Family Planning Clinic Melbourne

Spirit in Sport: peak performance and the area in sport

Intro book (Preface)
By Fiona Taylor, 1992 Olympian, mystic, coach and former world champion windsurfer

"The board glides smoothly over the water.
Under my feet the board is light and responsive. This is purely an extension of me,
there is no resistance.
Sailing is an extension of my body. It feels comfortable.
The rig feels good. It responds effortlessly to the increase of wind.
My body feels strong and lean.
I like being on the water. I love being here.
I have an inner knowledge of everything today. I'm at home on the water.
The wind, waves and water are my friends.
In my agreement with them.
Unit. No hesitation - just inspiration
A sense of lightness of being.
Joy, a rush of energy as I speed in a flurry of 3 knots ... ... ...
Whee. I am free.
The start signal is about six minutes to leave.
My timer is set for the number of 6 minutes at the beginning.
He is on the wind and me.
There are other boards around. I know who they are and I know I know this place better than them and I'll win this race. There is no doubt.
My focus is on everything being in the moment ..
I do not think.
I'm just feeling. Everything seemed unreal, I focus on just one thing, but simply being in harmony with everything.
Intuitively, I approach the line. I have chosen where I want to start.
Nobody in my way. I asked my starting position.
When I look at the wind towards the top mark, the wind remained stable. My race plan and I know. I'm just in the moment.
Bang - the gun, with four pumps, I'm on the line with a clear beginning.
I'm fast, I'm faster than the board fits into the wind ... ... ... ... ...
My goal is to be in harmony with the wind, as I round the top mark first.
My focus is on the feeling of light and in harmony with the council. I'm so far now that I can still browse completely free, me and the wind, without the need to protect my position windsurfing behind me. This race is mine. I knew that was before the start ... ...
I love surfing ... ... I just love being here on the ocean ... ... ... .. "

Such was the natural state as I was when I spent every minute of my day to spare at Davey's Bay Yacht Club as a teenager.

In 1983, I was a child of 12 who has spent his summer in the pool or any water, snorkeling or boat. My father had introduced to sailing as a young girl who had thrown a shoe that is about 7 feet long with a small sail. It is the first boat in general that children learn in. My sister and I used to call the "bathtub. Dad bought a comb for my sisters and me to navigate within and we have called 'Bubbles'. Bubbles is a robust, heavy and slow hoof.
I was the middle child of three sisters and my older sister Anna was three years older than me, so she learned to steer the boat, and I crew. I have a vivid memory of Dad sending us navigate Sabot week Frankston Yacht Club when I was 9 years. The first race Anna and I spent arguing and fighting on the way forward and that was better to run the business. We were so absorbed by our own chaos that we did not realize the rest of the fleet.
After some time, a rescue boat came to us, told us that the race was to finish (like all the other boats have been finished) and we had better return to shore. We did not even make the first mark again because we were absorbed in trying to make our own way in our boat. After I realized I was really more suitable for sailing on my own, and was much happier this way, being my own person and make my own decisions.
Shortly after that, when I was 12 sports to win.