Sean O'Brien (born 6 January 1984 in Brisbane) is an Australian professional windsurfer competing on the PWA World Tour[1] and the International Formula Windsurfing Class Tour.[2] He was ranked 7th in the World in Formula Windsurfing in 2012[3] and has won 11 Australian Windsurfing Titles across three racing disciplines, the most of any Australian windsurfer.[4][5]
O'Brien grew up in Brisbane, Australia, finishing high school at Marist College Ashgrove as a notable alumni.[6] He earned a Bachelor of Psychological Science/Biomedical Science degree at the University of Queensland in 2004.
Career
In 2018, O'Brien won his 8th Oceanic & Australian Title in Formula Windsurfing at the Downunder Pro at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Brisbane.[7]
Coaching
O'Brien worked for three years as the windsurfing coach for the QLD State High Performance Sailing unit at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron club in Brisbane. During this term he successfully qualified Australian youth sailors Luke Baillie and Joanna Sterling to represent Australia at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in 2009[8] and Joanna again in 2010.[9]
Later he coached five-time Olympian and two-time PBA World Champion Jessica Crisp to her first ISAF World Cup gold medal in 2009 at the SailMelbourne regatta and a clean sweep of the Australian Sail-Downunder Series by also taking gold in the SailSydney regatta at Woollahra Sailing Club in the RS:X Olympic class.[10]
Olympic campaign
O'Brien campaigned for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on the RS:X Olympic board for two years during 2006–2007 before a back injury ended his campaign in late 2007, despite winning the 2007 Australian Olympic Windsurfing Championships and being in the box seat for a successful Beijing Olympics berth.[11]
Personal life
O'Brien works in digital media design as owner of the international agency, Brisbane Digital Agency.[12] He divides his time between summer in Australia and winter in Europe to compete on the Pro Windsurfing Tours and contribute to the tours as a committee member of the International Formula Windsurfing Class.[13]
He is based in Poland with his son, John O'Brien and partner Agata, the grand-daughter of prominent Polish military general Mieczysław Dachowski.
In 2012 O'Brien launched the first ever windsurfing fitness training program GetWindsurfFit[14] in conjunction with his trainer Nic Pillonel from Switzerland.[15] The book was widely received and is being translated into another three languages for future release.
Professional status
Member of IFWC International Committee
Vice-President Australian Windsurfing Association 2010–2011
Australian Sailing Team Windsurfing Coach 2009
QLD State High Performance Sailing Coach 2008–2010
Part of the international racing and development teams for Severne, Starboard.[16]
Sporting achievements
Year
Competition
Venue
Position
Event
2002
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Melbourne, VIC
Formula Windsurfing (Youth)
2004
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Sydney, NSW
Formula Windsurfing (Youth)
2006
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Melbourne, VIC
Formula Windsurfing
2007
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Fremantle, WA
Formula Windsurfing
2007
Australian RS:X Championships
Sydney, NSW
RS:X
2009
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Sydney, NSW
Formula Windsurfing
2009
Norwegian Windsurfing Championships
Larvik, Norway
Formula Windsurfing
2010
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Hawks Nest, NSW
Formula Windsurfing
2011
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Hawks Nest, NSW
Formula Windsurfing
2012
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Hawks Nest, NSW
Formula Windsurfing
2012
Asian Windsurfing Championships
Singapore
Formula Windsurfing
2012
PWA Slalom World Cup
Ulsan, Korea
24th
Slalom
2013
Australian Slalom Championships
Green Island, QLD
Slalom
2014
Australian Slalom Championships
Green Island, QLD
Slalom
2014
PWA Slalom World Cup
Awaza, Turkmenistan
13th
Slalom
2014
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Sydney, NSW
Formula Windsurfing
2018
Australian Formula Windsurfing Championships
Brisbane, QLD
Formula Windsurfing
2018
Formula Windsurfing European Championships Series
Gallipoli
Formula Windsurfing
3rd Place - 2018 European Formula Windsurfing Championships[17]
Ranked number 7 in the World in Formula Windsurfing 2012[18]
8x Australian & Oceanic Formula Windsurfing Champion[19]
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