Finian maynard biography of michael

1991

13th December 1981 is a date Polish people don’t remember very fondly. A Russian-puppet prime minister called national state of war, putting troops onto the streets of every major Polish city. Exactly 10 years after that, in a hospital in Slupsk, North Poland, an almost 5kg boy was born and named Maciej.

1996

Already in the late 80s a passionate sailor Wojciech Rutkowski built his first windsurf board. Naturally the passion had to be forwarded to his sons – older Leszek and younger Maciek. Nobody really remembers the exact moment Maciek stood foot on a windsurfer for the first time, but it must have been around the age of 6.

2003

As the youngest noted rookie ever, Maciek competes in the PWA World Cup held in Leba, Poland. He’s 11 years and 8 months old. He finishes well outside the Top 100.

2006

Before his 15th birthday Rutkowski wins his first Junior (under 17) World Championship title in Belgium. He also changes his sail number to POL-23, after one of his greatest idols, Michael Jordan.

2007

When most of his classmates are focused on finishing middle school Maciek wins 10 out of 12 races and gets his second Junior World Title.

2009

The Youth World Champion title escapes Maciek by one point, but once he gets a lead in the Europeans he never lets go of it and claims his first international Youth Title. In December in a coast town of Rowy, with -13 degrees outside, over a 100 guests sing “happy birthday” to the new 18-year old. After that night Rowy will never be the same, they say…

2010

Maciek’s parents decide that due to his school finishing exams he will not leave for any kind of winter training that year. As a result the Youth Worlds in April are his first water time in months. He miraculously wins the event with a last second effort. A month after that he passes his A-levels in English, Math and Geography and get accepted into Kozminski Univeristy – the country’s finest school of management. As the reigning Youth Wor

ESPERANCE—WEST OZ

Prologue: I’m not sure in what style I should write this, so, I’m going to write as I normally would, being that I write what I experience and then think about it later. (Not only about contests, but all the other stuff that goes on as well.)

WHEN IT COMES TO Esperance for the first contest of the year, it was strange to think that it was a World Cup event right in my back yard. No planes or checking–in traumas, made it feel like one of our local comps. However, there was this pressure factor. A few people had said, “Well, if you can’t win this one, what one can you win?” So there was a certain nervous/ relaxed sensation to the whole contest.

As it turned out, I needn’t have put myself through all that, because it never eventuated. The wind didn’t blow and the contest was incomplete. But it was awesome to see the pink sail of Robby Naish on my home beach, along with others who adapted quickly to our kind of waves. Polokow, Stone, Goya and Carvill were the best, due to the fact that they’re not Windsurfers, but Surfsailors

Once the circus left town, I no longer felt being here had a purpose. It was time to move on and there was no escape from this feeling.

Even though there was no contest to get to like previous years, there was something dragging me away from the place I love so much. I felt the need to be on Maui.

So there I was at the airport. Four months earlier, never wanting to see another airplane. Now I find the need to leave again.

After the usual drama of fighting over excess baggage ($300), I was actually happy to be in an airport, with the excitement of travel renewed. I suppose that’s how you know where you’re supposed to be. (When it feels right!)

So it was up to Kuala Lumpur for the night, then onto Bangkok the next day. In these parts of the world so many people, living in such appalling conditions, and so often with a smile. Whatever problems I have, are nothing when put into perspective.

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