Icy Waters

Many of the world’s best sailors opt to head for warmer climes over winter, but Markus Rydberg (Simmer / Simmer) is an exception to that rule. Rather than booking a ticket to somewhere warm and wavy, he opted to brave the cold and wild waters of Sweden instead. We recently caught up with the Swede to find out more about his winter:

You've spent the last couple of winters at home in Sweden... Most European sailors are running for warmer climates for their winter training - what makes you decide to tough it out in the freezing temperatures of Sweden?

MR: Well, the main reason is simply that I have to stay home to work. And also, on a good year we get a lot of sailing both port and starboard tack so it can be a good training ground as well!

Do you honestly enjoy sailing in such cold temperatures and do you ever find it tough to get motivated to go out when it's below zero? 

MR: Actually I do! I have embraced it and am thinking that if I can do big moves with 6mm wetsuit, boots and gloves, I definitely can do it when it's warmer with less neoprene! So no trouble with motivation here! 

What's your typical preparation before a Baltic session?

MR: I make sure to eat a good breakfast with a lot of energy. You burn so much of that when it's cold it's crazy. Sometimes when you have to swim for your kit after a crash, three strokes is all you have enough power to do, then you float the rest.. And I also check my ropes etc frequently so they won't brake out there. And making sure my wetsuit is dry. Because changing to a wet one in bellow zero is not ideal... 

How has the whole winter gone for you? What improvements have you made to your sailing?

MR: It has been good. I've been working on one foot backies and they have come together good. Also making everything else more solid and controlled. Getting higher percentage on my doubles on both tack as well which is nice! And my riding is improving too, so all in all a productive winter!  

Your also doing (Muay Thai?) is that for fitness or?

MR: Yeah, training a lot of Muay Thai right now. I do it for fitness, but actually got really in to it so who knows, maybe I'll walk in to the ring one day... It helps a lot for windsurfing though. You gain flexibility, movability, balance and get strong for impacts as well. And to spar gives me the same kind of adrenaline as windsurfing so it's a perfect match! 

Where's next for you before the start of the 2016 season?

MR: I will go to the Canaries this spring to really push my port tack and to get more comfortable in those waters for the competitions.

Thanks Markus

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Photo Credit: Mikael Linder