Taking a break from the Laser
by Paul Goodison 11 Apr 2013 17:30 BST
11 April 2013
Paul Goodison finished 3rd at Mussanah Race Week, Oman © Lloyd Images
Another exciting year with some new projects and challenges for Olympic Gold medallist, Paul Goodison
This weekend (13-14 April), I'm going to be taking part in my first Moth event. I'm really looking forward to this, as I haven't been on the water with more than a few boats before.
I'm getting better in a straight line now although I still haven't quite mastered going round the corners nor done a proper start yet so I'm preparing to be a little bit embarrassed, but it's going to be fun!
It reminds me of learning to sail over again it's a great challenge and everyday you go on the water you learn so much and get a bit better, it's nice to be on such a steep learning curve for a change rather than just polishing the finer points.
Over Easter weekend I competed in the RORC Easter Challenge with Sir Keith Mills' TP52 5°West. This was the first time I'd been Solent racing for a while. It was good fun with a great bunch of guys. Keith got better and better as the weekend progressed winning both races on the final day and taking the event.
In my mind Rio 2016 is still quite a way away. With that in mind I have chosen to take a bit of time away from the Olympic circuit to focus on other campaigns. I need to be fully motivated to really commit to whatever I'm doing and if I haven't got the want to do it, whatever the short term incentive, then it's not worth me wasting mine or anyone else's time. There are so many people that help you during an Olympic campaign that if I'm not giving it 110% I'd feel guilty and I couldn't do that to them.
That said, I really enjoyed being back in the Laser for the first time at Mussanah Race Week in Oman last month. I hadn't been in a Laser since the Olympic medal race and wasn't sure what to expect...
Read more from the Laser Champion's latest blog here.