The Nugget: JP Tobin

Issue: 030 · January 2019 · 3 Wise Men About Town

No. 30 JP Tobin

Speedy Guy · Nature Guy · World Champion Guy · Good Guy

Fair to say JP Tobin loves going fast.

Whether booting around on his super cool Rayvolt electric bike (for which he acts as the NZ importer), ripping on his windsurfer and surfboard, gliding on a paddleboard downwind run, or smashing a mountain bike track, you can’t hold him back.

Interestingly, each involves a sense of flying and all are powered by nature. (Yep, even these bikes are designed by a naval architect and are solar charged). Well, JP reckons the world is noisy enough, which these quiet natural pursuits provide a welcome distraction from - if you call a recent three and half hour, 90km windsurfing mission to Great Barrier Island in gale strength winds ‘quiet’ that is.

While many of us find it hard to hit the gym in between eating burgers at the desk, JP’s typical day consists of a windsurfing/paddling/bike/run super combo workout - with an extra side of strength training thrown in for good measure.

Mind you, while he loves being on the ocean, he’s not especially keen to be underneath it. That’s because he ‘knows what’s down there’ - a fact painfully bought home in the 2012 Olympic trials where he passed out in hospital after a cobbler fish spike became embedded in his foot. (He still won the trials despite being in agony).

These days JP pays the bills coaching the Chinese windsurfing team for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Smart play by them really, given he’s been the number one windsurfer in the world (twice), as well as his seventh placing at the 2012 London Olympics.

Like his equipment, JP’s clothes need to feel good and work under pressure. That’s why he loves 3 Wise Men’s perfect mix of fashion and durability, including the light grey suit (The Breakfast $700), 100% cotton pink gingham shirt (The Turkish Delight, $120 or 3 for $300), and Oxford toecap shoes (Bertie Paradox, $230) he sports here.

Yep it’s a busy life, but JP just loves giving things a crack. Or as his secret mentor, Jedi Master Yoda says: ‘Try not! Do or do not. There is no try.’

On that note do read on about even more stuff JP’s done.

Quick Questions

  1. Sporting/concert event you’d travel back in time for? Ali. Rumble in the Jungle.
  2. Last supper meal? Organic roast chicken, apple crumble, hokey pokey ice-cream and custard.
  3. Best ever BBQ guests? The Avengers.
  4. First ever concert? R.E.M.
  5. Favourite ever album/band? The xx.
  6. Beer or wine/Stones or Beatles? Beer/Beatles.
  7. Finish the sentence: No man should ever wear… Visible compression socks in public.
  8. Shirts in or out? In.
  9. What was the last lie you told? I’m only going on the water for a quick session.
  10. Growing up what/who did you want to be? Robby Naish, the pioneer of windsurfing who I actually met for the first time this year.
  11. Most interesting place you’ve been? Float plane drop off with mates and mountain bikes deep in the Chiltotin’s (British Columbia) and just one way out, on a bear filled trail.
  12. Favourite Beach? Takapuna. All we need is a regular swell breaking on the East Coast Bay reefs.
  13. Person who’s influenced you most in your life (not your family) and why? Bruce Kendall, Barbara Kendall and Aaron McIntosh who pioneered windsurfing at Olympic level.
  14. Best life lesson/life motto? ‘Kaizen’, the Japanese word for continuous improvement. It’s a pretty good thing to aspire to.
JP Tobin - The Nugget magazine page

As seen in print

The Nugget: JP Tobin

This story first ran as a full page in The Nugget, our 3 Wise Men About Town series on good buggers from around the country and the 3 Wise Men kit they love.

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