Adam Lewis started his 2017 PWA campaign with a serious ankle injury and ended it with a career best of 5th in the Men’s wave rankings. It may have been a surprise to some, but not to anyone who knows the dedication of the 29 year old Englishman to his sport and ambitions. Adam is testament to hard work brings results. From humble beginnings to a place on the Fanatic / North international team and a result that puts him amongst the world’s wavesailing elite, Finn Mullen sits down with Adam to talk about his stellar year and rise to the top.

Words  Finn Mullen, Adam Lewis  //  Photos  John Carter

Adam Lewis hails from Taunton, a town in South West England, inland from the coast. It’s not known for its windsurfing but that wasn’t going to stop Adam. His first steps were at Durleigh, a reservoir close to his home, where he progressed under the Royal Yachting Association’s Team 15 initiative. Success as a youth on the race course followed and along with his friends, Graham Woods and George Shillito, ‘Team AirBorn’ was formed to help channel their competitive skills. Branching out into wave and freestyle, a move to Tenerife as a young man saw Adam find his calling as a wave sailor. Entering his first PWA event in 2007 at Tiree he steadily climbed through the ranks through passion and devotion to his craft. In 2017 however, something changed, building all-important momentum in results and confidence in his ability he finished 5th in the world with the respect of his peers and congratulations from fans and friends on the back of a deserved result for years of tireless training.

FM: Let’s rewind to the start of 2017 – busted ankle as the competitive season is about to get underway. What was your mindset back then and how did you plan to overcome the injury?
AL: Yeah, it was a pretty tricky situation. I guess for the first week or so I was in denial. I even tried to sail on it after 7 days of resting but it was so swollen and sore I had to stop. In hindsight I was so lucky to not completely ruin my ankle almost beyond repair. After that it sort of struck home I was going to be out for a while so I went to hospital and got x-rays and scans etc. It turned out to be 3 torn ligaments and 2 ruptured. I think the first few weeks I was pretty grumpy (thanks to my girlfriend for putting up with me!) but was really strict with recovery and focussed on getting better. Once I found out I would be off the water for 3 months I just set my mind on coming out of it stronger than when I started.

FM: Did the injury focus your goals and efforts?
AL: Simply put, yeah, 100%. I had 3 months out of the water and having spoken to my physio at home it was pretty close to being a career changing injury. That really forces you to re-assess what you are doing and why. Actually I found the whole process really rewarding. I looked at what I was doing and why, then focussed on the things I had to improve to move forward and got on with them. It wasn’t easy but in hindsight that time off the water and that time to think really changed my perspective. I think you never really know how much you have to give until you’re forced into a challenge like that.

FM: How important do you view mental and physical preparation or is it just time on the water?
AL: On tour I think there is a real mix but nowadays everyone is leaning towards the training and mental preparation side. Personally, I think the preparation is really important. I would say I’m naturally competitive and I strive to improve but I’m not a natural competitor. There are guys on tour that can get 110% out of themselves the minute that green flag goes up, I’m not like that so I have to be prepared. I have a really specific warm up and a mental process, I’ve been refining it over the years and feel its slowly paying off. It’s been a case of trial and error, seeing what works and binning what doesn’t. It’s a big part of being relaxed about competing. If I know I’ve done everything I could, then I’m not stressed about the things I can’t control. It all feeds into being able to make those split second decisions that can win or lose a heat, you need to be calm making them.

FM: You’re lining up against some of the biggest names in your sport, what are your thoughts before the heat and talk us through your heat strategies.
AL: Coming up against those names is the hardest part of competing I find. I started a little later than the other guys so it’s tough coming up against Ricardo, Braw, Philip, Victor or anyone in the top 16. It’s competing against guys I really looked up to and still do. It’s taken a few years to get over that. I think my main strategy is simply to never give up and keep plugging away. You only need 2 waves and 2 jumps, sometimes that can feel like an impossible task but you’ve just got to keep calm and get on with what the conditions give you. Use every second you can, I’ve had loads of heats I won on the last wave. If you don’t succeed just stay calm, try and try again.

FM: What was your standout ‘Rocky’ moment from the year?
AL: Feels like I’ve had so many this year but a few stand out right now. I won the opening 2017 British Wavesailing Association (BWA) event in Rhosneigr, it was the first time I’d sailed in over 3 months. I had worked so hard to be back in time for that event. But I hadn’t sailed beforehand and I was just happy to be sailing, but then to win was amazing! After that I guess a breakthrough moment was the heat against Brawzhino in Tenerife, it was a really close heat, just incredible to win. I think that changed my mindset to really believe I could beat those top guys.

FM: Was there ever a time when you thought things wouldn’t work out and how did you pick yourself up from it?
AL: With the injury I don’t think it crossed my mind, I was coming back stronger and that was that. Outside of that, I think there have been times in my career where I have thought it might not work. The guys on tour aren’t exactly making millions so there have been loads of times where I’ve thought about doing other things, normally when your stranded in a foreign country and down to your last £20 in the world. But I think two things keep me going, the first and most important is I honestly really love what I do. I’m so lucky and when I take it for granted I stop and pinch myself because it really is a dream come true. I guess the other is that I felt like I had more to give, I wasn’t happy with the results I’d had. I have a few goals I want to achieve and I don’t want to stop before I get them.

FM: What training change did you make this year that you think made a difference.
AL: Top secret ha ha. No I guess I stepped up the gym stuff just to be able to come back from the injury. I kept it up the whole time on tour, it’s definitely made a big difference to my sailing and given my confidence on the water a solid boost. Just knowing I will land and I have the strength to hold it. The guys I train with had some research regarding the forces that go through your body surfing, I think coming down from a normal top turn on a head high wave created a force of 8 x your body weight through you, that’s an insane amount of force. For windsurfing I imagine it’s a lot more, so just knowing you’re strong enough to deal with what happens after you hit a section is important. The gym work I’ve focussed on this year started with a lot of movement patterns, just to get my body moving better. That was one of my bigger weaknesses on testing. Then we focussed on basic strength movements, just building a strong robust system. A big mix of power squats, deadlifts, weighted pull-ups etc. Because of the ankle I did a lot of single leg work; the basic idea was just to get really strong through a good range of movement. We also worked with jumping and plyometric aspects to help with landing moves.

FM: You’re using the ‘Stubby’ boards a lot in competition, how has your gear this year made a

difference to your sailing and results?
AL: Yeah I have to say, the sails this year have an awesome wind range so I really feel confident on them. Then there is the ‘Stubby’, I think Victor and myself have had some incredible results on the production ‘Stubby’. I love it, I’m using my 82 more and more, I’ve got some customs and protos but I keep pulling out the 82. I think I’ve chosen gear this year that perhaps made me a little more mobile around the contest area. Previous years I was choosing a smaller set of gear that I knew I would get a slightly better turn on. Having big gear that’s quick and early on the plane but still can hold a big rail turn is the holy grail, it’s been epic to have gear that works so well. It all plays into feeling confident as you hit the water for your heat.

FM: You’ve spent more time in the UK recently, sailing in typically variable ‘North European’ conditions, how do you still keep improving in these, less consistent conditions, compared to the Canaries, Cape Town etc.
AL: I think it really helps a lot, I’ve probably been based back in the UK for the last 3 years and it can be frustrating but it teaches you to adapt very quickly to changing conditions and you learn how to sail overpowered, underpowered and everything in between; which has been challenging but awesome. Even the more consistent spots change a lot throughout the day and tide so your constantly adapting, it’s harder to learn new moves but you develop as a more rounded sailor. Plus I live in Cornwall, so when it’s good it’s world class. That mix really keeps windsurfing refreshing.

FM: What are your tips for sailing in UK / North European conditions.
AL: Get a “Stubby” ha ha!

FM: Who do you look up to and why for inspiration in windsurfing and outside of the sport?
AL: For inspiration in windsurfing I would say Levi Siver for pure style and Bjorn Dunkerbeck for being such a champion but still giving back to the sport. He organizes events and sponsors some of the PWA events, what a legend. Outside of the sport, I’ve always looked up to Mick Fanning as a competitor, especially that year (2013) he was WSL world champ. Keeping cool and just performing in mega Pipeline, pure class. Plus that frontside rail carve of his is a thing of beauty!

FM: What motivates you?
AL: I guess I really like to improve. I think that’s what really motivates me. I always see areas that I could get better, it can be frustrating but windsurfing is such a challenging sport, so you fight for those improvements, it’s never ending and really rewarding.

FM: You incorporate surfing into your cross-training a lot – what does it bring to your sailing and what do you see as the big differences between the sports in culture and performance.
AL: I think it helps a lot in terms of wave knowledge and knowing where to generate speed on a wave. Other than that, I’d like to think it pushes you to incorporate a more surfing approach. That said, I think windsurfing is its own sport and you shouldn’t just try to copy surfing completely because windsurfing has so much more to offer. But I think that basic appreciation of rail work is really important.
In terms of culture I think surfing can sometimes be a little bit too cool for school. One thing as windsurfers we should all be really proud of is that right from world champions to a beginner, pretty much everyone is happy to stop and chat to one another and share the stoke. Windsurfing has such a great social vibe, it’s something to be proud of.

FM: What advice would you give to your 16 year old self and to groms looking to follow in your footsteps?
AL: Never give up. Sail as much as you can and do what you love. Also if your getting sponsored be professional about it, treat it as a job and hopefully it will become one!

FM: How important a stepping stone was your formative years in Tenerife?
AL: Massive, I’m so thankful to the guys at the OTC for the job I got there. I can’t thank those guys, Ben, Tris and Sparky enough. The way the centre was geared up was really by windsurfers for windsurfers and all about the windsurfing. On those good days we’d get at least 1 sail in during the day and then sail till dark after work. You did have to put the work in too, so it was a really good balance. I shared that with a great friend called Graham Woods, who I have to say was kicking my ass on the water from day one. We really pushed each other’s level. I was very lucky to have him there pushing me. Aside from all that, the level of all the locals in Cabezo is inspiring, there’s guys finishing work and going for doubles and busting big 360’s. Then you’ve got Dany Bruch and Alex Mussolini, both serious world title contenders. Both more than happy to help whenever they can, both legends! So it was a massive melting pot of sailing and inspiration.

FM: When it was finally confirmed that your were 5th, who did you call and how did you celebrate?
AL: I think I called my girlfriend Lucy and my Dad first. I had so many messages and support from everyone it was amazing, that really took me by surprise. The support blew me away. I was pretty destroyed after all the sailing in the double elimination but I went for a big steak and a few beers then and there in Sylt with Dany, Jaeger, the Twins, Max Rowe and Proffitt. I had to drive straight from Sylt to the event in Tiree so I couldn’t go too big…  but when the season’s fully over I’ll have an AGM with all the fellas at home in a cider barn… I can only see that going one way!

FM: Who do you credit as part of your success?
AL: Honestly, probably too many to mention all here. So many people have helped me on my way and I can’t thank them enough. Mum and Dad helped so much and still do with an insane amount of airport drop offs! Lucy my girlfriend who doubles up as a surf buddy and photographer. The Team Airborn guys, George Shillito and Graham Woods for kicking my ass when I was younger plus Bob Shilito for being the driving force behind Airborn! All the youth BWA guys when I was coming up – Muzza, Pip and Sam Neal. Mark Sparky Hosegood, who really got George, Graham and I into wavesailing. Ben Proffitt, who persuaded me to come on the tour and let me sleep on his floor that first year. Dany Bruch who gave me my first wild card for a PWA event and has helped me out so much over the years. The guys from the OTC – Tris and Ben. Nik Baker, who has always been really supportive right from the start, helps me out whenever he can. All of the guys and girls at Fanatic and North have been really supportive and didn’t push me to sail before I was ready with the injury. Actually the whole PWA tour is a pretty cool family so everyone there too! I guess looking back on it, it’s been a long time coming.

FM: Where do you see your future in the sport, immediate and long term plans and how you plan to achieve them.
AL: Immediately, I’d love a PWA podium. But I think it’s important to be goal driven rather than result driven because there is so much out of your control. So for the immediate future, I’m just focussing on getting fitter, stronger, improve a few aspects of my sailing and keep pushing! I’ve taken on a few more bits and pieces of responsibility over the years with North and Fanatic so I’d like to think I have a place there longer term. In terms of strength and physical performance I will be coming into my peak over the next few years so I’d like to keep at it. After that, who knows, the world’s your oyster!

FM: What would you change about windsurfing?
AL: Easy! The amount of gear and sails… Imagine you could just travel with 1 sail and it worked all the time…  Oversize baggage is a nightmare!

FM: What’s your favourite spot on tour?
AL: Tenerife, it’s a powerful reef break. It is side on but I think it’s really high performance sailing. On a good day you can get 3 or 4 frontside hits and the jumping is epic.

FM: Funniest moment on tour from 2017?
AL: Oppphh tricky one, maybe BWA in Tiree, it was sponsored by a brewery and we’d had a few before the prize-giving. Marc Pare was worried he’d fall off the podium… classic!

FM: Turns or airs?
AL: Turns all day, they just feel the best.

FM: Home or Hawaii?
AL: Home, Hawaii’s been growing on me but I really love being at home in Cornwall.

FM: Thrusters or Quads?
AL: Thrusters, I moved to thrusters about 2 years ago and I haven’t looked back, so much easier to attack the wave vertically, loads of projection.

FM: High boom or low boom?
AL: Medium, I find its starts to creep up if I’m jumping a lot or creep down when I’m just riding a lot.

FM: Big winds or big waves?
AL: Big waves. Such a buzz.

FM: Finally, what are you looking forward to in 2018?
AL: So much, can I say all of it!

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