A look back in time: Mar Menor

I worked a full season, so eight months or so. In that time we had around three weeks where the resort was empty, except for the local residents. With lots of brand spanking windsurfing toys to play with, we got out on the water every time it was windy to perfect our skills.

I'd just come off the back of a year in Ireland teaching surfing, followed by three months in Lanzarote chasing yet more swell. With steady onshore breeze and waist deep warm water, the Mar Menor lagoon was perfect for windsurf training and one of the reasons I fell in love with the sport properly.

Windsurfing was my thing and although I had a dinghy teaching certificate, apart from the odd one or two weeks here and there, I pretty much spent the entire season looking after beginner windsurfers. In fact, this became a thing during the course of my Neilson career. I somehow worked it to become a specialist and solely coach windsurfing - very rare indeed.

This allowed me to develop my own style (within RYA parameters) and during later seasons I was humbled to have guests following me to wherever in the world I was based to continue their windsurfing journey under my tutelage. I still have relationships with a number of these guests, now friends, to this day.

At that point in time Mar Menor, and a few others were run slightly differently to the beachclubs of today. Whereas nowadays the Neilson approach is a bit more relaxed those days were hardcore. Teaching groups would be larger, although still within ratio, with everyone looking to acquire their next ticket and be 'signed off' according to the Royal Yachting Associations(RYA) windsurfing scheme. We taught all levels, from getting afloat for the first time, right up to cracking those initial flare gybes (if anyone remembers that term!).

When guests weren't afloat they were generally smashing themselves on mountain bikes. Wellness, yoga and such weren't a thing so it was all full power adrenaline activities. This would usually be rounded off with a visit to the bar (some things don't change) followed by an evening excursion to a local taverna or wine-tasting bodega. There weren't hosts in the resort at that point so water sports instructors got to take on that role!

From a wind-hound's point of view, the Mar Menor is a unique place. Boasting waist deep water warmer than the Med itself, a consistent onshore breeze (most of the time) and no other marine traffic to be concerned about, it's a great location for progression - both in windsurfing and sailing. These on water nuances are the very reason that I (and others) improved quickly.

In most other spots, sailors will be riding in deep water where learning to waterstart becomes a necessity. This wasn't a factor at Neilson's Mar Menor Beachclub, making it all the more appealing to try moves without worrying about crashing. If you did then you simply stood up, shook yourself down and climbed back aboard. There are few places in the world I can think of that offer this type of scenario for progressing windsurfers.

Out and about, the whole La Manga area is very diverse. It may have changed now but directly behind the resort were cotton fields encircled by a small mountain range. Further south and you’ll find La Manga golf club and of course, the lively La Manga strip. Head to the northern tip of the strip, however, and you can find stunning uncrowded beaches to relax on. I and my now wife used to head there sometimes for a spot of chillaxing after a hectic week in the resort.

The historic city and naval base of Cartagena is only a short car journey away and is a fantastic place brimming with vibrancy, culture and history. During fiesta season the place comes alive with processions and parties that light up the night - the Spanish sure know how to party.

A particularly special location for me was Calblanque National Park, which sits on the south-east corner of Murcia, just below the Mar Menor. I'd heard stories of this place from surfer mates before I left the UK and sure enough, I managed to get across here and score some pretty good Mediterranean surfing.

That first season will always be etched in my memory as fun, amazing, fulfilling, life-enhancing, hectic and rewarding. And without Neilson seasons in general, I wouldn't be doing the job I currently do, I wouldn't have discovered windsurfing, I wouldn't have made the friends I did and I wouldn't have met the woman I married.

Mar Menor is a great location for the budding and improving windsurfer, whilst offering something for the expert on its day. I'm also pretty sure that it'll be an idyllic stand up paddle boarding location (we didn't have SUPs back then).

While the amazing windsurfing conditions are just the same, our new Mar Menor Beachclub is pretty different from Tez’s day. Custom built to our highest specifications, it’s a sleek contemporary hotel with loads of little luxurious extras. Holiday in style with treats like breakfast in bed, fluffy bathrobes and sundowner cocktails at our rooftop bar. And, of course, windsurfing is just one of the huge range of activities to get stuck into!