Getting old sucks but it's way better than the alternative. Have to constantly keep my lower back, left shoulder and right knee (no straps or jumping for me) in workable condition. Stay skinny, constant physical therapy and prolotherapy when needed. I'll still loose 4 months this year nursing "irritated" joints

Don't have access to easy surf conditions close by so I try to make flat water riding interesting given my faulty body joints. Downwinding in swell is fun for a change of pace but not my favorite thing. Always new flat water unstrapped moves to learn

Mostly wing foil, but still really enjoy kitefoiling on light wind days. 6'(183cm) and 77 kg. Looks like my FSM 4'9"/75 liter board and Gong Veloce LT (90cm/1350 sq cm) and 39cm Veloce stab will be my lower gear size limit. (Tried that stink bug start thing but good ole knee starting works fine for me). Bought an Axis 830/380 but not sure if it's really gonna work for me. Verdict not in

Looking forward to winging new locations in retirement. Florida east coast this winter. Melbourne and Gold Coast next winter assuming things will remain open (younger daughter living in Melbourne). Hoping to find friendly surf to play in

Like occasionally playing with action cams and drones

Cheers!

DavidJohn said..
Nice.. Looking forward to catching up when you finally make it to Melbourne.

Absolutely. All winging and kite foiling gear coming with me, baggage fees be damned. I know we'll explore from Melbourne at least up to Brisbane and maybe as far as Airlie Beach. Checking off all the potential winging sites along the way. My older daughter who is also finishing up a 3 year working holiday Visa in Australia will leave behind her camper van with the younger one so we should have a suitable transportation (I knew all those years of college tuition would pay off at some point!)

Dcharlton said..
Looking good! I'm turning 51 next week and am way too immature to be that age, my body however, is starting to remind me. Hope I can look as good as you in 12 years!

DC

I guess that's a common theme for us older types who are out there winging right now. I really didn't make much skill progress this last year with my joints acting up, so the self assessment of my brain, that likes to think it's still 25 yrs old, is that it wasn't a stellar year. Pretty stupid outlook to have, so I always remind myself that it's awesome just to be out there riding (and breathing) at all. Still, if given the choice between a few extra million in the pockets or the joints I had when I was 20, the choice would be easy..

Nov8 said..


I'm 61yrs, 85 kgs. My smallest gear is Armstrong FG 99lt and 1250 foil, a range of Units and Slicks from 4m to 7m. Loving the sensation of fast flight and carved turns but restrict myself to flat water and tame waves, definitely no straps or jumping. I have to be careful with my knees so wear hinged braces on both, get straight to my feet and avoid knee starts when conditions allow. I use a Theraband and various physio exercises to keep the tennis elbow at bay, plus a variety of wobble and balance boards.

Wow, hinged knee braces. Does mean bone on bone for you? I'm not at that point yet, but I do wear knee pads if I'm not in a full wetsuit. I also have to get to my feet quickly minimizing time on the knees. Is any sort of knee surgery/treatment an option for you beyond physio? I've heard of a few guys back out skiing/kiteboarding after both full and partial knee replacements.

Other than the few seconds spent knee starting, wing and kite foiling are way less stressful on my knees than all the kiteboarding or windsurfing I used to do. If not for foils I'd probably be finished with water wind sports...

Nov8 said..

Dspace said..
Getting old sucks but it's way better than the alternative. Have to constantly keep my lower back, left shoulder and right knee (no straps or jumping for me) in workable condition. Stay skinny, constant physical therapy and prolotherapy when needed. I'll still loose 4 months this year nursing "irritated" joints

Don't have access to easy surf conditions close by so I try to make flat water riding interesting given my faulty body joints. Downwinding in swell is fun for a change of pace but not my favorite thing. Always new flat water unstrapped moves to learn

Mostly wing foil, but still really enjoy kitefoiling on light wind days. 6'(183cm) and 77 kg. Looks like my FSM 4'9"/75 liter board and Gong Veloce LT (90cm/1350 sq cm) and 39cm Veloce stab will be my lower gear size limit. (Tried that stink bug start thing but good ole knee starting works fine for me). Bought an Axis 830/380 but not sure if it's really gonna work for me. Verdict not in

Looking forward to winging new locations in retirement. Florida east coast this winter. Melbourne and Gold Coast next winter assuming things will remain open (younger daughter living in Melbourne). Hoping to find friendly surf to play in

Like occasionally playing with action cams and drones

Cheers!

I'm 61yrs, 85 kgs. My smallest gear is Armstrong FG 99lt and 1250 foil, a range of Units and Slicks from 4m to 7m. Loving the sensation of fast flight and carved turns but restrict myself to flat water and tame waves, definitely no straps or jumping. I have to be careful with my knees so wear hinged braces on both, get straight to my feet and avoid knee starts when conditions allow. I use a Theraband and various physio exercises to keep the tennis elbow at bay, plus a variety of wobble and balance boards.

I'm in a similar boat regarding knees.
when you say "Avoid knee starts" what technique are you using? I struggle with knees and flexibility. When I'm tired I find it hard to get my foot up and round on to the board. Not gybing yet so a lot of climbing back on.

ive just seen a consultant about my knees, similar to yours, bone on bone. The out come was, put off a TKR for as long as possible as will not have the same movement and restricted to what you can do (no kneeling). For active guys (57) you will wear them out. Average age in uk is 70 for a TKR with a fairly sedentary life style allowing you to manage. Always exceptions but prob not enough data for active older guys to call upon.

A bit off topic, but 63 is not old! The crew of folks I wing with are all 65+. We got two guys who are 72 & 74. When the wind isn't blowing, we all surf and paddle. Winging is for all ages.

So jealous at how easy you make the turns look. So if you watch me & compare with your ability. That should make me over 100 years old.
Knee starts feel so awkward to me. My body doesnt want to stand up. My brain says no. I'm too heavy. It could be my bad back. But I can do 60 full squats when I exercise. And have done 150 squats a couple of years ago when I was very fit.
I just go straight to standing like I have after falling off a SUP.
Same technique as Nov8. But will try knee & stinkbug starts one day. Good to be able to know how to do them all.

Goofcat said..
A bit off topic, but 63 is not old! The crew of folks I wing with are all 65+. We got two guys who are 72 & 74. When the wind isn't blowing, we all surf and paddle. Winging is for all ages.

Of course we're all out there having fun winging away and thinking young, but let's be honest here, we older riders are not going to ride at the same level as those youngsters doing monster (I guess they're up to double now) backflips. The body and joints just aren't gonna take the same level of abuse. Every time I want to learn a new move or push myself harder and longer I have to decide whether the joints will stand it. Last year I worked on behind-the-back tacks and got a few, but practically broke a finger in the process. The other week I did a big (for me) afternoon downwinder after a full separate morning session, and paid the price by aggravating and old shoulder injury. So yep, winging is for all ages, but what skill/endurance level you aspire to requires some real compromise, something I rarely dealt with when I was younger!