REIGNING RS:X windsurfing world champion Nick Dempsey says he is ‘fired up and ready’ for his world title defence at the ISAF World Championships starting in Santander, Spain, today.

Weymouth’s Olympic silver and bronze medallist, pictured, ad-mits he is keen to make his mark in the men’s event, at the championships, which run until Friday, September 19, after what he considers a sub-par season.

The 34-year-old said: “It is especially important for me to do well here. I haven’t performed this year and I want to do well for myself more than anyone.

“I have trained hard and have put a lot into it and I want some reward and some of that good feeling that you get when you do well and you do perform.”

“I am feeling pretty good, quite relaxed but a little nervous,” continued Dempsey, who considers Dutch Olympic Champion Dorian van Rijsselberge and the Polish windsurfing squad as among those to watch once racing gets started.

“Training has gone well. The venue is all set up, the team is looking good and I am in a good place.”

Dempsey, who became the first man in history to win two RS:X windsurfing world titles when he claimed gold at last year’s event in Buzios, Brazil, says he is not letting his world title come into his thinking.

He added: “Being world champion changes other people’s perceptions of how they think you should perform but for myself I know exactly where I am at,” said Dempsey – one of nine British windsurfers contesting the men’s event.

“I have my own expectations that I want to meet. Being world champion is nice, but it doesn’t make any difference to the way I approach this week.

“I am fired up and I am ready. I think I can do well and I just want to get started.”

In the women’s RS:X event, the 2013 world silver medallist Bryony Shaw, who trains at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, is equally excited to get her regatta underway, and feels confident she can be among the frontrunners in the 67-strong women’s fleet.

“It is great to have had that silver medal in 2013 and to have medalled at various other events since,” the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist explained.

“It is a great feeling that that consistency is there and I think this event is a fantastic opportunity and hopefully my career is on a good pathway at the moment.

“I just want to show people what I can do and hopefully that is be on the podium again.”

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