you might be aware of MXTV, it was a community channel program for a few years on Foxtel/Austar. because it recieved some finacial backing from the manufacturers, it now is screeend on channel 10.

Motocross is also a minority sport like windsurfing, for 15 years as a competitior, all you heard was, "if only this sport was on tv"

I think you have hit it the right attitude, showing the lifetyle aspect, just please dont show the "stuck in the 80's dorky side" , you know, fluero rubber wetties etc, the sport needs to be shown with cool factor, big jumps, boardies, fit looking guys etc, this will open public appeal, not middle aged men in full piece fluero pink wetsuits!

good luck, anything is possible!

Lets get one thing straight right now -

Windsurfing is NOT A DYING SPORT.

In fact it is growing at boom like rates -right now worldwide.

I wont deny that there was a decline through the nineties - but since 02 there has been a steady increase in gear sold and participation worldwide. We have had access to stats that show numbers steadily up in the big markets of the USA, UK, France, Germany etc. At percentages that many industries would do anything to achieve!

The Start / Go - widestyle movement in 99/ 2000 has had a big role to play in this reversal (starboard were laughed at originally and are now copied and applauded) .

The travel / hire segment seen in places like greece and the western atlantic is booming! Numbers on the water here in OZ are super healthy - been great to see the increased riders all around perth season after season.

ALso marketing the sport to kids (SUPER IMPORTANT - and starting to show real results), getting wider wind range out of boards, focusing on both affordability and peformance and everything in between.

Gear is so good to use these days - it doesnt matter if you are a wave seeker or only get 8 knots at your local - there is a product to deliver QUALITY water time to you.

Kites have a big presence due to the visual element and the size of the things - and its great to see that windsports segment growing - but don't underestimate windsurfing- it is a healthy industry here in OZ right now - speak to any progressive local windsurf shop and you will notice a real optimism and positivity in their attitiude!

As a windsurfer i like to promote this positive mind set to crew looking at the sport- it makes the sport WAY more appealing and dynamic to punters looking at getting into the sport.

FACT - Worldwide -WIndsurfing is on the up! Tell a friend!



[

Have a word with your local shop and get their opinion. I think you may be surprised.

Admittedly every region of OZ makes up the whole picture. And they do vary.

Sydney is proabably one of the most challenging markets in oZ - possibly due to the combination of lack of local wind , low disposable income relative to mortgage (on shrinking real estate prices - ouch! - there goes the wealth effect) and a distinct lack of windsurfing schools for newbies to go to. HEre in WA we have 1/4 the population of Sydney yet we have 4 places you can go to to get lessons on quality widestyle gear - and thats just in Perth and its locales.

You do have Gerroa just down the road though - that joint is a wind magnet!

Check Melbourne -if you ever get a chance to go there - the numbers of windsurfers on the bay is off the scale - and tons of beginner/ intermediate gear goeas in to that market every year. This tends to "seed" the market and produce long term windsurfers over time.Its a great scene! Maybe its a mentality thing - in my experience Melb does seem a bit more hip and relaxed than super busy Sydney. Just speculating..

There are some SUPER talented groms coming out of NEwcastle - thats only just up the road - so theres definitley something going on up there..

As far as prices go - and based on my travels -comparing like with like- i think you will find prices world wide to be pretty close. Comparing close out / superseded specials in one country with newly released in another - there may be some savings to be made based on season timing. But ususally you will find those specials at home too.. Plenty of euros coming here and purchasing in OZ to avoid the travel hassles.

starting to get off topic but.....

I couldn't agree more that things are healthy in the sport at the moment. especially here in SE QLD.

I also think that the industry is pouring heaps into the grass roots stuff. take the WindWanderers for example.
www.windwanderers.com
We've had loads of support from all levels of the industry, from the state/national associations through to major Ozzy importers and right down to the local shop and the guys on the beaches. all of them keen to join in and with no strings attached. Since starting the club i can now say with certainty that there certainly is a large amount of people within the industry keen to see the sport expand and keen to help out no matter what. Almost all of them are windsurfers that have decided on the lifestyle outcomes of working within the sport.

even within the state and national bodies, all run by windsurfers. i've spoken with the guys from QLD, WA, Vic, NSW and AWA. they all give loads of time for free, developing websites, organising race meets, social days gearswaps etc. it's usually the industry that pays for all the giveaways and bbq's. So behind the scenes there are lots of people doing what it takes to make the sport more fun and with lots of options.

It just takes and idea and the will to see it through, or at least give a red hot go.

who knows where the idea of a tv show will lead, maybe onto copies being bought on dvd... keep up the great work i say.

Hey Chris,
thanks4 your input - and for agreeing with me... lol
As sum1 who was there at the 'beginning' - and sold so many 'wallies' that we had them lined up out the back door ready for the next buyer to walk in... well, itz hard to see those days ever returning - it WAS the 80's after all, and windsurfing was new and exciting... and the average 'consumer' had money to burn - and things were just more relaxed and positive financially... so Sydney is a particular case... we have more distractions, fewer 'full-on' days - and when we do, we're all working too hard to take advantage of them... :(
The reason this thread started was that sum1 had the initiative to do something positive for the sport, and in Sydney, this is what is surely missing... will sum1 do something to promote the sport in a unique way? I doubt it... and I certainly agree with the obvious conclusion that windsurfing in Sydney is in the doldrums - compared to kitesurfing, it really IS in decline - why? Coz kitesurfing is new... Windsurfing? Well, everyone knows about it already - and really I have to get back to the way it's promoted. Endless shots of wavesailors doing incredible things. Now, how often do you suppose those kind of feats occur in Sydney? A few days a year... and by guys in their teens or mid 20's...
So, sure , if we want to increase windsurfing numbers in that demographic, promote wavesailing 'til you drop - but is that what the sport needs in a general sense? I doubt it...
I keep coming back to what the Hobie Cats have done. The Hobie 16 is an OLD design (early 70's?) - but it has HUGE world championships. It is seen as a 'fun' boat - not too demanding, but with an equal emphasis on the social aspect... in a blow it is bloody demanding and exciting to sail... and you can share the enjoyment... and what about the Laser? Itz a one-man boat, designed when? Think about it. What separates those successful classes from the more marginal ones?
In my opinion, windsurfing, by itz very nature will always appeal to the 'lone' sailor, not to 'shared' experience... until and UNLESS sailboarding is seen as a club activity - promoted and supported by clubs that have a clubhouse, facilities, and offer some sort of 'after-burn' activities...
Maybe itz now time to build an 'extreme' watersports club at say, Balmoral, Kurnell, or Pittwater - and incorporate a mixture of activities... so depending on the conditions, one or other of the 'activities' could be emphasised - just a thought... however impractical... maybe a portable clubhouse - or a circuit that takes advantage of existing facilities - but incorporates the 2 sports...
But to reiterate - all the emphasis on ultimate thrills, aerial stunts, while certainly spectacular to look at, and to aspire to (for a VERY limited few) - in my humble opinion does little to push the sport to noobs - and isn't that the reason the producer of the series went into it?
Time for a reality check - itz OK to promote the more extreme aspects of the sport - they're great to look at and to try to emulate, but in reality, windsurfing izz what it izz... an activity for the more extreme among us... and for those who like to 'show-off', exceed speed limits and get our adrenalin kicks on the water instead of the road... and surely thatz OK too... just don't ever expect it to appeal to a wider audience... at least not in Sydney...

hi peter...wineman

having trouble finding your thread...but In regards finding sailboard learning centers...
I found 2 up north coast that are really trying to keep all beginners on the water.

Check my thread on North coast sufari...these places are Jordans boatshead and Pacific Palms Windsurfing...9 beginners on the water at the Palms...I even had a chance to help one family...and they were loving it.

these two places have boatshed on water,easy access,atmosphere..etc...
Sydney needs similar type of boatshead....

I have heard of Balmoral but never seen it..and Assume they do a similar thing.....maybe the only existing on the water windsurfing establishment in Sydney

chris and Dobroyd other option I know of....but I imagine more club aspect...
not likely a family driving past stops for a sail like normal beach boatsheads,
you know dad says look a sign for boatshead and sailboards...lets stop and have a picnic and try this sailing thing....nice change from our normal holiday fun.

Often these beginners or tryers had not intended to try it but liked the excitement they see on the lake beach and give it a go...because its there.
so often beginners are accidental tourists...they may never intend to do it again...but maybe a few will....but the easier it is to try it the more chance of new sailers.
Make it easy to access and you will have more tryers.

Ya know a regular 3 minute spot on Brownies Coastwatch (is that still going?) would give you excellent coverage to a pretty good demographic, and 3 minutes once a week shouldn't be too demanding - 1 interview, or 1 lesson, or one competition, or one expression session. Fishing from a sailboard? Cruising to the islands? ...

What we need is a good delusion.
We should have more of those Windwanderers meets where everybody converges on the same venue at the same time. Make it feel like the old days.
Either that or hypnosis.

looks like it will good. cant wait