Every great windsurfer comes from somewhere, this for many of the top British riders means learning as a kid and then spending hours on the nearest lake with friends, having fun and learning as they went along.
Boards decided to take a look back at the childhoods of some of the best riders this country has produced, we started off with the current BWA champion Phil Horrocks and now we introduce the life and times of Andy Bubble Chambers..
Please note, this feature does contain amusing childhood images.
Name: Andy Bubble Chambers
Age: 30
Age when you started windsurfing: 8
Why, when and where you started windsurfing:
Started in Cyprus. I was living over there and went to school on the British Forces base, which overlooked the beach. The beach where I learnt to windsurf was at the end of big valley called ‘Happy Valley’ which was full of football, rugby and hockey pitches, a saddle club, running track and stadium, then a watersports club. On one side of a big cliff and a dingy club and golf course on the other side. It’s a pretty amazing set up really! We used to cliff jump quite a bit as well! The Valley caused a funnel effect and used to draw the sea breeze in making it the windiest spot on the coast. Both my parents windsurfed, windsurfing was massive back then and by growing up at the beach it was the natural thing to do!
How often did you windsurf?
School finished at 1.30pm, which was right when the sea breeze used to kick in. This meant during the summer I got to windsurf pretty much everyday!
Where did you go?
The local beach in Cyprus, called Lemmings.
Did you have to convince your parents to take you? Or were they supportive?
Never! They both windsurfed and we pretty much lived at the beach. They have always been supportive and have always helped me get to events.
What sort of windsurfing did you do?
Everything I could! I used to race in light and strong winds. If there were waves I would go wavesailing and when freestyle started coming on the scene i started that too! Even used to go light wind freestyling!! Basically spend as much time on the water as possible!
What were your dreams and ambitions as a kid?
I’ve always to be a pro windsufer!! I used to read all the magazines and watch all the videos; it was all I ever wanted to do.
What advice would you give to yourself as a kid?
Keep going! Keep windsurfing as much as possible and try and sail in as many different conditions as possible. Main thing though is to have fun with it, as soon as it stops becoming fun then you need to take a step back and move down a different path.
What advice would you give to any windsurfing kids now?
Exactly the same thing!! Maybe use the technology and media that you have now to your advantage, too. And get to the events early so you get used to competing.
Are there any young rippers out there that you know that have really impressed you?
A lot of the up and coming freestylers are impressing me… and overtaking me!! Every event, whether it’s a BWA or UKWA, there is always have an impressive youth fleet. Hopefully they will start crossing over a bit, so that they can become all round windsurfers and create a new breed of windsurfer!
