Fred on the other hand was never going to be missing on the start. Our 2009 slalom masters champion may spend his week selling our virtues to the industry, but once the ads are in you’ll find him flying out at Kimmeridge or flying round the slalom buoys. Duncan may be a fellow Essex boy living in the land of speed, but seeing him on the NWF startline just showed me the power of the event as he’s more soul searcher than racer, but then isn’t that what it’s all about, bringing everyone together.
For those who were there our windsurf instructors hardly need a mention with Ant and Jem running regular demos at the top of the beach, and for those who missed Simon, we’ll apologise for that but the clinics must go on.
So that just leaves the pictures, and while I’m stood behind the lens all too often, Boards’ official snapper for the NWF was Simon Crowther, who spent his days frantically running between startline and prize giving. Guess it’s easier having two shooters to capture the action, but it’s working as a team that gets us the best shots, and I’m sure you’ll see that when you see the title event pix from the night surfing.
Strangely we need a third snapper to get the shot we want, a double forward. No, not one person but two Boards’ photographers doing a forward off the same wave. Hang on, we can do that - shouldn’t have left Gary behind the desk. I mean, didn’t you see his Jeri story.
As for me being stuck on the shore, well, you’ll only have to ask the spectators. They'll tell you the atmosphere was spellbinding, and who didn't wince or laugh as hundreds of boards crashed headlong into the beach just to gain their rider that extra metre or two. But that's only half the story. I love my job, not just because it combines two sides of my life with photography and windsurfing, but I work with a team that's not only as passionate about them as I am, but want to be the best they can.
