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Re: Is windsurfing old school?
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GYXU > Kites, widsurfing, waterski > Re: Is windsurfing old school? 30 March 2005 04:23:22

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Re: Is windsurfing old school?

Glenn Woodell 29 March 2005 17:57:12
 We're coming. Just as you stated many will be coming after WindFest. I
was down just two weeks ago. We'll be coming for the thermals, set to
start pretty soon.

Glenn

On 29 Mar 2005 04:58:38 -0800, "Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote:
I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the>earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone>waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were>20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday>the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.>Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I>remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after>11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they>are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my>windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.>Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and>sails?>What is windsurfing's future?

Add comment
Campbell 29 March 2005 18:55:11 permanent link ]
 It is only March! I have gone the Hatteras in March and April almost every
year for the last 10 years, and there have never been any crowds in March.
That's like going to the slopes in May and saying -- 'geez, where are all
the skiers, snoboarders, etc...?' . By the end of April the Hole will be
full of windsurfers again.


"Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote in message
news:1112101118.722­604.286480@f14g2000c­wb.googlegroups.com.­..> I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the> earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone> waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were> 20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday> the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.> Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I> remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after> 11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they> are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my> windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.> Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and> sails?> What is windsurfing's future?>


Add comment
Craig Goudie 29 March 2005 20:10:19 permanent link ]
 You've asked and answered your own question Jim.
Windsurfing isn't just old school, it's codger school.
I remember when surfers wanted windsurfing to be just a fad, and
when snow skiers wanted snow boarding to be just a fad ;*)

If you need to be hip, buy a kite board ;*) More room for
me and my windsurf gear, when the wind blows hard.

The future of windsurfing looks more and more like old guys
(like me), getting more and better waves, as the young guys on
kite boards look for less wind and flater water or .....kill themselves
off ;*)

-Craig

p.s. I also own a kite board, but I spend so much time in HoodRiver these
days,
I rarely think about it.

Jim O wrote:
I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the> earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone> waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were> 20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday> the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.> Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I> remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after> 11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they> are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my> windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.> Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and> sails?> What is windsurfing's future?

--
Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie
Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:
RRD 298, RRD TT and Cross M 8'2" with
Sailworks/Naish Sails and Rec Composites Fins
Sailing the Gorge on my: 9'1" RRD Freeride,
8'3" Logosz Squish, 8'0" Hitech IBM with
Sailworks/Northwave­ Sails and Curtis Fins


Add comment
Isobars 29 March 2005 20:36:49 permanent link ]
 Fewer gear model choices, and more room to park and sail. That's fine with
me.

Mike \m/

"Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote> What is windsurfing's future?>


Add comment
John Sitka 30 March 2005 02:40:38 permanent link ]
 All the kiters I've talked to don't know that a windsurfer can plane in 10knots.

"Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote in message news:1112101118.722­604.286480@f14g2000c­wb.googlegroups.com.­..> I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the> earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone> waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were> 20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday> the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.> Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I> remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after> 11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they> are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my> windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.> Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and> sails?> What is windsurfing's future?>


Add comment
John Sitka 30 March 2005 02:41:15 permanent link ]
 ...many windsurfers don't know that either.


"John Sitka" <johnsitka@hotmail.­com> wrote in message news:APk2e.12536$RM­2.5818@read1.cgocabl­e.net...> All the kiters I've talked to don't know that a windsurfer can plane in 10knots.>
"Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote in message news:1112101118.722­604.286480@f14g2000c­wb.googlegroups.com.­..>> I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the>> earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone>> waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were>> 20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday>> the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.>> Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I>> remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after>> 11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they>> are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my>> windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.>> Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and>> sails?>> What is windsurfing's future?>>


Add comment
John Sitka 30 March 2005 02:51:43 permanent link ]
 oops... one fella I talked to knew about light wind windsurfing, he
was good at it too, sold his formula stuff and now kites.

"John Sitka" <johnsitka@hotmail.­com> wrote in message news:9Qk2e.12537$RM­2.94@read1.cgocable.­net...> ...many windsurfers don't know that either.>
"John Sitka" <johnsitka@hotmail.­com> wrote in message news:APk2e.12536$RM­2.5818@read1.cgocabl­e.net...>> All the kiters I've talked to don't know that a windsurfer can plane in 10knots.>>
"Jim O" <econno42@earthlink­.net> wrote in message news:1112101118.722­604.286480@f14g2000c­wb.googlegroups.com.­..>>> I'm down in Hatteras right now and I realize that this Easter is the>>> earliest one in the last 15 years, but where is everyone? Is everyone>>> waiting for Windfest at the end of April? On Saturday the winds were>>> 20 (temp 57) ish and there were 8 kiters and 4 windsurfers. Yesterday>>> the winds were 30 ish (temp61) and there 14 windsurfers and 2 kiters.>>> Many of the windsurfers seem to kite when the wind really blows. I>>> remember just 5 years ago and I couldn't even get a parking spot after>>> 11am. I'm concerned that nobody is starting windsurfing and if they>>> are the type to enjoy the water they are kiting. I tried switching my>>> windsurfing location and everyone tried to convert me to kiteboarding.>>> Is it just a fad for windsurfers who don't like the bigger boards and>>> sails?>>> What is windsurfing's future?>>>


Add comment
Jeff McVannel 30 March 2005 04:23:22 permanent link ]
 Last weekend there were about 15 or so windsurfers out in Crescent City on a
real crummy storm wind with lots of rain and this isn't even a spot that
people think of as being a windsurf spot. People seem to keep showing up to
sail long since windsurfing was declared dead.
I remember mentioning to Dave Ezzy a few years ago when he was passing
through how many wavesailors have left for kites around here and I'll always
remember his reply. It was something like, "That's all right, the real core
will stay".
Jeff

"pacspeed" <alex@pacspeed.com>­ wrote in message
news:1112116012.234­692.25090@o13g2000cw­o.googlegroups.com..­.>
I'm afraid we'll never be more than a "boutique" sport....we may have> reached our maximum market penetration, and probably cant expect much> more growth. In a way, that will be a good thing, it will be driven by> a passion for the sport, and not pure revenue numbers. There is no> other way to explain why new companies (The Loft, Tabou, Varial, M&N)> keep popping up to try and claim a slice of a very small pie. If those> ventures were purely capitalistic, they wouldnt be in this industry.> But come to the Gorge in July, you wont be thinking this sport is> dead OR dying. So be careful what you wish for!>


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Brian 30 March 2005 17:03:48 permanent link ]
 
Some moster kites are available (28M+),> careful when that seabreeze turns on!> Same stuff as windsurfers really,> it's no fun,> the gear is too big and expensive,> I need to cut the grass....


The only reason I got into Formula gear and big sails is because the wind in
my area sucks in the summer. It was either go with large gear, or continue
to get angry while schlogging with a 7.5. Most of the sailors in my area top
out at 7-8.5m sails, so you don't see them out very often in the summer.
Those that won't go above wave boards and a 6.5 don't get out at all unless
there's a storm, or they want to do freestyle.

Brian


Add comment
Juri Munkki 30 March 2005 20:50:29 permanent link ]
 In article <4249DF1A.8182F86A@­mindspring.com> "sailquik (Roger Jackson)" <sailquik@mindsprin­g.com> writes:>I just love it when someone tells me they "converted" to kiting because>it works so much better in light winds. Yeah, right!

As far as planing is concerned, I don't think kites have the advantage.

But you need a lot less wind to start jumping (or climbing trees, as it
usually goes for kiters who come where I sail). I think most of the kiters
who rave about the light wind potential are the ones who don't think that
planing in a straight line is interesting. Back when they were windsurfing,
they only did it when there was enough wind to do tricks.

The really good kiters don't come to our beach because it tends to be
gusty there and there are trees all along the narrow shoreline. So the
usual story is that it's some beginner/intermedia­te who spends all day
trying to launch from the beach and then either ends up in a tree or
has to swim back while I'm happily planing all day only 500-1000 meters
further offshore where there's the wind is nice and steady.

Windsurfers outnumber kiters by about 30 to 1 there and it's quite
understandable too. There are very few good places for kiters to
launch in the Helsinki area and none of them are excellent.

One other thing is that at least I can slog back to shore if the wind
drops to around 3 knots or so. Kiters pretty much have to swim every
time the wind drops below their planing treshold. This means they can't
venture very far from shore and it also means they can't get to the most
windy places.

Our best "wave spot" is 4 km offshore... I have never seen kiters there, but
windsurfers can get there even with sinkers.
--
Juri Munkki - http://www.iki.fi/j­munkki - Windsurfing: Faster than the wind.
Add comment
Isobars 30 March 2005 20:58:19 permanent link ]
 I moved to solve that problem.

Mike \m/

"Brian" <CollisbaNOSPAMTHAN­KS@hotmail.com> wrote >>
The only reason I got into Formula gear and big sails is because the wind > in my area sucks in the summer. It was either go with large gear, or > continue to get angry while schlogging with a 7.5. Most of the sailors in > my area top out at 7-8.5m sails, so you don't see them out very often in > the summer. Those that won't go above wave boards and a 6.5 don't get out > at all unless there's a storm, or they want to do freestyle.


Add comment
Dan Weiss 30 March 2005 21:10:21 permanent link ]
 Brian: That's the reason I got into it, too. I was moving from New England
to not-so-windy Kentucky and wanted to sail. Once I obtained the large
sails and board, ooooooo daddy did I get time on the water.

To each his/her own, but this cutting the grass thing isn't my bag. If I
can plane, powered up, in under 10 knots, I call that windsurfing. It's
real windsurfing, and real fun. Used FW gear is about the bet value in
windsurfing. Most of it is in tip top condition and available at bargain
basement prices. Sure, I'd rather sail on smaller gear in more wind, but my
preferences don't magically convert a 12 knot day into a 25kt sideshore
experience. FW-type gear multiplies shortboarding opportunities for most
people. In fact, most FW sailors haven't cut their lawns in months!!

"Brian" <CollisbaNOSPAMTHAN­KS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3avma7F6dan3mU­1@individual.net...>­> Some moster kites are available (28M+),>> careful when that seabreeze turns on!>> Same stuff as windsurfers really,>> it's no fun,>> the gear is too big and expensive,>> I need to cut the grass....>
The only reason I got into Formula gear and big sails is because the wind > in my area sucks in the summer. It was either go with large gear, or > continue to get angry while schlogging with a 7.5. Most of the sailors in > my area top out at 7-8.5m sails, so you don't see them out very often in > the summer. Those that won't go above wave boards and a 6.5 don't get out > at all unless there's a storm, or they want to do freestyle.>
Brian>


Add comment
Ad. 31 March 2005 02:13:17 permanent link ]
 On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:10:21 -0500, Dan Weiss wrote:
To each his/her own, but this cutting the grass thing isn't my bag. If I> can plane, powered up, in under 10 knots, I call that windsurfing. It's> real windsurfing, and real fun. Used FW gear is about the bet value in> windsurfing. Most of it is in tip top condition and available at bargain> basement prices.

Hmmm expensive gear when new, but plenty of cheap 2nd hand stuff in good
condition available.

It almost sounds like not many others around there share your enthusiasm
for FW sailing Dan ;)

--
Cheers
Anton

Add comment
Craig Goudie 31 March 2005 03:08:20 permanent link ]
 Ummm, your conclusion may be erroneous, the typical reason there's lots of
cheap
FW stuff is an Arms Race issue not a boredom issue.

-Craig

"AD." wrote:
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:10:21 -0500, Dan Weiss wrote:>
To each his/her own, but this cutting the grass thing isn't my bag. If I> > can plane, powered up, in under 10 knots, I call that windsurfing. It's> > real windsurfing, and real fun. Used FW gear is about the bet value in> > windsurfing. Most of it is in tip top condition and available at bargain> > basement prices.>
Hmmm expensive gear when new, but plenty of cheap 2nd hand stuff in good> condition available.>
It almost sounds like not many others around there share your enthusiasm> for FW sailing Dan ;)>
--> Cheers> Anton

--
Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie
Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:
RRD 298, RRD TT and Cross M 8'2" with
Sailworks/Naish Sails and Rec Composites Fins
Sailing the Gorge on my: 9'1" RRD Freeride,
8'3" Logosz Squish, 8'0" Hitech IBM with
Sailworks/Northwave­ Sails and Curtis Fins


Add comment
Dan Weiss 31 March 2005 09:03:13 permanent link ]
 Hi Craig: FW is an arms race compared to what? Not racing?

FW was an answer to the expense of gearing up and traveling to race in open
class. That was amazingly expensive in comparison. Any sort of top level
racing tends to cost more than what the weekend sailor wants to pay. Even
one design racing forces the top sailors to buy a bunch of gear to find the
right combination among the small variations from sail to sail and mast to
mast.

There is no need to get a brand new FW board each year. This year's FW
champion raced on a board that was first placed into production three years
ago (Antoine Albeau on an AHD 98NT, a board I happen to like a lot). For
most of us citizen racers, it's far more important to know your gear inside
and out than to have the latest and greatest. Anyway, even with the latest
and greatest, a racer will go nowhere on the national level without doing
all the work necessary to find the right set of fins to match the rig and
board.

For what it's worth, I have a Nitro 2 with a 540 Fiberspar Reflex 6000 for
sale. $350 takes both. Now that's a bargain!

-Dan
"Craig (gsogh) Goudie" <gorttt@netzero.net­> wrote in message
news:424B3163.7E590­E01@netzero.net...> Ummm, your conclusion may be erroneous, the typical reason there's lots of> cheap> FW stuff is an Arms Race issue not a boredom issue.>
-Craig>
"AD." wrote:>
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:10:21 -0500, Dan Weiss wrote:>>
To each his/her own, but this cutting the grass thing isn't my bag. If >> > I>> > can plane, powered up, in under 10 knots, I call that windsurfing. >> > It's>> > real windsurfing, and real fun. Used FW gear is about the bet value in>> > windsurfing. Most of it is in tip top condition and available at >> > bargain>> > basement prices.>>
Hmmm expensive gear when new, but plenty of cheap 2nd hand stuff in good>> condition available.>>
It almost sounds like not many others around there share your enthusiasm>> for FW sailing Dan ;)>>
-->> Cheers>> Anton>
--> Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie> Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:> RRD 298, RRD TT and Cross M 8'2" with> Sailworks/Naish Sails and Rec Composites Fins> Sailing the Gorge on my: 9'1" RRD Freeride,> 8'3" Logosz Squish, 8'0" Hitech IBM with> Sailworks/Northwave­ Sails and Curtis Fins>


Add comment
Ad. 31 March 2005 09:39:45 permanent link ]
 On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 16:08:20 -0700, Craig (gsogh) Goudie wrote:
Ummm, your conclusion may be erroneous, the typical reason there's lots of> cheap> FW stuff is an Arms Race issue not a boredom issue.

Yeah, I know. I was just having a light hearted dig :)­

Around here though, FW sailing seems to be well in decline (just like
kiting - or maybe not, kiting never really took off here either). But we
are in a place that gets it's fair share of wind, and I suspect FW was
just too much like hard work here.

Personally, I've traded in all my light wind gear.

--
Cheers
Anton

Add comment
Cliff Frost 31 March 2005 22:07:09 permanent link ]
 AD. <me@privacy.net> wrote:
Around here though, FW sailing seems to be well in decline (just like

Where's "here"? It sure isn't in decline in the San Francisco area.

Thanks,
Cliff
Add comment
Ad. 1 April 2005 00:27:36 permanent link ]
 On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:07:09 +0000, Cliff Frost wrote:
AD. <me@privacy.net> wrote:>
Around here though, FW sailing seems to be well in decline (just like>
Where's "here"? It sure isn't in decline in the San Francisco area.

Wellington, New Zealand. It's almost a small version of SF (well at
least based on how I remember SF from 20yrs ago) in some ways - hills,
wind, architecture (in some ways), earthquakes, choppy harbour etc. It
probably just smaller, windier and hillier with no bridges.

I'm pretty sure the 'decline' thing is only a very localised phenomena,
and that FW sailing is no doubt the best thing to happen elsewhere. Winds
around 8-15kts here though seem to either die down unpredictably or kick
in properly at 20-25.

Even though we have next to no FW sailors, the one or two we still have
seem to have won the national titles for the last few years :)­

When you get just as much use from smaller gear the extra transportation,
rigging, tuning and carrying effort of the big stuff does make it seem
less fun overall (to me at least).

--
Cheers
Anton

Add comment
Cliff Frost 1 April 2005 02:56:04 permanent link ]
 Oooh. Wellington (and NZ in general) are high on my list of places
I want to visit in the next few years.
When you get just as much use from smaller gear the extra transportation,> rigging, tuning and carrying effort of the big stuff does make it seem> less fun overall (to me at least).

I completely agree with that paragraph. The main reason I took up
big gear is that from my most convenient launches I get a ton more
sailing with it. The reason I went with Formula big gear is that
there is a community of folks where I sail who are into it, so
there's a lot of support and fun to be had.

I logged ~70 days on the water in 2004. At least 2/3rds of that
time was on Formula gear. A few of those days I could have been
having fun on smaller gear but I was training for, or racing on
the big stuff.

So I at least double my sailing time by using Formula gear and it
is really a lot of fun. I'm never going to be competitive, but
I've had more fun this way than ever before (and I loved windsurfing
before).

(By the way, can you nudge Boogie about my fin? ;-)­

Thanks,
Cliff

AD. <me@privacy.net> wrote:> On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:07:09 +0000, Cliff Frost wrote:
AD. <me@privacy.net> wrote:>>
Around here though, FW sailing seems to be well in decline (just like>>
Where's "here"? It sure isn't in decline in the San Francisco area.
Wellington, New Zealand. It's almost a small version of SF (well at> least based on how I remember SF from 20yrs ago) in some ways - hills,> wind, architecture (in some ways), earthquakes, choppy harbour etc. It> probably just smaller, windier and hillier with no bridges.
...
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GYXU > Kites, widsurfing, waterski > Re: Is windsurfing old school? 30 March 2005 04:23:22

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