Jack Of All Trades And Master Of One

Are You Better Off For Having Not Windsurfed From The Cradle? Harty Champions ‘Generalism’.

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It’s been a great day and as you finish it off with a flawlessly timed planing carve gybe, a familiarly sarcastic voice whines in you inner ear - “That was pretty good for an old fellah – just imagine how good you’d be if you’d taken it up earlier and really specialised? Ah well, never mind, too late now.” I empathise, and yet recent evidence suggests that the nagging voice is misinformed.

Beginnings

I first set foot on a board aged 21. Up until then I’d trained as a gymnast (until I grew too tall); played 3 months of first division rugby in France (3 months was all it took to discover I wasn’t good enough) and had a go at any sport that caught my eye. I was also in the middle of a 4 year language degree; sorry, this is not supposed to be an ego-caressing exercise … it will be relevant. Then when windsurfing fell into my lap, never have I connected so deeply and obsessively with anything before or since - I’m sure you recognise the condition. Three years later I was competing on the pro circuit.