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Week eight in the life of a trainee windsurf instructor
The third week in our professional development has been really great. We have been back with the Flying Fish group, working on our windsurfing skills.
In the mornings, I had some great sessions working on my light wind freestyle with Bex. I have spent some time practicing my windsurfing demos making sure that they are perfect, so when I do take my first class on my own I will feel completely confident doing them.
brushing up on theory presentations
I mastered the 'cowboy' which I was really pleased with - complete with sounds effects. Bex insisted that it was not the proper move without a yeeeehaaa!!! We had loads of fun playing around with new moves and practicing sailing backwards, clew first, etc. It's been really fun and great for improving our board control.
I decided that I would complete the RYA first aid course with Bex as a re-cap on the first aid that I learnt in Sydney with the other Fish. I am really pleased that I took the course again as it has been good to brush up on my skills and learn more about specific windsurfing injuries and what to do. I now feel very confident in dealing with a real situation.
The afternoons have been spent - you guessed it - windsurfing! I now get withdrawal symptoms if I don't get out on the water for a day - I am totally hooked! The wind has been varied this week, so I have been sailing loads of different boards.
Nate & I took out the tandem board again this week and took it out in much stronger winds, which was a blast. We got planing and it was awesome. That board goes so fast when it is powered up. It was a real laugh! I also tried the Serenity board, which was so much fun. It just glides effortlessly through the water. I took it out with a 7m sail, which was certainly interesting to uphaul, but once I got it up it was great.
My real achievement this week has been the beginnings of a carve gybe. I finally have managed to steer properly downwind and managed half a carve gybe. My confidence with steering in strong winds has improved so much this week. I have also dropped board sizes again which has made steering easier.
steering properly downwind
I feel as though I am making loads of progress. A complete carve gybe is my goal at the moment and so every time I go out I try and try again. I'm just waiting for it all to click!
The night life this week has been great. On Monday night we had a BBQ at the Fish House which was a really nice chilled evening. We have discovered 'happy hour' this week in the cocktail bar at Club Vass where you get 'buy one get one free' cocktails, so I have taken to drinking two cocktails simultaneously through two straws!
The most memorable night this week has been the Club Vass BBQ again. We all started at Club Vass for punch, food and entertainment - the instructors all sang an interesting song - I won't go into details … It was also fancy dress - Tarts & Vicars. We then headed to the Zeus bar. Everyone was out and it was a great night - I got in at about 5am!
Luckily Thursday was my day off so I had a lie in and then had a relaxing day, recovering from my hangover!
Next week I am assisting Nancy with the kids club at Vass. I'm really looking forward to it as it sounds like its going to be a fun week. Next week is also my last week as a 'Fish' before I officially start my job at Club Vass.
I can't wait to start my job at Vass, although it will be sad ending my Fish course as I have had such a great time.
