You have to wonder what keeps long term windsurfers motivated?

The average windsurfing population is ageing, and numbers are declining, so what satisfaction are we now getting from it? Has it just become a habit because we can't think what else to do? (Everyone's got to be somewhere!)

Looking around our local beach the other day and comparing it to how it used to be 15 years ago, was depressing. Then, swarms of windsurfers all full of enthusiasm couldn't wait to get onto the water. (Into the car park, into wet suit, rigged and out before the exhaust had cooled and stopped ticking.) Furthermore, they stayed in for two or three hours whatever the wind was like.

Last week, on a good day, only a handful of regulars were out. The rush to get out had gone, replaced by an hours talking in the vans before even startingt to rig.When they did hit the water it was for a twenty minute blast followed by another car park talking session.

I don't know what others do to keep motivated, but I find that variation is a key element. I've always kept my older boards and currently have eight to choose from, and some older ones in reserve. So there is blasting, surfing, longboard cruising and kayaking if I need a change.

I don't imagine ever stopping windsurfing, but sometimes it is difficult to overcome that feeling of having done it all before, so why bother? How do others keep the juices flowing?

Great Pierrec 45!! You,ve cheered me up no end. Thanks.

It's the talking sneering moaning clique who've taken over our local beach. Like you, I'm the odd one out. The steady drip drip drip of negativity was getting me down, but I see I'm not alone. Cheers.

Mrgob said...

Great Pierrec 45!! You,ve cheered me up no end. Thanks.

It's the talking sneering moaning clique who've taken over our local beach. Like you, I'm the odd one out. The steady drip drip drip of negativity was getting me down, but I see I'm not alone. Cheers.

Hey Mr Gob,
Its not all bad...we set up a club last year to bring a bit of fun and enjoyment back into our local- Inverloch in Victoria. Our aim was simple: to encourage everyone to get the arses on the water!. Our numbers have swelled to nearly 50, and the numbers of more mature newbies seem to indicate that there may be a bit of a resurgence of a few older "crustys" getting back into it.

For me, it goes beyond just being on the water. ITs a passion, an obsession built around trying to get as much time going fast and on the plane as possible.
Beyond that, it is hooking up with guys an gals who are equally as passionate and insane as I am.

Moving to western australia and sailing in fantastic conditions regularly

Laff 77 said
So for me, I find the motivation by getting out in all sorts of different conditions and not taking things to seriously.

Thats what I need to do. I was crook for 4 years & didnt think Id ever sail again. I was SO glad to sail when I first got back but now I think I'm trying to recapture my youth & all I do is concentrate on how I can't do this or that. .cripes just get out & enjoy falling off!
I suppose I'm motivated by trying to get back my gybing & jumping skills but need to back off a bit & realise Im 15 years older!

Just being on the water is enough motivation for me......going to work ...now that requires motivation.

I do get a buzz from inviting friends and relatives to the beach who sailed "back in the day" and loaning them modern gear. To see them look so excited and re motivated is a buzz. Teaching their kids to sail is also a real buzz. Watching the anxiety in the eyes of their partners as they spend the whole day on the water and not on the beach is pretty funny too. ( the last bit is not true)

www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au/

Since I joined GPSTC my motivation to sail has never been stronger. And I've been on an incredibly steep learning curve because there are so many facets to the comp...outright speed, endurance, gybing ability, ability not to fall off etc.

GPSTC emphasises the team aspect of sailing, which wasn't really there before.

And fantastic conditions on offer in WA certainly helps

Mrgob said...

You have to wonder what keeps long term windsurfers motivated?

The average windsurfing population is ageing, and numbers are declining, so what satisfaction are we now getting from it? Has it just become a habit because we can't think what else to do? (Everyone's got to be somewhere!)

flipp11 said:

Move to melbourne my friend, our sport is just taking off, and is never going to look back. We are starting to scare the kiters even, with the amount of windsurfers I see out now.

We now have a new Victoria wave series comp that runs all year.

We have new clubs starting up all aorund the bay like the:
Inverloch windsurf club
Mt martha windsurf club
Elwood club
Pit crew ect..

we have the new local GTSPC speed sailing web site and is like a club as well..

We have had some new windsurf shops that have opened up in victoria..

the list goes on mate....

Alot of the times I am at the beach too, I have people come up to me now and ask me how they can get into windsurfing...

any weekend it's windy, say at Point danger, Dawson st, Rye, Ricketts, you will see easy 30+ guys out now.

Come for a hoilday and check out Point Danger on a windy day, the sport is going nuts over that side of the bay...... I was talking to one of the locals there a while ago, and he was telling me there is a real revival of windsurfing happening over there.. They now have a new windsurf shop over near Point Danger too called Core Board Sports..

Since getting back into the sport about 4 years ago the only down side for me is that I now have trouble just enjoying being near the water without thinking "is that a breeze I can feel... oh please just a little more and I can head home and grab my gear.."
I also find myself constantly distracted at Uni or work if I can see trees bending outside and then distraction turns to frustration.

So motivation is not the problem, it's being able to focus on other things.

You can imagine what I was like when I did a campervan trip from Perth down past Margaret River the summer before last (with no intention of sailing). The wind was that good that I never found a decent place to swim because I would be wind plastered with sand the moment I got out.

Mrgob said...

Yes, the social side is an element, but the tone is set by the dominant clique at any beach. If they are tribal (as ours has developed) and you don't want to join their gang, it spoils the vibe.

Thinking back, I know that a lot of our once locals have moved elsewhere because they didn't like the atmosphere.That, clearly is my solutionan also. There is a much more friendly place a bit further away, where the social side is better balanced with the need to sail.

Incidentally, we see the cold as normal because we know no differently. I don't think some of us could cope with hot non wet suit conditions. I'd keep falling off in surprise!

So when are you moving to Australia Mrgob? No agro /angst amongst the windsurders here!

Where do you sail in the UK? Are you south? Brighton, Isle of wight, weymouth?

Windxtasy said...

Leman said...

You can imagine what I was like when I did a campervan trip from Perth down past Margaret River the summer before last (with no intention of sailing).

HOW CAN YOU GO FROM PERTH TO MARGARET RIVER IN SUMMER WITH NO INTENTION OF SAILING!!!!

I agree. That qualifies as perverted self abuse.

I'm with pointman here, my sailing time has probably doubled since becoming part of the GTC.
I'm lucky enough to live on the beach where a nice wave breaks every once in a while. Good wave sailing days where and still are fantastic, but there are plenty of days in summer when it's just dead flat. I was getting bored with that, and only bothered to go out when I started to twitch from saline withdrawal. Now I've bought a surf wagon so I can get my speed gear to the estuary, and try and help our team move up the ladder, any time the winds up.

And there are now a few UK teams, no excuse to not be in it.

I'm surprised your problem with the local clique got to be that bad.

Just ride around them, they're usually not the alpha males anyways. Plus they're always under-rigged - after all, that's why they carry so much equipment.
So, how can it be that bad?

We have the same here (and at a few other US spots I go to), but the good guys and the fun guys and the freestylists get on anyways.

Over time here, I have convinced a lot of people to get on even in lighter winds, to practice freestyle moves. When some w*nker told me that he didn't bother going out in those winds, I told I didn't want my windsurfing to stagnate.

Simple as that.

Yes, I've found a new spot Flipper 11. I'm not tired of windsurfing, (no way), just the lousy atmosphere at what was always my favourite beach. Have fun mate.

Windxtasy said...

Leman said...

You can imagine what I was like when I did a campervan trip from Perth down past Margaret River the summer before last (with no intention of sailing).

HOW CAN YOU GO FROM PERTH TO MARGARET RIVER IN SUMMER WITH NO INTENTION OF SAILING!!!!

I know!! I'm a disgrace to windsurfers the world over. Just to "add salt to the wound"
- Some inlet not far south of Perth, tons of windsurfers and kiters, awesome wind
- Yallinup, sailors and kiters out in droves with awesome conditions.
- beach off Margaret River and there is an Ezzy windsurfing comp on... Bah!
- Camp spot at Walpole even has 2 windsurfers enjoying the inlet.

In my defence I wanted to put in some good girlfriend time. Good me.

Mrgob if there is one disadvantage to non-wetsuit sailing it's that I get tons of scraps and cuts either from fins or just scrapign along the non-slip deck. Sporting at least 5 scars from no wetsuit.

Mrgob said...

You have to wonder what keeps long term windsurfers motivated?

The average windsurfing population is ageing, and numbers are declining, so what satisfaction are we now getting from it? Has it just become a habit because we can't think what else to do? (Everyone's got to be somewhere!)

Looking around our local beach the other day and comparing it to how it used to be 15 years ago, was depressing. Then, swarms of windsurfers all full of enthusiasm couldn't wait to get onto the water. (Into the car park, into wet suit, rigged and out before the exhaust had cooled and stopped ticking.) Furthermore, they stayed in for two or three hours whatever the wind was like.

Last week, on a good day, only a handful of regulars were out. The rush to get out had gone, replaced by an hours talking in the vans before even startingt to rig.When they did hit the water it was for a twenty minute blast followed by another car park talking session.

I don't know what others do to keep motivated, but I find that variation is a key element. I've always kept my older boards and currently have eight to choose from, and some older ones in reserve. So there is blasting, surfing, longboard cruising and kayaking if I need a change.

I don't imagine ever stopping windsurfing, but sometimes it is difficult to overcome that feeling of having done it all before, so why bother? How do others keep the juices flowing?

Huh ??? the above makes no sense ! You either got it or you aint. After 25 years I still got it to the max !