Recently whilst up in the North East boating I managed to catch up with a couple of my good friends, Dan & Tamsin Green. I haven’t seen too much of them since they got married last July as they have been away surfing quite a lot to say the least!
Since they have been away, Tamsin has had quite a bit of success in a surf kayak. So I took it upon myself to ask her a few questions about what she has been up to!
Interview with Tamsin Green, Surf Kayaker
How did you first get involved in the sport?
I have kayaked seriously since university (too long ago to remember!) and always enjoyed playing in the sea in a plastic boat. It was not until I met Dan (now my husband!) that I tried a proper surf boat and instantly fell in love with it.
What boat do you paddle?
I am now sponsored by Mega Performance Kayaks and surf the Reflex 07. My first boat was a prototype boat hand-me-down from Dan which I glued wake board fins to, Dan then bought me a Revenge as a surprise, I loved it and learnt so much in it, I was very sad to have to sell it.
Where are you favourite waves?
I live in Northumberland and we surf some amazing breaks close to home, totally unspoilt and no one else there, to say which breaks would be telling… Round the world I would say some of my favourite waves are, Cenitz – France, Shipwrecks – Bali and Magheroarty – Ireland.
What do you enjoy most about the sport?
I love being in the sea. Every wave you surf is different, exciting and challenging. It is the adrenaline, fear, anticipation and excitement which always draws me back to the sea. I enjoy the challenge of controlling the wave and being the best I can be when surfing.
What are your future goals?
I want to keep exploring new and interesting waves around the world and challenge myself to surf waves which surf kayakers have not previously been to. I believe the way to develop the women’s side of the sport is to raise our standard to the same level as the men’s , so one of my future goals to surf like the best men in the world!! I also want to do what is most important and that is to have fun!
What made you start competing?
I have always wanted to see how well I could do in competitions but never had the chance. Following our trip to Bali in the summer Dan and I were to move to France, we arrived to find out Dan had no job!! We have rented our house out so could not go home and decided it was the perfect opportunity to travel for a while, we had met up with Chris Harvey to surf in France at the time and he suggested we did the Brits in Ireland so we did and the rest followed!
What competition success have you had since you started competing?
I have had quite a lot of success:
April 2007
European Championships
Women’s IC – 1st
Womens’s HP – 1st
March 2007
Santa Cruz Open (World cup qualifier)
Women’s HP – 2nd
October 2006
Home Internationals – team event
England – 1st
World Cup
Women’s HP – 2nd
What competitions are you involved in for the rest of this year?
I am looking forward to helping organise the British Championships in Northumberland in September. It is the first time the comp has come to the North East for years and we are hoping to be able to show how amazing the area is! The World Championships in October are a huge competition and very important to me both on an individual and team level. I know I have the potential to do well and hope to do myself justice!!
Thanks Tamsin! 
If you want to find out more about what Tamsin has been up to, check out her website: TamsinGreen.net
