1:51pm Tuesday 5th May 2009
By Steve Tinniswood
AN EAST Lancashire builder is making waves in the windsurfing world – from his base in the Rossendale Valley!
Greg Martin, 23, who has travelled the globe in search of the perfect wave, has just come back from South Africa.
Now Martin, who is from Haslingden, is off again to the surf beach he rates among the best on the planet – on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales.
Martin, a self employed builder who specialises in brickwork and plastering – is one of the stars of the UK Windsurfing Championships being staged at Rhosneigr, known as ‘Rhossy’ off the west coast of Anglesey from May 15-17.
Martin is hoping for a top 10 finish in the ‘freewave’ event that will see surfers come from all over the country to flex their muscles at the popular holiday resort on the coast of Anglesey.
The event will feature the likes of international professional surfers such as Nick Baker, Jamie Hawkins and local legend Phil Horrocks — and will also include appearances from Irish surfers who will be competing as part of the Irish Sea Challenge.
As part of his tactics, Martin – who has been windsurfing since the age of seven – will be using ‘Big Back Loops’ ‘Cha Choos’ ‘Wave 360s’ and ‘Takas’ to wow the judges.
He said: “I have surfed at locations all over the UK and the world and still think that the consistency of wind available off the coast of Anglesey makes it the best place to windsurf.”
Surfer Martin who now surfs part-time started going to the island with his father Dave when he was knee high and quickly became good at the sport, winning junior regional and national titles which took him to European events.
He travelled the few hours by train to Anglesey after school to hone his skills on the waves.
After a three year stint on the UK professional tour, the need to earn money got in the way and his surfing had to take a back seat while he established up his own building business.
But Martin still uses the island throughout the year and his love for surfing is deep rooted as the only wave to surf nearer to Haslingden is on Watergrove reservoir!
“It was hard when I first started out on the pro-tour but I had help from Funsport surf shop who paid for my travel to and from the island so that I could train after school and at weekends,” added Martin.
The organisers are expecting a record turnout for this year’s event, which is being organised by local surf shop Funsport and Boardseeker magazine and is worth approximately £40,000 to the local economy.
The freewave event is where surfers use the crest of a wave as a ramp to propel themselves into the air where they perform twists and turns to earn points.
The other discipline being held over the weekend is the slalom event where longer boards are used and is an out-and-back point-to-point speed sailing event.
l For more information on the Rhosniegr UK Wind surfing Association event visit www.ukwindsurfing.com or to find out more about more details about the Isle of Anglesey with great places to stay see www.visitanglesey.co.uk
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