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Yesterday I had some of the best fun Ive ever had on the water.
I had borrowed a Naish SUP from Sam at Windsurfnsnow. I went for a paddle and had fun. My just turned 12 year old daughter rang and said could I pick her up from a friends place. I asked if she wanted to have a go on the paddle board.
After she had a go at stand up paddling, which she took to easily and us mucking around for awhile she asked if I could put a rig on the board.
I quickly rigged a 6.2 wave sail and out we went with her sitting just in front of the mast base.
With the first little gust she was hooting like that guy in Titanic. We did lots of cruising, upwind, downwind and when we gybed she ducked her head as if she knew what to.
Then on one run back to the beach she stood up, worked her way around the mast and under my grip, grabbed the boom and leant back. After awhile I slowly relaxed my grip and she sailed us home. She loved it!!!!!!
Afterwards she was like me and everyone else, just stoked on a natural high.
The best part, "Now I know why you love windsurfing so much Dad"
A hot sunny afternoon, 5 knots of wind, warm water and getting your child to experience the stoke of windsurfing for the first time, priceless!!!!
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It doesn't get any better than that!!  |
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awesome
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awesome Larko, might have to give that scenario a go with my 10 year old.
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Thats special.
Your windsurfling budget just got nailed  |
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That's what this sport is all about 
Had a funny conversation with my girlfriend the other night on the phone (she lives in Melb). She told me that on her way home from work she had this sudden urge to go windsurfing. She has so far only had two lessons with me on the GO board and loves it. She said she couldn't explain the feeling, but just wanted to be up and standing on the board and feeling the wind on her face.
I told her I knew exactly how she felt Needless to say I was stoked!!!!
ka43, not trying to steal the wind out of your sail. Your story is priceless  |
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You think 2 is too young? He actually asked me to put on "The Windsurfing Movie" the other day. He genuinely likes the chapter with Kai Lenny (although he still gets most excited when a helicopter is in shot).
Also I've been purposely leaving windsurfing mags laying around and playing a couple windsurf films when my buddy comes over. He's sounding very keen to give it a try soon (Haircut, you still give lessons?) |
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I thought about getting my wife into it, but then i know she'll want to take my gear out for a sail and I'll be at home with the kids.
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thats awsome, and the best bit about getting someone like these into it, apart from someone to sail with, is you can now justify buying smaller gear, say "it's for the kids or you darling my gear is too big" but we all know it would be for you on stronger days. so everyone is happy...
my mates always ask me how small the rigs go these days, some are thinking as young as 5.. it's going to be awsome watching a new generation of sailors coming through...
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What a great tale.
Thanks for sharing
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How young is too young?
My first is due in a few weeks, so I thought rather than not being allowed out to sail due to babysitting requirements, maybe something like this would work out as a compromise... at least until the little critter can stand up and hold on to something.
I'm just not sure that Mum will approve! |
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555 said...
I'm just not sure that Mum will approve!
And what if the board flips over 
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Great story ka43, just gotta get mum on the board so you can all go to the same place for holidays.
555 that is top news, hope all goes well for ya mate.
GT
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ka43 said...
Yesterday I had some of the best fun Ive ever had on the water. ........................
A hot sunny afternoon, 5 knots of wind, warm water and getting your child to experience the stoke of windsurfing for the first time, priceless!!!!
Ahhh.... there are many of us Windsurfing Dads that can sooooo relate to your joy KA43.
some snippets from my joy...
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Great KA, the kids are the future, keep them stoked !!!
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in our case it was a trip to Exmouth that did the trick
[img]  [/img] |
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showpony said...
in our case it was a trip to Exmouth that did the trick
[img] [/img]
ezzy 2.5. nice! 
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Thanks everyone, it was a special afternoon. one thing I forgot, on the way home she pinched my mobile and rang mum. All I ever heard was "Ive been windsurfing, Ive been windsurfing, Ive been windsurfing".
We were both stoked all night and are still talking about it today. Now my wife wants to have a go which Im having mixed feelings about ;-) Just kidding.
Also, nice pics guys, looks pretty much like yesterday arvo.
I guess what I was trying to bring across was how special a time it was seeing it is my passion and now she is a part of it hopefully for many years to come.
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top story larko, brings tears of joy to my eyes.
my kids have tried windsurfing, surfing, booging and dismissed me as an obsessed nerd! 
where's the justice. |
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i loved this thread as well.
i got 2 daughters. still a bit young but in 2 years time i am hoping to get the eldest into it.
they ring me while i am at work to let me know it's blowing on the bay. 
guess they got my sense of humous at least. |
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You know what Greenie? I think because it was just spur of the moment and she didnt have time to think about it she just did it!!
I was a bit apprehensive as we thought she was just starting to get into that "cool" phase. My wife and I are lucky because she loves doing stuff with us rather than do some of the pre-teen "attitude" things some of her frienare doing.
Probably helps she is a natural in the water too
For me the start of 08' has been a ripper |
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wow...awesome stories & pictures guys! I feel inspired!
555: I learnt on a similar starboard...they're real sturdy!! hey it's worth a try  |
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inspired by Larkos efforts, last Saturday I took my 10 year old, 6 yeard old and wife down to Narrabeen Lake for a family day of windsurfing. I dug out the Bombora Capricorn resplendant with its 4.8m dacron sail and a dedicated learner board for my sons with a kids rig and all. We were there for most of the day and all of em loved it. The damn wife who hadnt sailed in 10 years or so was zipping back and forth in no time and my 10 year old, to his credit, had real problems at first but stuck to it and after an hour or so was doing almost the same. I was really proud of him and it was an absolute hoot to be able to jump on the Capricorn with my 6 year old sitting on the front and chasing down my other son on his own board.
One of the best bonding experiences I have ever had with my sons. Now they know why I ALWAYS want to go sailing.
Now I've just gotta get em comfortable sailing in a 25 knot Southerly so I can take em all speedsailing |
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Larko - that must be one of the best posts I have read, you really managed to create a picture in my head. Inspired by your post I went and introduced my whee lad to his my new board.
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One day my son.. ALL this will be yours...
Have just bought a GO 155 for my wife to learn on and I can't wait to have my boy sail with me when he's old enough..
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ka43 said...
Yesterday I had some of the best fun Ive ever had on the water.
I had borrowed a Naish SUP from Sam at Windsurfnsnow. I went for a paddle and had fun. My just turned 12 year old daughter rang and said could I pick her up from a friends place. I asked if she wanted to have a go on the paddle board.
After she had a go at stand up paddling, which she took to easily and us mucking around for awhile she asked if I could put a rig on the board.
I quickly rigged a 6.2 wave sail and out we went with her sitting just in front of the mast base.
With the first little gust she was hooting like that guy in Titanic. We did lots of cruising, upwind, downwind and when we gybed she ducked her head as if she knew what to.
Then on one run back to the beach she stood up, worked her way around the mast and under my grip, grabbed the boom and leant back. After awhile I slowly relaxed my grip and she sailed us home. She loved it!!!!!!
Afterwards she was like me and everyone else, just stoked on a natural high.
The best part, "Now I know why you love windsurfing so much Dad"
A hot sunny afternoon, 5 knots of wind, warm water and getting your child to experience the stoke of windsurfing for the first time, priceless!!!!
that was also my first experience of windsurfing on lake tinaroo. dad used to sail around on a long board with me on the front then i'd climb around an lean out and hang on. we even tried to rail ride it unsuccesfully.
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SA South Sandwich Islands
2405 Posts
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sick_em_rex said...
inspired by Larkos efforts, last Saturday I took my 10 year old, 6 yeard old and wife down to Narrabeen Lake for a family day of windsurfing. I dug out the Bombora Capricorn resplendant with its 4.8m dacron sail and a dedicated learner board for my sons with a kids rig and all.
That was you with the Bombora Kanga sail? I was down there watching but did not go out because the wind seemed to drop off. However my wife and I enjoyed watching you give a lift for your daughter. I explained to my wife that Bombora Kangaroo sails are the prettiest sails ever made.
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