GIRLS ALLOWED WITH CLUB VASS DIVAS, Windsurf UK, Nov/Dec 2005
BY JO SCOTT
 THE DAWN OF THE DIVAS
BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS
TALKING THE TALK AND LOOKING THE PART
BIG UP YOURSELF!
JUST THINK OF THE SHOPPING!
THE DIVAS GAIN MOMENTUM
DIVAS DIARY
WHAT THE DIVAS SAID: FEEDBACK FROM OUR CLIENTS
THE DAWN OF THE DIVAS
When I was first asked to run some dedicated girls' windsurfing clinics, 'Club Divas', at Vass,
it got me thinking: What exactly is separates the girls from the boys in this male-dominated sport?
I thought about how I first became involved in this sport, why I stuck with it and how I have learned
along the way…
I had my first of taste windsurfing during a diving holiday in Barbados and found Windsurfing by far
the bigger buzz. I'd had enough of my office job and decided to take some time out to try something new.
I'd also heard that Enrique lglesias was a windsurfer; a shameful confession I know, but 'hunky' and
'windsurfer' just seem to go well together! Let's face it, the fact men do outnumber women in windsurfing
can be quite a draw. I soon found myself at Club Vass learning to windsurf. To be honest I HATED it at first!
I hated the sore hands, the bad back and not understanding what everyone was talking about. In retrospect,
I went at it like a bull in a china shop, choosing not to take tuition and taking no advice. This meant zero
technique and lots of unnecessary pain!
I've now been a full-time instructor for Club Vass for nearly five years, but reflecting on my own first
steps made me resolve to make learning for ladies as simple and as pain-free as possible. I felt that
using the right language, emphasising technique and ensuring that sessions were no longer than necessary,
especially for beginners, would be key to making it work. I also needed to understand what it is that holds
women back.
BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS
Men are from Mars During on-water coaching sessions with regular, miixed groups, I noticed some striking
differences. The ladies tended to stick toqether and were very attentive to the demos, whereas the guys were
often more independent and wanted to get out practising as soon as possible. It eemed that the girls needed
to more fully understand started to question my clients on the subject and it soon become clear… approach risk
in different ways.
For example, I know that as much as I'd always wanted to loop, I needed to understand the manoeuvre fully
and take it step-by-step to reduce the risk of injury (and for the record, I'm now looping!). We ladies
generally place physical well-being over image or peer pressure, whereas in the main, men have different
priorities!
The other physical issue is that, generally speaking, we are not as strong as men, but good technique can
definitely make up for this. All it means is men can get away with poor technique for longer, whereas we
need to get it right; maybe that's why the canny girls listen more attentively. Clearly using the right
equipment also helps overcome the strength barrier and recent developments in design have made a big impact
on helping girls achieve their goals.
TALKING THE TALK AND LOOKING THE PART
On an emotional level, I took time to think about the whole issue of image in windsurfing and I noticed a
very curious phenomenon; windsurfers don't talk like normal people! Apart from the overuse of jargon,
I was hearing phrases like; 'I flamed it out there', 'he was ripping', 'so and so ATE it out there' . . .
not very descriptive of the sport that I participate in. Now I'm a fairly decent freestyler, and in my
quest to improve I do fall, but I have never flamed, ripped, shredded or certainly EATEN anything!
Pretty off-putting language for a newcomer to a sport!
What about the visual side of it? Nowadays it's common to see guys and gals spocking, looping and doing
grubbys amongst other stuff, and it can appear like a fairly adrenaline-fuelled, die-hard extreme sport.
It's fantastic to watch and all credit to those sailors pushing it on the water, but it can be intimidating
in terms of personal expectations.
So I resolved to get the message across that you don't have to speak like a hungry, paper-shredding
pyromaniac to describe your sail. Nor do you need to fling yourself around like a rag doll in a Force 8
to feel like you are getting somewhere! Some of my most satisfying sails have been of the gentler kind,
in warm sunny weather and enjoying my surroundings ( which I have to say are stunning at all three centers
where I work; Club Margarita, Club Dahab and Club Vassiliki). Windsurfing has levels and from the moment
you get your first taste no matter how light the wind or how barge-like your board, you are officially a
windsurfer valuable member of the community. And that means guys and gals!
BIG UP YOURSELF!
Lastly I considered my own attitude to leaning tried to relate it to the women in my groups. In seven
seasons' teaching I don't think ever heard a guy say, "That's it, I can't beachstart - I'll never be able
to do this", s**t. I learn so slowly and I'm holding the back. But I hear it from ladies confidence an issue?
In some cases, I think so. I too am guilty of having used words like these (often more colourful), and
at times I've realized that I am just physically incapable of doing something, because I am uniquely useless.
And I've realised a lot of girls feel the way. Therefore, my final resolution was to be as patient and as
empathetic as possible and to boost that confidence and keep it way up there.
JUST THINK OF THE SHOPPING!
This sport has got underneath my skin and it's not solely down to my time on the water. Being a windsurfer
is a total experience and girls can get even more out of it. For starters, there's the shopping!
Boardshorts, rash-vests, bikinis, first kit, accessories for your kit (I'm very fond of my furry animal
print uphaul) and cute little wetsuits for your kids. There are also the events like the Poole Windfest
and the Indoor at the London Boat Show where you can get to see the sport's best compete, meet up with
old friends, make new ones, and of course, more shopping!
THE DIVAS GAIN MOMENTUM
Drawing on my own experience, it soon became clear how Club Vass Divas should be run; teach how I would like
to be taught and make it accessible to all females. That means all those girls, ladies, women, chicks,
sistas, goddesses, divas or whoever out there that always wanted to know about windsurfing but were afraid
to ask! I've been developing the 'Club Vass Divas' clinics for several seasons now and they are fast gaining
in momentum and popularity, so I guess we're doing something right. The aim is to keep things as relaxed and
as much fun as possible. All ladies are welcome, whether they come on the holiday on their own, with a gang
of mates, with husbands, partners or with children (crèche and Kids' Clubs available!). And that's one of
the great things about these weeks - everyone just mixes in, has a laugh, supports each other, and makes new
friends.. . and unbelievable progress with their windsurfing.
For the most recent Vassiliki Divas clinic, in September '05, I recruited two fantastic female instructors,
Gen Morphy and Rachel Tucker. For previous clinics we've also had some top Diva instructors, including Denise
Briggs, Louise (Lulu) Williams, Becky Ellis and special guests such as Lucy Horwood. As part of the package,
I arranged some gentle morning fitness sessions, including yoga, mountain biking and skipping (don't laugh -
it's a lot harder than you think). Some relaxed socials were also lined up, including a cocktail evening,
a group meal, a session on kit for women, and optional wakeboarding and ringo-ing!
How did the ladies respond? Well, here are a few choice extracts from my week's journal (for the full version,
check out www.clubvass.com/divas):
  
DIVAS DIARY
Monday 5th September:
Priming the Love Tubes!
It was a great start with twenty-one ladies raring to go for a week's dedicated girl-friendly windsurfing tuition.
Experience ranged from complete beginner to advanced, but splitting into smaller groups meant everybody's needs
were catered for. And with the 'sista-ly support' of the group, everyone got a whole lot more out of the sessions.
Everyone was soon out on the water getting their feet back, or indeed finding their feet for the first time.
The session on women's kit and rigging was very 'hands on' and highly amusing. The highlight was when some of
the girls thought I was telling them to stick a mast up the 'love tube' instead of luff tube! I don't even need
to mention the giggles when we discussed the Gaastra strap-on feature!
Tuesday 6th September:
Yoga, Windsurfing, Cocktails ...a perfect day!
To start the day, the fabulous Abi (our yoga and massage expert) had designed a specific yoga session for the
girls. It was a great way to rejuvenate and everyone was ready for more on-water action. Out on the water, there
was no stopping the Divas. Gen's beginners were soon sailing along in a fairly strong breeze and small swell,
tacking and starting to steer, which was an awesome result for their second day of sailing ever! Rachel and her
improvers were also doing fantastically, even hooking in and out for the first time. My intermediates and advanced
Divas also made huge progress on our short-boards, sailing upwind and trying all sorts of different things,
from using the footstraps for the first time, to tacking in lighter winds. The day was rounded off with a drink
in the cocktail bar, with 2 for 1 Pink Ladies all night. Hmmm…
Wednesday could be tricky!
Wednesday 7th September:
Mountain Biking, Muscle Memory and Mexican. .. arriba!
The day started off with a gentle bike ride around the olive groves led by Rachel. There was much giggling in
the olive groves as gossip from the week so far was swapped. Who said fitness can't be fun! Then it was time to
hit the water once more and all traces of hangovers disappeared as we practised transitions in the light onshore
winds, (it's the best hangover cure we know!). The afternoon cross-shore kicked in on cue, signalling the time for
beachstarting for the beginners and improvers, and carve gybes for the intermediates and advanced. Wednesday
evening was a quiet night, with most of the girls staying at the club for delicious Mexican fare and an open-air
film..perfect preparation for Big Thursday!
(Big) Thursday 8th September:
Skipping, Wakeboarding, Ringos, more Windsurfing, more Cocktails, Fine Dining and Vassiliki by Night
More brilliant Vassiliki sunshine and we started the day with a skipping session with George, previously of
Wildwind (Catamaran Centre) and now a professional of Wildwind skipper! Now I can fully appreciate why boxers
skip to stay fit. Then for some of our 'Action Girls' it was time for wakeboarding and ringo-ing. The screams and
laughter were heard from the beach... go girls!
Onto the afternoon, and those of us who could still walk after the skipping and wakeboarding (I was only just
about there!) went out in the cross-shore for some higher wind activities. The day finished off with a free-sail
in four metre weather to energise us for our Big Night Out... It started with cocktails in swanky Bar 155 where
we realised that quite a lot of the guys had joined in, lured by the infectious fun from the Diva camp.
Dinner at Stelios was superb, with hilarious speeches (censored here!).
Then on to more bars, including the Tunnel Bar and the infamous Zeus. Most of the activities are unprintable,
but let me just say that all the Divas were on TOP form until the small hours of the morning.
Friday 9th September:
Racing, Rocking, Reflecting and Being Bond Girls!
After a slow start, we went out for some freestyle action and some of us joined in with race day. It was fabulous
to see all the ladies who had been complete beginners at the start of the week rocking around the bay, throwing
freestyle moves and putting on a fabulous display to the immense pride of Gen, their instructor. The afternoon
saw more high wind action with lots of girls waterstarting, carve gybing, harnessing and beachstarting for the
first time, which was a joy to see.
And so the end of the week was upon us and it was time for a little reflection. The feedback from the group was
unbelievable. Everyone felt they had really developed as windsurfers, not just technically but in confidence and
attitude as well… they had found their place in the world of windsurfing! And as we know, this world can often be
perceived as extreme, intimidating and not particularly girl-friendly. In our opinion, no-one should feel
alienated by a sport that is so much fun and accessible to every level. For the first time, these ladies wanted
to be a part of the action and felt that they had as much right as anyone to be on the water, which is exactly
how it is! Now time to glam up for the legendary Club Vass BBQ - Bond Night…less of the Pussy Galore jokes please!
WHAT THE DIVAS SAID: FEEDBACK FROM OUR CLIENTS
Nicky Griffiths: "When I windsurf at home, I am usually the only girl - it was so refreshing to be
with a group of likeminded females and, better than that, being tutored by an excellent female windsurfing
instructor who could actually pull off everything (and more) that she was teaching us. It was really
interesting to talk to other people who had similar obstacles to face and to be given practical advice and
tips on how to overcome them, like how to downhaul your sail without ripping your hands to shreds or
engaging the other half for assistance (although I have to say, this is still my preferred method!).
What became very apparent toward the end of the week is that women have a higher concern for their safety
when windsurfing. It doesn't mean I don't (one day) want to loop, Spock, Willie skip, and Vulcan whilst on
a 360 Bendel; but I want to do it all with confidence and in a safe and controlled manner and that is
exactly what we were offered during Divas Week...
"We were also given the opportunity to participate in 'extra curricular' activities such as yoga
(very good for warming up those muscles before a session on the water), skipping (what a giggle, my calves
will never be the same), cocktail evening - 2 for 1 all night (ouch!), and the famous (well it was for me)
evening meal at Stelios (bad mother; bad mother.. . after having my baby last year; I had forgotten what it
was like to party until the early hours.. . good daddy, good daddy!).
"Windsurfing, obviously, was the reason for going to Club Vass, and Divas Week is my reason for going back..
Like I said, I met a load of likeminded females and left with a load of likeminded friends. A huge thank-you
to everyone, including the men, without whom Bond Night wouldn't have been the same. Nice bikini Kieran!"
Jane Fletcher: "I feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to take part in Vassiliki Divas. It was
great to spend the time with likeminded girls - passionate about windsurfing and up for lots of other
activities. The tuition was fantastic - being tailored to the way women tend to learn - and was a very
interesting contrast to the week before, when I had been the woman in my group! The extra activities were
also good fun. The skipping was a great workout - though challenging for an un-coordinated person like me!
I guess that that was the key to the week for me. In an all- women's group, I felt able to try things without
the pressure of feeling that I wasn't keeping up with the lads. Thanks to the great instructors running the
week - not only did my windsurfing improve, but I have come away with great memories and a new group of
windsurfing buddies ready to hit the water back in the UK. "
For our part, Gen, Rachel and I would like to say thank you to each and every Club Vass Diva for making our
week so much fun and giving us so much back. You were all an absolute pleasure to teach and spend time with,
and we sincerely hope that we get the opportunity to coach you all again and spend time on the water with
you. Keep it up girls. This sport needs ladies like you!
Next up will be 'Dahab Divas' at Club Dahab during winter 05/06 (date to be confirmed), For anyone interested
in joining this or future Club events, please visit www.clubvass.com or
contact me, Jo, at diva@clubvass.com
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