Issue date
Dave was a coach for Tom Ashley in the build up to Tom becoming Olympic champion in 2008. Dave then coached Tom and the womens RSX squad leading up to the 2012 Olympics and recently he has been coaching the RSX youth team, 49er FX and 49er sailors.
Q) How did you get into coaching?
A) I started at 16 with Optimists at my local club and really enjoyed it. I then progressed into coaching the Techno class, attending the Worlds as a coach on a PM scholarship. When I finished competing, Tom asked me to coach him in the RSX windsurfer.
Q) Top tips for coaching Windsurfers?
A) Have a fast RIB! Windsurfing is more complex than it looks and requires a lot of time to understand. As a coach you need to keep learning with your athletes.
Q) Main difference with coaching Youth to Olympic athletes?
A) I treat them both the same. Whats more important are the individuals needs rather than age.
Q) When planning training sessions, how do you create goals?
A) Find out the individual and group needs. Plan around what will make the biggest difference on the water. Speed is king on a windsurfer, so early on in careers I spend the most amount of time on speed.
Technique + Skill = Speed
Q) Ways of measuring improvement of sailors?
A) International results speak loudest. Consistent bench mark drills in training allow me as a coach and the sailor to track progress.
Q) How do you balance on water, physical and psychological training?
A)These factors are all specific to the individual sailor. But all are paramount to success. Equally important components to performance. As I coach I hope to instill belief in my sailors.
Q) Main difference coaching windsurfers to skiffs?
A) Personally I am new to skiff coaching, but the strategic nature of both classes are very similar. Tactics are similar and I can add value from what I learned with windsurfers. Communication in double handed skiffs is very different to sailing by yourself on a windsurfer.
Q) What does the future hold for you, what goals do you have?
A) To help New Zealand youth windsurfers back onto the World stage. I love working with Olympic campaigns and learning in that environment. Keen to learn from new classes like the skiffs and expand my coaching toolbox.
Q) If you were not a coach, what would you be doing?
A) Back working on the streets with kids in the community, which I used to do before and am still passionate about.
Q) What do you never go on the water without?
A) Food and a positive attitude.
Q) Funniest or most random thing you have witnessed on the water coaching?
A) Watching the worlds windsurfing girls screaming as a pod of orcas showed a keen interest in their boards at Whangarei Heads.
Thank you Dave, all the best for the rest of 2013
