Björn Dunkerbeck is 41 years old and a windsurfing world champion 40 times over. Who says shooting yourself in the foot is a bad thing?
Fit Across The Board
"There’s no one part of the body that’s more important than others when it comes to windsurfing; it’s a complete body workout. Your legs take the strain when you control the board; you train your arms and upper body so that you can control the sail. The good thing is, the stronger you are, the better you can surf. But I don’t go to the gym very often."
Slap In The Face
"Minor injuries every windsurfer has to put up with include sprained ligaments (because you’ve always got your feet stuck in the straps on the board), bruises from getting hit by the wishbone boom (I’ve had those everywhere: the nose; the eye; the chin) and little cuts from the fins. But hey, a surfer’s got to put up with it."
'It’s no longer a secret that my preference is for AC/DC and Metallica'
Heavy Metal For The Brain
"Windsurfing is the best mental training there is. You’re out there on the water alone, just you and the waves – a wonderful experience every time. Before a competition I try to limber up well and concentrate. I only listen to music once the contest’s over. It’s no longer a secret that my preference is for AC/DC and Metallica."
Not ready, bad aim, don’t fire
"My worst injury had nothing to do with windsurfing. I shot a harpoon into my left foot when I was out fishing in 2002. We’d tied the shaft of the harpoon to a buoy with a rope, but the buoy was hit by a big wave while I still had my finger on the trigger and, wham! Things could have been worse, though. I was lucky it only hit my foot, otherwise I might have ended up as shark food. I still feel the wound today. My left foot gets tired much more quickly and needs to be massaged more often."
Meat Me After Work
"I take care to keep my weight stable, within a range of 5lb [2.3kg]. Right now I’m 16st 2lb [103kg] and 6ft 2in [188cm] tall. During the competitive season I eat light food: fish, vegetables and rice. Once the season’s out of the way, I will tuck into a good T-bone steak. I’ve got nothing against chocolate, either: it’s fine as long as you buy the quality stuff and don’t eat too much of it."
'It’s true that you can never do too much yoga, but you can do it wrong'
Heavy Drinking On The Plane
"As someone who’s been going round the world for years, I’ve amassed a few travel tips. Number one: drink a lot of water, including during the flight. Number two: try to sleep on the plane. Set yourself to local time when you arrive and don’t go straight to bed. Number three: eat healthily. It may sound banal, but it’s incredibly important for long journeys."
Mountains Of Variety
"When I’m not on my board, I go cycling and mountain biking. Also, Piz Corvatsch, my local mountain in Switzerland, is a great place to go snowboarding in winter: it’s a great workout for the legs. But for those who can’t bear to be away from the water, I’d recommend stand-up paddle boarding. It’s good for your sense of balance."
Low Back Rolls Roll Back Years
"As you get older, your body gets stiffer. To those over 30, I can’t recommend yoga strongly enough. I don’t go to classes, but I have done yoga exercises frequently for the last 15 years. Yoga helps you stay flexible and speeds up recovery times. I also spend quite a lot of time stretching before a competition. It’s true that you can never do too much yoga, but you can do it wrong."
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