I used to go to the pub to escape. Now I go to the bay.
Windsurfing is my refuge :)

Fortunately I'm an atheist, so I don't have to worry about what I'll find to do for the next trillion billion years. (And then some!)

However fanatical we are (and I am) all activities have a sell by date. It's like the old jokes about heaven; keen windsurfer arrives at the pearly gates and finds perfect wind and waves and all the best gear laid out ready to choose from.'Wow, this is Heaven' he excitedly says! 'Who said it was Heaven' the gatekeeper replies.

The point is that however fanatical we are (and I am) constant repetition will takes it's toll on enthusiasm unless there is still some challenge to face. (Freestyle for example, or even S.U.P.) Enthusiastic friendly company is also necessary. If either is missing, it saps the will.

After over 25 years I still have the "must sail at all costs" drive. Still can't organise things in advance in case of wind. Still annoy the family for leaving to sail as soon as the trees move.

I seem to be sailing less than ever before now though, due to commitments and still curse everything for missing the time on the water, and my skills seem to be going backwards. I watch the young guys around me get so good while I don't improve. check Boardseeker for Matt Gywnne http://www.boardseekermag.com/features/windsurfers/matthew-gwynne-120.html

But I still love windsurfing with the same enthusiasm for all aspects of windsurfing that I had as a kid just starting. I like the changes in events, gear styles and colours and models, the world info at our fingertips (Check out the 2011 gear showing up in maui now- totalwind.com.) and new characters on the scene.

I am lucky that I live within a 45 minute drive of 10 different sailing locations. If I get board with one kind of sailing or location there is the choice of changing for the next session.

In the last ten years the sport has seen some real changes that keep it fresh. From the new freestyle to the rebirth of speed then the GPSTC and the rebuilding of social clubs.

The Gps team challenge guys brought a group of sailors from getting board racing themselves, to attracting new and old sailors to a social and fun and competitive environment all at once. This gave people a reason to go sailing. A benefit of it was also having general sailors learning from each other about ways of improving their sailing, that may have stayed at the same level forever without a benchmark from the gps to gauge improvements. It is cool that these guys can now test themselves against thier mates whether it be at the same beach or different spots or different country now.
Those same sailors now travel to sail together. Look how the Perth and Bunbury mob rush to Mandurah as an example, or how everyone within driving distance rushes to Sandy point at any hope of real blow. I am sure SP was deserted for a few years there.

Not everyone wants to go to the beach and talk the same talk with the same people year on year. But the social windsurfing clubs like the Safety Bay club are getting groups together, not only to sail and talk wind related crap over and over, but to sail together at new locations, join in non wind social events. They are attracing new people to the sport and also welcoming new sailors to the area and encouraging those that want to participate to keep coming back for more.

Destination windsurfing travel in groups seems to be increasing whether it be Cocos Islands, Lord Howe island, Mauritius, Fiji, Egypt or Brazil.
For Example the Pathetic Sharks from the UK travel to far off places to sail as a large group event, Folks from the Oz east coast head into the pacific ocean spots and the west seas sailors head into the Indian ocean locations in groups showing how important the social side of the sport can be to some.

If you have the same conditions and the same gear day after day it is possible to get board like most activities. But there is something about windsurfing that keeps you going or at least draws you back even if it is years later. I have seen people dissappear, some forever, and many to return years later, I have sailed with some guys from day one and we still can't get enough.

With the gear available today there is no excuse for not getting out their and enjoying yourself. From the fantastic light wind race gear to the original wally still enjoyed by many - from the amazing highwind gear for waves to slalom/speed stuff that has never been easier to sail (look at all the high 30 knot mark weekend speed sailors around now)- to the once a year, on 15 year old stuff, sailors. How can we not have fun. Even If you want to do it by yourself without interacting with others.

I take things too seriously sometimes and have to remind myself that at least I am at the beach to have fun -stop complaining and enjoy it. At least I am at the beach.
Who cares what everyone else is sailing or saying. We could all have worse things to take up our time. Get out there and enjoy you time on the water.
My motivation is to improve and If I can't improve at least I am not sitting on my couch all day watching sport while getting fat.

Now if I could only extend the summer a bit longer to save the depression setting in, wishing for one more seabreeze. Time to pull out the SUP again.

O.K. Been a bad Winter up here and all suffering from buggy bouts and general under the weather feelings, but message loud and clear!

Same old beach. Same old misreable decaying faces, same old talk, BAD!

New places. New faces. Mix of younger keener and more energetic ones GOOD!

Must admit the heart leaps whenever I do go different places, (Rabs - I 'do' Hythe a couple of weeks a year),and all the old feelings and enthusiasm come flloding back.

Thank's all, for the kick start. ( Now where do I get hold of a Freestyle board?)

I've probably given a wrong picture pierrec 45. It's not a punch up or anything like that. It's just irritant value for me in that if a couple of the 'beachmasters' don't feel like going in, too many of the 'sheep' take their cue from them and settle in to talk instead. Some younger ones seem to be in awe of them and are keen to be seen as sucking up to them. Goodness knows why? I'm old enough to do my thing, regardless.

I have the Kona for longboard trickery and an Exocet Cross 118 light wind waveboard which will a good one for learning some Freestlyle. If all goes well I'll certainly buy a dedicated board.

I feel a new burst of enthusiasm coming on! Cheers.

Konas seem to be fun for the 5-15 range.
All the moves in the freestyle links I sent you are applicable to Kona boards.
Also, look for a dude called Marc Lagarrigue on Facebook: he's got clips of Kona freestyle.

motivation is always there on days even when you feel exhausted and don't feel like loading up the truck..it feels automatic on not so feeling good days..i guess i honestly can say my session has gotten a bit shorter maybe trying to beat personal bests on the gps nevertheless if 70+yr old guys can still do it so could we..yeah the other day a mate mentioned we're faster now than ever before and i told him yep you could be stronger but the motion of doing it gets a bit slower as we age as i told him about the 'twitch' thing amongst younger people compared to the 3 of us..i love sailing and anything on water that's nature powered..gone where the days when cruising along was the thing now with the younger ones it's pedal to the max pride is something when you're holding your line on the watertoday was my 5th day sailing and i could feel not getting stronger but a bit weaker i just got to earn more calories than burn more on the water

wave knave said...

maybe try something else for a while, i kited for nearly ten years... (still do on occasion ), but now that im back into windsurfing.

Just out of curio, what made you switch 10 years ago, and back recently?

Mrgob said...

I've probably given a wrong picture pierrec 45. It's not a punch up or anything like that. It's just irritant value for me in that if a couple of the 'beachmasters' don't feel like going in, too many of the 'sheep' take their cue from them and settle in to talk instead. Some younger ones seem to be in awe of them and are keen to be seen as sucking up to them. Goodness knows why? I'm old enough to do my thing, regardless.

haha those blokes are funny. I think with all the talking they do they don't get enough time on the water to actually improve their sailing. Hence they don't enjoy it as much and spend more time talking on the beach about what sized sail to rig, what fin out of the 100's they have to fit.

I'm still new to the sport so heaps to learn, and I'm usually on the water within 5 minutes of showing up to a spot, (i'm happy to chat, but after I sail not before). Even if its light getting out there and learning all the lightwind tricks, and then when the wind picks up i'm usually planing for about half an hour before the chatters have figured out what to rig haha.

You know, I see a bit of similarities with skiing vs. snowboarding and windsurf vs. kite.
I am from the French Alps and skied all my life, I started making my first snowboards in 1988 and then bought the first ones. It was new, fun and great in powder, then it got better on the groomed slopes, I stopped skiing totally for 8/10 years like all my mates. Then all the "skate" style arrived with jumps and snowparks. BUT new skis emerged and it got all suddenly much easier with fat parabolic skis, we could do all the stuffs we could do on a snowboard in all snow conditions. I could see it in Vancouver even the skicross was more fun than the snowboardcross. Wait you see the skis in ultrapipes like at the x games.

I can say that I have never kite, I am sure I will try one day (in good conditions to learn). [One kiter killed himself at my beach in Sandy Bay (Hobart) few years ago and we all got cooled by the event].

Windsurf feels like it's still an easier (and safer) way to get good speed on the water.
And even if you can take the bus to go kiting with your little backpack, it's not too hard if you are organised with your windsurf. I used to take the lift to the 9th floor in Marseille with all my gear in 2 board and boom bags. (scared the sht of many grandmas when the lift doors opened with all my gear in it and me with my big happy smile ).

I don't think the joy of the speed seating comfortable in the straps and harness will never die.

Yes, but you've got the pleasure and satisfaction of doing it all over again sboardcrazy. Aren't you lucky.

sboardcrazy said...

wave knave said...

maybe try something else for a while, i kited for nearly ten years... (still do on occasion ), but now that im back into windsurfing.. i am totally motivated, still trying to get back to the level i was before kiting.

ive also got back into longboarding, really liking the kona 11 5 on days i wouldnt normally bother rigging up.

Isn't it a bugger that you lose it if you don't sail for a few years!

actually it was shocking.. depressing, when i got back on it. i was going to go kiting that day, but, there were too many kites out, didnt feel like dealing with that. friend of mine had a windsurfer there, so thought sure..give it a go, ugh, could even ride in a straight line, let alone jibe, or jump..or stay upwind... embarrassing. buuuuut, i HAD to try it again.
enjoying the challenges again, and its coming back.
kiting is much easier, if thats what youre looking for.

just picked up a mistral syncro yesterday.... cant wait to try it.!

wave knave said...
hey, if you want to go out in lightwind and waves and youre a bigger guy, im 95kg, the kona is great. nosinking. and if smaller im sure the 10 5 would be good too. nice cruisy longboard feel, but turns way better than i expected.. good choice, for me anyway. and, i have used it with a 5.2 in 25-30knots as well...fun, but well past its, and my limits.

When I find my mojo I'd like to stick to longboard wavesailing as that is where I left off way back then. I'm 100kg, the Kona One is a luxo liner and easy to ride, the 11.5 I think is around 170litres which will float me easy, the Surf (10.5) or Kona 10.5 is around 145ltr and I'd treat as my short board between the two lengths. The 11.5 and Kona One have identical top plan shape but the Kona One is much thicker from nose to tail. I'm still unsure which way I'd go once I get my sea legs back, I did enjoy jumping back then on an 8'10" but unsure how the 11.5 or 10.5 would handle landings. Me thinks not too well? As others said to me, welcome back.

wave knave said...

hey nosinkanow, i tried the 'one', it was alright, but just felt too big and boxy, i dont think itd be so good in the waves at all.

It's OK for Patrice Belbeoch, if he breaks one he just goes into the warehouse and gets another one! Perhaps he should incorporate a thicker stringer under that skin for clowns like me who guarantees to land it flat from a vertical drop or on its nose! That NP mast-extension-foot shock thing sounds like a great idea for boards like this.

Yes the One is BIG, it's a happy compromise at the moment for me though, beggars can't be choosey as they say. It's design brief is cruising/racing not wave carving so I'm not expecting too much from it where it's not really designed to be eg. surf. My ability is still a long way from where I left off many years ago anyway so finding its limit is a long way off.

I agree with you and the 11.5, there is no such thing as not enough wind with one of these, one of the reasons I left the sport many many years ago, I became so frustrated owning a sinker. Funny how attitudes have changed for the better and longer boards are back. Light wind 7.0-7.5 sails on any kind of wave board was unheard of back then too. High wind snobbery was rife in those days, probably still is but I haven't been back long enough to find out. But those big sails are perfect for the 11.5 & 10.5 for heavy sailors especially the no cams models.

The alternative, read 'cheaper', are hybrid SUPS that have dual personalities like the Mistral Pacifico and Starboard Jungle (?). However these boards are wider again with more rocker than the Konas which means they would be slower in windsurf (planing) mode, how much I dunno. It'll be a difficult decision when the time comes when I leave the Kona One to choose between a sailable SUP or a Kona 11.5/10.5. Konas are around a grand more I think so that might influence the decision.

In the meantime my motivation is high in re-learning everything again. It's all a healthy new challenge. Old school longboard free styling the Kona One has been great fun in light winds. It's helping me heaps with sail handling.

everyone has their own take on windsurfing, who really cares if someone has the latest gear and doesn't use it or the oldest gear and is there every day.

have a chat, sail a longboard, blast on formula, try some freestyle, smack a lip, test the gps, race a mate or just hang out at the beach. not everyone is in it to break records or tripple loop. it's a windsurfing community.

why not judge people by how they treat others instead of why they windsurf.