I’m back at home now waiting for a bit of autumn wind, dreading having to put on a winter wetsuit and thinking about how good working in the sun is. It made me think about what my top 5 things are working away in the water sports industry.

1. Friends
Living inland does mean that out of my mates where I live, only 1 windsurfs. When you’re working in a centre you have an endless supply of likeminded people ready to chat about windsurfing for hours and hours.

2. Improving
Obviously having strong trade winds everyday is going to improve your windsurfing, but the amount of time out in lighter winds is what really does it. Normally you are on the water for an hour or 2 in the morning in light winds and the same in the afternoon in the stronger winds. Then, factor in lunchtime and after work windsurfing and the time on the water clock soon racks up. A windsurfer will improve their windsurfing more in an hour of skill based light wind freestyle than they would in an hour of blasting back and forth. Teaching is really good as it forces you onto the water everyday in light wind as well as strong. Don’t get lazy though, just because you have 7 months of wind still means you have to make the most of everyday. The only way to improve is going out all the time and trying new stuff constantly. Oh and never, ever doing long runs of nothing!

3. Slalom
Slalom is well fun and the skills for a decent gybe filter into so much of windsurfing. The thing is, slalom is expensive. The bigger sails cost more and slalom boards aren’t cheap, so having access to slalom gear is a big bonus. In fact having access to all sorts of gear is great news for your windsurfing, if you get out and try it all. I would love to have a garage that contains freestyle, wave, slalom, freeride and freemove boards, all in different sizes with every sail size rigged too, but realistically, that’s probably not going to happen. It is if you work a season.

4. Loosing touch with the normal world
The smug feeling of superiority when somebody looks at you and confusedly asks “so you don’t watch Made in Chelsea or the X Factor?” There’s something nice about being out of England for ages.

5. Tanning
Its hot 24/7 and lets be honest, everyone looks better with a tan!