Ali Yates is the new head coach for Welsh Windsurfing

Ali Yates is the new head coach for Welsh Windsurfing © Jay Haysey

Ali Yates is the new head coach for Welsh Windsurfing, with the target of getting a Welsh competitor into the sport's world championships.

Despite having one of the best coasts for windsurfing, as well as plenty of great lakes, the Welsh head coach position is a new role aimed at boosting participation and achievement – but Yates has plenty of experience to make a real impact as the sport grows in Wales.

"I'm super chuffed at been given the Head Coach role for Welsh Windsurfing," she admitted.

"Wales has some of the best locations for windsurfing in the world and I'm passionate to get Wales Windsurfing - and a Welsh flag at a Techno World Championships!

"We already have some lovely clubs in Wales and some kids that entered and won the 4.5 fleet at the Eric Twiname Championship.

"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with the established clubs at Tata, Mumbles and Gwent Adventures at Llandegfedd when the reservoir reopens, who are all doing an amazing job with Team 15.

"I want to support what they are doing and develop both their own skills in coaching and windsurfing as well as help and develop new teams and clubs or rekindle enthusiasm in existing but not active clubs to try to help them overcome their challenges.

"I am looking forward to developing a Welsh squad and help them improve their core windsurfing skills to take into all disciplines of windsurfing. If they learn the core windsurfing skills they will be able to race well, but will also waveride well, or freestyle or enjoy this amazing sport and all Wales has to offer. By having fun, we will create champions!"

Yates has plenty of UK and international experience, but has been working in Wales already.

"I have been working with Colwyn Bay Watersports this year and have already delivered two windsurf instructor courses," she explained. "

"I have delivered some race coaching, also at Colwyn Bay, over May half term for some of the kids coming to the worlds to gain coastal and tidal experience.

"I have also delivered sailing instructor courses for both sailing and windsurfing at Plas Menai.

"As one of two race coach tutors in the UK, I have been delivering the Level 2 race coach courses. Duncan Drumbeck from Colwyn Bay is on the next one and Mike Walklin from Gwent Adventures on the last so we have race coaches coming through in Wales.

"As a centre inspector I am looking forward to visiting six centres in North Wales for their annual inspection over the next few weeks and as a Dinghy coach assessor I have really enjoyed working with Gresford SC, near Wrexham, developing their dinghy instructors and helping them prepare to become and RYA recognised centre.

"I am involved with rolling out the new Team 15 CPD to the Team 15 academies in England and will be looking forward to developing the same training and CPD to the windsurfing clubs in Wales.

"This all fits in with my trip a month ago to Vassiliki to train windsurfing instructors for Flying Fish - and to make sure I get time to windsurf myself, I love it!

"My time in the winter will be split between being Head Coach for the North and West zone squad in England and Wales. I have been training the North and West Zone Squad for over ten years and was chuffed to see some of them racing so well at the recent Sail For Gold event on 8.5 and 9.5 RSX in the Youth squad and podium potential squads, right at the top of the programme.

"My current mission is getting ready for the worlds as Techno Class Association Head coach.

"We are expecting over 500 kids from over 30 different Nations and its going to be epic! At present I have 27 kids across the fleets being supported by the TCA plus 10 kids from the GBR team so we will have 37 Brits all together......so far!"

www.welshsailing.org