Tom Ashley
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Thomas ("Disco Tom") John Mitchell Ashley (born 11 February 1984 in Auckland) is a sailor from New Zealand, who won the gold medal at the 2008 RS:X World Championships. He is the 2008 World Champion.
Ashley placed 2nd two years previous at the 2006 World Championships. During the event the top-10 sailors were selected to sail the final race, called the medal race. Before the start of the medal race Ashley was in first position, only one point in front of Casper Bouman from the Netherlands. Bouman finished second in the medal race, one position in front of Ashley. Both sailors then had the same points (23), but Bouman was crowned as the World champion thanks to his better position during the medal race.
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[edit] Achievements
| Year | Position | Boat type | Event |
| 2008 |  |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer |  2008 RS:X World Championships |
| 2006 |  |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer |  2006 RS:X World Championships |
| 2006 | |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer |  ISAF World Sailing Games |
| 2006 |  |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer |  HRH Princess Sofia Trophy |
| 2006 | |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer | Sail Auckland International Regatta |
| 2006 | |
RS:X - Men's Windsurfer | New Zealand RS:X National Championship |
| 2004 | |
Mistral - Men |  Semaine Olympique Francaise |
| 2003 | |
Mistral - Men | Sail Auckland |
| 2003 | |
Mistral - Men |  Sail Melbourne |
| 2002 | |
Mistral - Men |  Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship |
| 2002 | |
Mistral - Men | IMCO World Youth Championship |
[edit] Miscellaneous Equipment Accessories
Thomas is also well known for being one of the first to attach items, usually in the order of a small figurine to the front of his board. Such items include: a hippo which he finished 6th in the 2006 SOF Regatta with and "My little Pony" which has had numerous victories. His latest fad has been to paint what appears to be a depiction of flames on the bow his RSX Board.
[edit] Event Afterparties
Aside from his on-water achievements, Thomas's performances at international windsurfing event afterparties have earned him the nickname "Disco Tom". If anything, the relative infrequency of these parties has added to the myth of his electrifying dancefloor routines. This myth, in turn, has buttressed his reputation as the most desired man in international windsurfing.
[edit] Training Partners
Tom Ashley's New Zealand training partners are known to be Josh Nixon (NZL), Antonio Cozzolino (NZL) along with international sailors; Ricardo Santos (BRA), Joao Rodigues (POR), Shahar Zubari (ISR), Ivan Pastor Lafuente (ESP) and Zac Plavsic (CAN). All were thanked and acknowledged in Ashley's 2008 World Championship victory speech.
[edit] Training trivia
Ashley is known to drag items behind his RS:X off a piece of string to induce a higher drag coefficient in times where he is feeling considerably faster than everyone else. Such items have been water bottle, rash shirts and tennis balls. There is a degree of controversy regarding the drag effects of these items. Certain Canadian sailors, among others, believe that these items actually produce lift and thus make Ashley faster. Further studies are needed to determine this. It is speculated by certain sailors, that the dragging of objects behind Ashley's board has also led to a somewhat inflated ego.
[edit] Club Memberships
Ashley is a member of:
Takapuna Boating Club http://www.takapunaboating.org.nz
The Devonport Pony Club http://www.devonportponyclub.co.nz
The New Zealand RSX Association http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz
[edit] External links
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