MAKING A CHANGE

Ross Williams finished lasts year’s PWA season with a bullet on the final day of Noumea and a credible sixth place in the overall slalom rankings. The new decade, however, will bring a major change in his lifestyle after twenty-one years full power on tour. With a baby on the way, due in February, Ross, who also just hit forty, will be taking a slight step off the gas this year to concentrate on family affairs. Read on as John Carter talks to Britain’s most successful racer for this candid interview to find out how he sees the year panning out!

- John Carter

BULLETS

It was nice to finish last season with a bullet on the final day in Noumea. That whole day of racing was great for me. The wind and the conditions were in my perfect zone of racing and instead of being out of control, I had the perfect setup and great power; I took a risk and it paid off. I had switched to my medium board and 7.9m and that helped. That is where I need to focus, those decisions sometimes allow me to nail good results. Dropping to a small size quicker than the other guys can pay off. Jumping from large board to medium definitely helps me. That round victory restored my faith and made me think I still have it in me to win events or even the title. It had been a while since I had won a race outside Fuerteventura, but in those medium style conditions it felt satisfying to win one. All the big guns were there. They were all going flat out, and it was fast and furious racing. There are a lot of hard-working good sailors on tour these days as well as the big three, Mortefon, Iachino and Albeau. Just getting to a final is a monumental task. The top three seem to do it easy. That win did feel like an achievement, but when I did it, it felt easy. When your gear is right, you are flying. The gear and being confident is so important at the top end of the sport.

GEAR