I’d like to feel sorry for Nigel Howell the man behind WhiteAir, but no matter how much I try, I can’t. He and the rest of the windsurfers have my sympathy, the weather couldn’t have been worse, offshore and calm, but while it may not have gone our way it was still a huge success. So I can’t say I’m sorry, instead I’ll say good on ya and same again next year please.
First time we met Nigel was at McDonalds in Maui, ok I’m not talking up the food but there’s a lot worse places to shelter from the rain. We were on different missions, he windsurfing career was kicking off while I was trying to end mine.
Sounds stupid when I think about it now, but having re-mortgage the house three times in order to chase my dreams I’d put the last pennies into a final trip to get windsurfing out of my system. Fortunately we’d chosen the worst month to be in Maui, no wind and plenty of rain, and yes I did say fortunately, had it been any other way I’d be working in a factory and instead of typing this, I’d be down the pub for pie and a pint.
I’m sure Nigel will look at that month with just as positively as it not only launched his career but JC’s (John Carter) though I’m sure it didn’t feel that way at the time. He and JC were sharing a two-man tent some half way up the mountain in one of the worlds wettest locations, they’d come down to dry out more than dine out.
On the rare occasion it did blow JC had his camera fixed on Nigel, though I think the real action came the following month when the big swells hit and we headed home. Times don’t really change that much, we met again this week, ok it wasn’t at McDonalds but a burger bar on Brighton sea front and the only shower he need shelter from follows the sound of popping corks.
One day Nigel will get he’s really looking for, an event where he can show his roots and what drives his passion. Windsurfing.
