The speed sailing icon and slalom guru gives a brief insight into his winter training and preparations for the 2009 season.

With slalom’s first outing of 2009 fast approaching we though we’d check in with some of the key players to find out how they’ve been preparing for the 2009 World Tour season. First up, British Virgin Islander and 7th overall 2008 finisher, Finian Maynard.

PWA: Where are you right now?

FM: Maui.

PWA: Where have you been training over the winter?

FM: Germany, France, Italy and the BVI before my current trip to Hawaii.

PWA: Have you been working on any specific aspects of your sailing?

FM: I have been training to improve my slalom turning and acceleration as these are my traditional weak points.

PWA: Besides windsurfing, how else do you train for competition?  

FM: I like to lift some weights from time to time and sometimes I go  
running. It depends on where I am and how the weather is doing.

PWA: Do you have a personal trainer / coach / regime you follow?

FM: I don't have a coach as such but I have somebody whom I trade thoughts  
and ideas with in terms of maximizing my training time and energies.

PWA: Can you give us a tip from the top; how could a regular recreational sailor improve his/her technique to sail quicker?

FM: I mostly see recreational sailors with not enough downhaul on their rig, whether it is a wave, freeride or a race sail. Pull the rope a bit harder!

Finian Maynard is sponsored by RRD boards and NeilPryde sails.

Slalom’s opening event of 2009 will take place between May 5-10 in Podersdorf, Austria. Stay tuned to pwaworldtour.com for more updates on the event in the coming weeks.