Dear Windriders, we wanted to share a few words to let you know what we're up to and that we miss you dearly.
We have been working for Fusion now on the island of Virgin Gorda since October and the time is flying by. Liam's job involves him teaching kiteboarding on a one on one basis from a small 10ft RIB; there aren't huge beaches like windriders are used to so teaching becomes much more challenging.
My job is a little simpler and involves looking after the water sports at a very fancy resort not too far away. I take guests (and celebrities) out sailing, paddleboarding, snorkelling and I've even learnt to windsurf! This was just so that I can sail the equipment back when the guests get blown downwind; I haven't put the time into learning to plane yet.
What's very fortunate about my job is that I get a boat to work everyday which is upwind which means I can kite or sail home on a nice downwinder. Starting to use the surfboard a bit more and doing some race board stuff too. Generally using a 12m switchblade but I've got a 9m Vegas too, you don't need anything smaller than that here.
Liam has been all over foiling since being here but has shared a number of encounters with the coral, leaving him with little clothing so inevitably borrowing mine.
He still likes the freestyle though...
Trying out the surfboard with Liam's dad now on the Vegas.
As we still consider ourselves windriders, therefore all round watermen, we have been doing copious amounts of paddleboard surfing. This is something we strongly recommend trying, you don't need much swell to make it exciting, I've even been doing it in my speedos! We're trying to put a video together.
Finally, I think we're both slowly becoming alcoholics. Without the pressure of deadlines and uni assignments we seem to be consuming alcoholic beverages much more regularly. After going kiting in the evenings, we stop by for something to eat and inevitably have a few beers or painkillers; I did a downwind paddleboard tour to a bar with a group the other day, and without any hydration, the rums were flowing. We've even spent our days off going island hopping which is another way of saying booze cruise. So just a heads up that the Caribbean isn't all sunshine and warm water.
Good luck with exams and dissertations, I hope this wasn't too distracting, this is just proof that there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel! Trust me, I'm an engineer.
Ross Browne MEng
Fusion watersports extraordinaire
Current SKA Student National Freestyle Intermediate Champion
