7 races I am currently 1st 6.8 under 15 boy.

I have been training in between these times but over New Year the lake at North Lincolnshire & Humberside Sailing Club was totally frozen over making it impossible to go use the lake. I spend a lot of time training using a Swiss Ball which improves my core stability and fitness, I use a rowing machine and ride my road bike, but again the snow has stopped me using my bike at times. Fitness and the types of food I eat are very important as well as time on the water what ever the weather.

At the start of this season I found out that I had been selected for the National Junior Windsurfing Squad which consists of the 18 best under 17 windsurfers in the United Kingdom. Since then I have been busy training with the Squad at various places in the UK and at North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club at Barton where I am a club member. I have sailed or trained every weekend throughout the winter even when it snowed except for one when the lake at Barton was frozen!!

I have still got a few more squad training weekends to attend away from home but am now looking forward to the new racing season which starts in April and to competing again especially when I take part in the Techno World Windsurfing Championship in July which is being held in Martigues, South of France.