Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Wind Powered => Topic started by: surf4food on October 20, 2015, 03:15:40 PM
-
Somewhat at least? It seems I am hearing more about it these days. Perhaps a mixture of people realizing that kite boarding can be a bit dangerous and that a dropped kite is a PITA to deal with. Also maybe SUP has helped re-spark the interest?
-
Definitely! We had almost five people out last week on a strong NE.
-
This may help.. I hope to try one next week.
https://youtu.be/IB-xXiXhM1M
-
not here on cape cod. Kiting now seems more popular and the older gang windsurfs. Haven't seen anybody learning in a loooong time.
I am one of them (old guys) but windsurf now 4-5 times a year instead of 1000 miles I did 5 years ago.
I paddle more.
-
Kiteing is definitely more popular than windsurfing here in San Diego but it seems like in the past couple years I've seen the # of windsurfers grow, and that's despite the fact we no longer have any shops that sell windsurfing gear. Plus there are no American windsurfing mags anymore.
-
Until we see young windsurfers, I'm afraid it's still dying. The strong wind here drew a big crowd of windsurfers Sunday in the ocean. They equaled the number of kiters. Unfortunately the windsurfers were mostly old. Several women just ripping, and all between 60-70 years old. Very impressive.
Meanwhile, several women kiters were ripping all under 25 years old.
-
No.
Well, maybe among the COBOL set.
-
I used to have to drive 75 miles north or 100 miles south to get real wind. That's an over night trip with today's traffic. I loved it, but their was only a handful of us from my area. Hobie Cats were a blast too, but I saw one out this entire year.
-
Anyone in LA area wanna volunteer to take me out sometime? I've never sailed and think I should probably do it at least a couple of times.
Is there somewhere to take a lesson around here even?
-
Anyone in LA area wanna volunteer to take me out sometime? I've never sailed and think I should probably do it at least a couple of times.
Is there somewhere to take a lesson around here even?
You have heard of Captain Kirk's in San Pedro?
-
Also M&Ms windsurfing school in Long Beach. Oh and Long Beach windsurfing center.
-
Thanks man. I've never looked too hard but that'd make it easy. A session or two and then some craigslisting and I might be in business.
It'd be great to not be skunked when it blows over 10mph.
-
I still love windsurfing, or more precisely, wave sailing. Couple days ago I got a SUP session in the morning on the south side, and a windsurfing session in the afternoon on the north shore. But truth be told I would almost rather SUP than windsurf these days. It is just simpler. But I think windsurfing still has more adrenaline potential.
My observation is that among Americans it is a dying sport but I see lots of young people from other countries at Kanaha windsurfing. But I can see why it is diminishing - the learning curve is awful (for me at least it was) and it is very sensitive to the right gear - if the wind changes by 15-20% you have come in and re-rig, so you end up schlepping tons of stuff around with you. If you are young and short on play money, I imagine kiting would be a cheaper wind-powered sport to take up.
-
I loved it, but somehow I haven't done it in the past two years. Too much crap, even with a SUP sailer.
-
Funny this thread got posted today....I couldn't find anyone to shuttle with and the wind was cranking on the north shore of Maui so, for the first time in 2 years, I broke out my sailing gear and went to Kanaha.
Of course, all my shit belongs in a museum, it is all at least 15 years old. I rigged a 4.7, went out for one underpowered reach, came in, rigged a 5.2. Went back out, made 4 super fun, fully powered up reaches and managed to break 2 foot straps. Came back in. Left my gear rigged, jumped in the truck, went down Amala to the windsurf shop and bought 3 used foot straps. Came back to the beach and installed. Grabbed my harness and FINALLY, went back out. Got a solid hour of overpowered sailing. It ROCKED! Of course, the wind picked up so much that I was having a lot of spin outs and was sailing completely overpowered. I really should have gone in an rigged back down to the 4.7 again. SHEESH.
But, what a frustrating and equipment-intensive sport. No wonder I don't do it any more. I am going to try and keep it on my radar though. Near the end of my awesome sailing sesh, Jimmy Lewis and a few others paddled by on their way in from a downwinder. I have to admit, I would have rather been paddling than sailing but it was still a blast. The parking lot and beach crowd, me included, looked like the Shady Acres Rest Home bus had had a major escape. There were quite a few younger people sailing too but they all, every one of them under 45, had accents from countries all around the world, but not from the US.
-
If it was rifling down the line like this without a zillion guys out like Hookipa these days, then yeah it wouldn't even need a comeback. But I stopped sailing Hookipa about the time English stopped being spoken on the beach. This shot is not Hookipa but Hookipa gets this good once in awhile. I used to live for it. But now I just as soon paddle. No high G turns but lots of other thrills.
-
Takeaway from this thread. SUP is another nail in windsurfings coffin. 😂
-
Yesterday I took my mother to lunch to at the Hyannis Yacht Club on Cape Cod Cod. After lunch walking to the car I said "it seems pretty windy I wonder if anyone is Windsurfing at Kalmus Beach" which is just down the road. Kalmus is Cape Cod's most popular windsurfing spot and in the late nineties I spent some time windsurfing there and was an avid, avid windsurfer angling 24/7 to get it when it was good. At Kalmus the wind swell all the way across the bay off Great Island can get truly amazing and is an overall fun bump and jump destination.
Sure enough we pull into the Kalmus lot and there are several cars and trucks with gear and the conditions are solid 4.7 or better. I left my mom in the car and my dog Gus and I got out for a look. There were only 5 guys out and maybe 4 in the lot. It was sunny, warm and the sunshine was dancing on the water. Perfect.
I did not miss it. For me Windsurfing was lonely. I had parking lot friends and I was so driven to get out on the water and find the best wind and swell I forgot to build a community around it. When it all comes together Windsurfing was the best thing athletically and spiritually I have ever done but it was to fleeting.
15 years ago on a day like yesterday at Kalmus in mid October with 30mph winds, 60 degree temps and blue sky there would would have been 30 to 50 people there. Yesterday there were 8 to 10. I don't think Windsurfing is making a comeback.
-
Hmmm I guess based on the replies here the answer is no. I was just curious because like I said, I seem to be seeing a small increase where I live, but not a lot and certainly not like 20 years ago. Then again, San Diego is light wind and was never really a windsurfing capital to begin with. Kiteboarders far out # windsurfers as they can tear it up more in lighter winds. Also I seem to be hearing more about it lately and if you check out the PWA's website there seems to be a fresh crop of young new talent that ironically are from poorer countries. Also a few veteran pros are claiming it's on its way back but that could just be wishful thinking. Personally I have no stake. I took a few lessons in the early 90's and for a short while I would go rent some gear for the day. I don't have the money or room to store all the equipment and can see the logistics being a buzz kill. Kiteboarding at least requires much less storage room and is a tad less expensive.
-
Certainly not dead for me.....sailed yesterday.
Amusing to have so many friends who moved to Maui...and are now farmers or whatnot, and still maybe have some crap lying around....all covered in red-dirt, or circa 1990.
SUP owes so much to windsurfing...The vision that the equipment would evolve, the knowledge that the sport would boom, the idea that you need to work on techinques and skill sets (Helicopter = Forward loop)...carbon fiber, the Naish, JP, Jimmy Lewis, Foote shapers/makers The Lairds/Kalamas. The Maui culture...Lennys/Scweitzers/Baxters.....These are "our" offspring
Didn't die for me, because I've kept it simple....I have one (ok two) Go-to rigs....super light and clean stuff...downhaul and outhaul are set.
I don't fumble thru boxes/pails/bags/garages looking for u-joints or harness lines. Rigging time under 7 min when not rushed.
I still love the weightlessness and flying...I stll love the acceleration on a wave, and the boost at the top....the glide and the tweeks
We....the fist gen windsurfers are not young...I don't like getting all yanked with a 3.7 anymore....but there are a lot (enough anyway) 20 year olds who are RIPPING it apart in unfathomable ways
-
Windsurfing does seem to have new energy, new participants and old participants reinvigorated.
Kiting is rad but is no longer the new thing. Windsurfing is just too fun. There is no need to choose and long term both will survive and pulse in popularity. When the conditions are right there is nothing like the freedom of sailing.
Foiling may also add new interest. That is getting really intriguing and has great SUP crossover.
-
Interesting post NEPlay. I windsurfed the Gorge for twenty years starting in the 80's, and when I moved here I recognized a lot of people, but didn't know any names. And no one knew me. I've met huge numbers of people in SUP, but only one or two windsurfing--mostly people I drove with, trekking from Portland to the Gorge. My compulsion to windsurf also reduced my interaction in Portland--I spent every scrap of free time chasing wind. It is a lonely sport. Not a big deal for me, I play well by myself anyway, but it's certainly true.
-
Outcast - you have me thinking about the how the names stay the same, jp, starboard, Naish. I have a picture of Robby Naish signing my wetsuit in 1997 at Kalmus with the biggest shitting eating grin on my face. I am going to dig that picture up scan it and post it here. I think those names mentioned have certainly made money on windsurfing and now sup but i think it is because they lived a truly authentic waterman/beach lifestyle and so are in position when the next thing comes along. The owner of the only Cape retailer of Windsurfing product( not even on the Cape actually -Sailworld in Bourne) told me that his business is solid, smaller pond, less fish, and less competition for those fish. He sells at full retail, gives the best service and his customers love him.
-
I think I get that about you Pono but I play to well by myself and that becomes no good. I gave up Windsurfing for road biking and it is super social. Suping reminds me much more of road biking then windsurfing. However I would have liked to have spent a summer in prime on my JP 83 liter board schralping the shit out of the Gorge. Next summer I am flying our for 3 for 4 days of downwinders.
-
Not making much of a comeback. Probably still in decline overall, despite a few bright spots.
Odds are against windsurfing because its "niche" is squeezed at both ends. Kiting has taken over the extreme sport end by making it easier to go fast, jump high, and look cool. SUP has taken over the mellow end with its greater convenience and simplicity (don't need to wait for wind or waves to get a worthy sesh).
It's still a delightful and wonderful sport with some advantages over both kiting and sup. (Like, yesterday and the day before I windsurfed in gusty offshore winds that I couldn't have kited in.) But few people are going through the long learning process to discover the windsurfing joys. Maybe it's just a faster paced world with too many other toys and tools and distractions for people to bother with something that requires a lot of patience and equipment.
I think maybe the best hope for windsurfing growth is in the sailing / racing side. The Kona ONE design class seems to provide very good, accessible, fair windsurf racing where "pumping" the sail is not allowed.
http://www.konaone.com/
-
Interestingly, we have quite an active windsurfing community here. It revolves around our local club on a Lake Ontario beach just a few minutes drive from downtown Toronto. Our club has almost 400 members. It's been around for decades- mostly as a windsurfing club, but over the past 5 years, a steady stream of SUP members have joined. I joined as a windsurfer back in 1995. Now I head up the SUP activities here and haven't windsurfed in 3 years, although I still can't bring myself to sell my Fanatic Megacat and 8.5 Pryde V8 - I've sold all my shortboards though. We have storage for a few hundred boards and now almost a third of them are for SUPs.
As for windsurfing, we still have weekly Wednesday night races as well as several larger races during the year including our flagship race which attracted 64 windsurf racers last month. We have a Youth windsurfing camp that runs all summer and attracts a lot of kids. We've trained our own young instructors to run the camps. We also have a very active Learn to Windsurf program that brings in a lot of 25-35 year olds during the summer. Unlike SUP lessons, most of them return for at least 4 2 hour sessions. A few national level windsurfers have been developed at our Club. We just posted an article on Olivia, who's now training full time for the 2016 Olympics:
(http://twsc.ca/images/news/cork20151.jpg)
More info on our club at : www.twsc.ca (http://www.twsc.ca)
Interestingly, there's usually more social interaction on the beach between the windsurfers at our club than the SUPers. The windsurfers hang around waiting for wind, rigging their gear, talking about what sail/fin/board they're planning to use, etc. The SUPers just show up and get on the water. We do host a weekly SUP race series during the summer which is a great time for the SUPers to get together: https://www.facebook.com/torontosupseries (https://www.facebook.com/torontosupseries). We also host 2 larger SUP races during the year.
So windsurfing's definitely not dying in Toronto.
-
Windsurfing search interest definitely had dropped a lot but that has pretty well evened off. Now it is moving right along with its sister sport.
-
gave away all my gear years ago in favor of proning, then hip got too bad to pop up, and4 years ago sup.
i do not relotely miss the gear snafu and wind chase (often to no wind here in NE)--could be forecasting is better these days, but i wasted anniying amts of time driving, waiting, rigging, de-rigging, de-rigging, etc. seems forecasting waves and wind direction is easier than predicting good wind speed.
about 10 years ago, i sailed for 3 days at lake arenal and had a blast. the equipment was so much better than that id used in the 80's and 90's--easier to do all: waterstart, quick pump to plane, easy steering through jibes. i can enjoy WS that way--in a place with consistent wind and good gear waterside, rigged and ready to go. (oh and with a massage tent nearby to knead old tired forearms and shoulders and necks!) but i dont have it in me to deal with all that gear any more
at sandy hook, when it blows these days, there are 50/50 WS's to kites--in the 90's there would twice the number of both
-
poor phrasing--in 90's it would be all WS's, but there'd be twice the number as those both WSing and kiting one a good day these days
-
I don't think that windsurfing is making a comeback...that would mean growth...
It was primarily a baby boomer sport...and, some of that got handed down to their kids...however, most younger people...millennials, Gen-Xers...etc...don't necessarily have the time, money, conditions, or attention span to become accomplished at it...
Windsurfing is still fun and it's a blast when you are in good conditions...wave sailing even more...overhead, side off, down the line...the stuff dreams are made of...but, very elusive...
I still love doing it when it comes to me...and, I rigged up a number of times this year and exercised the boom grippers...but, I don't chase it...like I did for several decades...
I do think that windSUPs have helped to slow the decline...keeping the stoke alive in windsurf participants by expanding the light air sailable range for folks without having to go to kites, or very technical and expensive Formula type boards and rigs...etc...
We've built Hammer windSUP's for clients on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, & West Coast...all for longtime windsurfers who crossover to SUP...not for a newbie or never-ever wanting to get into it...but, IMO a windSUP is a very good teaching tool that could be used to grow the sport again...
https://youtu.be/eY0CVCSmKYY
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2015/04/hammer-windsup-2.html
-
I don't think that windsurfing is making a comeback...that would mean growth...
It was primarily a baby boomer sport...and, some of that got handed down to their kids...however, most younger people...millennials, Gen-Xers...etc...don't necessarily have the time, money, conditions, or attention span to become accomplished at it...
Windsurfing is still fun and it's a blast when you are in good conditions...wave sailing even more...overhead, side off, down the line...the stuff dreams are made of...but, very elusive...
I still love doing it when it comes to me...and, I rigged up a number of times this year and exercised the boom grippers...but, I don't chase it...like I did for several decades...
I do think that windSUPs have helped to slow the decline...keeping the stoke alive in windsurf participants by expanding the light air sailable range for folks without having to go to kites, or very technical and expensive Formula type boards and rigs...etc...
We've built Hammer windSUP's for clients on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, & West Coast...all for longtime windsurfers who crossover to SUP...not for a newbie or never-ever wanting to get into it...but, IMO a windSUP is a very good teaching tool that could be used to grow the sport again...
https://youtu.be/eY0CVCSmKYY
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2015/04/hammer-windsup-2.html
SUP sports nailed it with one word, illusive. The thing about DW paddling is that it's so consistent, at least here on Maui and then before you know it, there's surf. Windsurfing had to put surf and wind together which is a tall order and not consistent at all. Sailing without waves is a snore.
-
Sailing without waves is a snore.
+1 to that!
And wave sailing wind swell is just not the same as a ground swell.
-
We used to call the cruising days in HR 'mowing the lawn', back and forth, back and forth (cruising in the Gorge is a 4.5 or bigger sail day, ripping in most places, ho hum there). When it gets windier, the swell starts to get a LOT more fun, even in the Gorge.
I wouldn't have even thought of going yesterday but I had to get on the water and without a shuttle, sailing was a nice change. It's interesting to observe the water characteristics, even on a day that was practically flat, as you cross the different parts of the reef. The reef at Kanaha does some really bizzaro things to the water. The 'weird wave' was jacking up to maybe a 4 foot face when it broke so it was a very mellow day. But the whole surface would change as soon as you made it out the pass in the reef between the wave and where we surf. Pretty cool. Just checking out the weird wave is pretty interesting. The ocean is a mystery to me.
Even trying to go windsurf casually requires the right gear and the overlap for changing conditions is still small. You have to have a car full of stuff and be willing and able to read the conditions and make changes to your gear, sometimes multiple times in even a short window. I find that extremely frustrating. There was a time when I didn't but it that was long before downwind paddling was an actual sport.
With paddling downwind, you take your board, paddle and leash and you go. Sometimes it's epic and sometimes it's work but you get a great workout and you aren't fiddling with gear for your entire session. Same with sup surfing.
I don't know what was going on back in the 80's and early 90's when windsurfing was at it's peak but I remember building my life around it. I used to sail so hard that I was glad when Monday came and I could recuperate at work. It's hard to imagine all that energy and stoke for what was then a relatively new sport that was quickly evolving ever happening again. I don't think it will ever die but I don't think w/s will ever see growth again.
-
Yeah...both illusive and elusive...;-)
One of the problems with WS is that once you get a taste of world class conditions, everything else kinda pales in comparison...
Not sailing regularly makes it more difficult to keep your boom grippers in condition for sailing unhooked on the wave face when wave and wind conditions do combine...and, you don't want rusty skill sets for when one of those truly epic days comes along...so visualizing epic conditions makes it easier to do a little BAFing (back & forthing) now and again...;-)
-
Looks like big gnarly Jalama.
I like that, 'boom grippers'. I was so damn rusty after 2 years without sailing that I only hit 30% of my jibes. Although, as my session went on, I was starting to get the feel of the board I was riding and my jibes began to improve but they were still PATHETIC. I wouldn't even think of wave sailing until I was feeling strong and solid again. And yeah, it's a good feeling when the boom grippers can handle extended unhooked periods. Otherwise it's a no-go.
Thanks for those awesome pics, you got some serious skillz!
-
My van still looks like this on a regular basis. The key to windsurfing is keeping it simple. I load up one board and a couple of sails and I'm off. Being elusive hadn't slowed me down, in fact the chase is half the fun. I like checking all my weather sites over and over, checking beach cams and as soon as I can im off to the beach. Windsurf when it's windy, surf when it's not. Got the kids up a few times this summer and there was tons of interest on the beach, maybe a good sign.
-
Unfortunately my experience yesterday illustrates why windsurfing is not as attractive as it once was to me, and many other former addicts. I just returned to Santa Monica from my summer home in the Gorge a few days ago, and have been jonesing to get into the water, especially since it is supposed to be so much warmer than usual due to El Nino. I loaded my van with all the necessary gear for windsurf or SUP (not downwind, since those conditions are not available locally, neither are there any shuttle partners). My first choice would have been to surf one of my SUP boards, but surf was not great in north LA. I drove to Secos, then County Line to check it out (about an hour drive up PCH from my house). Sure enough, it was kind of windy, and County even had it's typical grinding beach break, and there were two windsurfers and many more kiters already out! I saw several of my old windsurf buddies on the beach and we started rigging up. By the time I finished rigging (it always takes longer after I haven't done it for a while, I don't remember which extension goes with which sail and mast, what the settings are, etc.) the wind appeared to be dying! The last thing I want is to go out at County, underpowered, and get worked in the shore pound. I de-rigged without ever going out, and drove back to Secos. In the meantime, several of my friends had gone sailing there, but since the wind direction caused a huge wind shadow on the inside, they all stayed way outside, just mowing the lawn. And there was no assurance that it wouldn't shut down by the time I got rigged again. I chose not to bother re-rigging under those condions, and wound up driving home without ever getting wet.
On the other hand, places where the wind is strong and dependable (the Gorge) are still fun to sail, and I still go out at the Hatchery or Doug's when the mood strikes me.
-
Sounds like a glass half full or empty conversation.
Anyway from where I sit I'm seeing signs of a comeback of sorts. Examples like being in Hood River this summer and needing a paddle. Went over to Big Winds and my wife was working with a young teen from Colorado working there for the summer. She asked her if kiting was her sport. Nope, she was into freestyle windsurfing. Friends in SF send some video of what the kids did this summer. Windsurfing was part of the summer fun. Thirty something friend who we paddle with wants to learn how to windsurf. A friend of ours recently dusted off his harness and joined the AWT this year. He has a very good chance of winning his division. He couldn't be happier. Oh, and all the young SUP stars on Maui, they all windsurf. Lots of young kids doing some unbelievable freestyle moves who are transforming the sport. Yea and there are more then a few blue hair's out there still windsurfing. But they sure as shit would not be doing it if they weren't still having fun. And there are more then a few former windsurfers who switched to kiting who are switching back. There are still plenty of places to buy and rent windsurfing gear and the SUP production companies who also sell windsurfing boards still have plenty of offerings of SUP boards with mast attachments.
Certainly it's true that it requires the conditions to be ripe but that holds true for surfing and downwinding. (Maui is unique and almost can't be used as an example.) I need the diversity if I want to have any fun on the water where I live. So I match the gear to the conditions. That's why I love SUP and windsurfing. Waves or no waves, wind or no wind. Wind direction, swell direction it just doesn't matter. Between my SUP and windsurfing gear I have something to get my "glide" on any given day.
I think the comeback is there you just have to look a little closer to see it.
Oh, and if you take forever to rig try marking all your gear. I have a friend who can rig and be on the water before I get out of the car. Todays sails and RDM masts make rigging a 5 min job but only if you have your booms and extensions marked for each sail.
-
One possible comeback path could be what brought me back to windsurfing.
I dropped windsurfing stone cold in 1999 for kiting. I kited so much, for so long, I finally got bored with it. Kiting to me, is mowing the lawn. You can only jump and spin so many times, before it turns boring. Kiting with a surfboard even started to feel like lame surfing.
When I came back to windsurfing, the stoke for it returned to 1980s level.
Maybe in a few more years, the early kiters will get bored.
-
I think that from both a growth and decline point of few, windsurfing has leveled out nicely. It has lost the novelty appeal that attracted the masses, and now just has the core who love the wind and waves. Like skiing and snowboarding, initially there was a cross of windsurfer/skiers to kiting/snowboarding, but both those trends have leveled out with a few crossovers going back and forth.
If windsurfing were dead, I sure wish someone would have told the 50 sailors that I counted sharing the Lower Kanaha wave with me the other day ::)
I think that there is no question that the sport has become more limited in terms of where people will maintain an interest in it. I don't think that there is as much windsurfing in light wind areas anymore, but then there is not much snow skiing in Kansas either. The gear has always been an issue, but less now today than it used to be. In fact I just got a new 76 liter waveboard last week that planes quicker than my old 84 liter, is faster than my old slalom board, and rips on the waves. In fact, I have to stop typing right now so I can hurry down to the beach to get back out on it. The stoke still lives for many of us.
-
Interestingly, Illinois has an active scene. http://www.windsurfillinois.com/
-
Starman, as for all the blue hairs enjoying windsurfing, I was really impressed. I've noticed this at Kanaha before when I've sailed there but there are quite a few people in their 70's out there shredding. It is awesome!
I just replaced my mast base tendons and my harness lines this morning after realizing how tired my gear is looking. My old F2 Maui Wave Project is 8'5"/84 liters (I think) but I really want to try something newer. I only bought this board to have something for days that required bigger sails in the Gorge and I haven't sailed it more than a few times (I've had it at least 8 or 9 years, bought used in Hood River). I never could jibe it well and I could shred jibes on my little 7'8" glass Cascade. I think the board may be one reason I'm not so stoked about sailing. Trouble is, I have no idea what to get for a good all rounder that would handle 4.2 to 5.7 sail sizes. I'm sure with some research, I can get some ideas.
I had a blast going out yesterday and want to go again, it's time to get that old sailing gear wet on a more regular basis. That said, I don't think there is much danger of windsurfing competing with downwind paddling much for me. But I'm still going to try and resurrect my interest in it anyway.
-
SUP sailing is way more fun for me than performance windsurfing.
And yes, all the young SUP guns in Maui are superb windsurfers, likewise the Gorge. Fiona Wylde is an amazing windsurfer, which you might expect since she's been windsurfing in the world's best conditions since she was conceived. I don't think we get to count Maui and Hood River though as being indicative of a trend. The two primary bucket list spots for every windsurfer on earth are probably not representative.
-
The Hudson crowd of windsurfers is very loyal to their sport. On the other hand, they seem to be getting grayer.
-
Yesterday I took my mother to lunch to at the Hyannis Yacht Club on Cape Cod Cod. After lunch walking to the car I said "it seems pretty windy I wonder if anyone is Windsurfing at Kalmus Beach" which is just down the road. Kalmus is Cape Cod's most popular windsurfing spot and in the late nineties I spent some time windsurfing there and was an avid, avid windsurfer angling 24/7 to get it when it was good. At Kalmus the wind swell all the way across the bay off Great Island can get truly amazing and is an overall fun bump and jump destination.
Sure enough we pull into the Kalmus lot and there are several cars and trucks with gear and the conditions are solid 4.7 or better. I left my mom in the car and my dog Gus and I got out for a look. There were only 5 guys out and maybe 4 in the lot. It was sunny, warm and the sunshine was dancing on the water. Perfect.
I did not miss it. For me Windsurfing was lonely. I had parking lot friends and I was so driven to get out on the water and find the best wind and swell I forgot to build a community around it. When it all comes together Windsurfing was the best thing athletically and spiritually I have ever done but it was to fleeting.
15 years ago on a day like yesterday at Kalmus in mid October with 30mph winds, 60 degree temps and blue sky there would would have been 30 to 50 people there. Yesterday there were 8 to 10. I don't think Windsurfing is making a comeback.
Good to hear you Marta, I remember sailing with you in cape cod bay maybe a year after you started (takes most folks years to get there). Too bad you quit, you had a lot of talent.
I end up sailing alone a fair amount, but there is a solid crew in RI and on the Cape that will show up at the right beach when conditions are lined up. I use the Sealion on many days, that has saved the sport for me, so get out in the waves quite a bit with Kiters and Sup's. I love the paddle surf, but when the wind hits 10-15 I would rather sail if the direction is good.
Windsup has the potential to cause some resurgence, Having a simple kit where you can sail or paddle is great. Being able to take a day off when there are waves forecast, wind or not, is guaranteed fun. No standing around on the beach complaining about lack of wind or too much wind.
Two days ago was windy so still stoked (see the pic). We had 3 windsurfers out at any given time span, Total kiters vs windsurfers for the day was about tied.
To answer the original question, I think windsurfing decline is stopped and now on a plateau.
Jay
-
Guys
In my area here in NJ the past 2 seasons ('14 & '15) windsurfing sales have improved 12% & 22% and counting here . It took a slight hit in the beginning of SUP but definitely never went away.
Here in NJ kiting has seen a definite decrease both in sales (seems we'll see a slight bump in kite sales this season but that is probably due to replacement sales rather than NEW sales) and participation Although the "kiters" say that more have moved to the ocean but in talking to the heads of various beach patrol they say they see very FEW Kiters
but who knows we maybe an anomoly
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
I do miss the throttle. Every spring I look though CL for someone dumping their rigs cheap. I still have a bunch of old booms and sails. I don't know if my old 90's glass mast would even hold up? Two of my sups are set-up for a mast foot. All the components are there for some basic sailing. Like laszlo said, conditions for wave sailing are rare around here. It would be fun to have an option when the wind comes up.
-
I really hate mowing the lawn. There has to be something going on in the water for me to have fun. In the gorge it's bump and jump all the time. But when conditions are great for windsurfing, they're great for downwinding, which always wins. When I used to sail in Maui I loved the bumpy days at Kanaha. Upper Kanaha is like mountain hiking sometimes, except the deep passes are trying to run you over. I never spent enough time in Maui back then to feel comfortable at Hookipa. Every time I tried it I would end up coming in Kuau and doing the walk of shame. Never really figured out the skinny Kuau channel either, so I littered the bottom with fins.
I'm not even sure why, but I'd rather do a downwinder than almost anything else--though a good day of surfing is at least a tie and might be the ultimate winner.
-
I'm not even sure why, but I'd rather do a downwinder than almost anything else--though a good day of surfing is at least a tie and might be the ultimate winner.
I kinda think it may be related to your age. I'm willing to bet that if there was a pill you could take that let's you be 25 with sick skills for a day you would opt to be doing this instead of trying to catch a few bumps on the outside;
http://goyawindsurfing.com/marcilio-browne-hookipa-2015/
-
If my own interest is any indicator, I actually went again yesterday making it the first 2 days in a row of sailing for me in probably at least 5 or 6 years. Today and last night, new muscles are waking up. Good feeling.
I didn't even get down to Kanaha until almost 4 but it seems like the wind has really come up then the last couple days. I had replaced my harness lines, mast foot tendon and foot straps after my first session on Tuesday so I had some confidence in my gear. I also put on a nice, big fin that I had stashed away and moved it back so that the leading edge was under my rear footstrap's back screw. Worked awesomely! Only a couple of spin outs with quick recoveries - I sailed overpowered again - I do not like schlogging out in the ocean. I even managed to start making about 50% of my jibes, although they were still a horrible sight, I'm sure. Everything went smoother yesterday, however. I got rigged very quickly, got my harness line positions figured out in the first 5 minutes and experienced virtually no frustration. Hallelujah!
A swell was building and it would go from flat (with about 2 foot surface chop) to a ground swell of big, head-high, fat Kanaha rollers, when sets came through, all the way to the channel between uppers and lowers. Those are the kind of conditions I have been caught inside on before when I've been standup surfing there. How cool it was to be blasting out over a set at 20 mph! I happened to hit it perfectly going out near the end of my session - nice big set, maybe 5 or 6 waves, made it over, even caught some air off the last wave. Actually hit my outside jibe, came screaming back in and caught a really nice big swell before it started to break. That brief few seconds of powering into that swell and shooting across the face was ultimate adrenaline. The opposite of lawn mowing! Unfortunately, it was getting late and the next few reaches there was nothing. I started to get concerned the wind would die on the outside or, worse, when a set finally showed up again so, after some practice jibes on the bumpy water in the lagoon, I ended my session at a little after 5. I don't care if I spend a few more sessions lawn mowing until my timing returns and I start getting my confidence back. It's surprising to me that, except for my jibes, everything else feels really good, almost like I'd never stopped sailing. I'm pretty sure the jibes will come along eventually, if I just try to get out there again.
I think windsurfing is going to make a comeback for me. I used to do it in the Gorge, sometimes before or after a downwind paddle so I know it can be done. I know there are guys from Seattle that come down to the Gorge and do pretty much a 50/50 split between downwind paddling and sailing. They're older guys too. I got hooked on this sport before I was 30 and I'm getting too close to 60 now, I remember sometimes wondering if I'd still be able to do it when I was older.... I need to keep going, it's all about having it become more of a priority so that I give it consideration when the conditions offer some fun.
-
I haven't seen any come back either in Maine or in the Caribbean where I windsurf. I sail alone, always. I've seen a few kiters but they are mainly south of me in the Tobago Cays.
Funny thing about Maine, in our town there is a place called "Windsurfing Beach" at Ft. Foster..in the 8 years I have had a home there not once have I seen a windsurfer.
when I was heavy into windsurfing I used to pray for wind, now I pray for calm so I can SUP
-
grainy Christmas vide from some years ago...wind surfing conditions below my house on Bequia..typical trade winds and perfect sailing conditions. These conditions are pretty much how it is all winter..many days it's too windy.
The channel can have mast high swells and some fun surf on the reef on the beach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rijk8JhABg
I still sail here a lot as my gear is rigged and ready below, but I find myself wave SUPing or on down winders these days
-
I think windsurfing is going to make a comeback for me.
Cool. I will keep my eye out for an F2 with brand new foot straps and say hi. :)
-
covesurfer, glad you have caught the windsurfing bug again. For me, I have to say that not too many things in life can match catching a logo high wave on a 76 liter board with a 5.0 sail; I like to describe it as surfing with an afterburner. (The only things that I have found to match a great day of wavesailing is surfing a fast hollow glassy wave, and heli-skiing in Canada in neck deep powder down through steep trees with lots of air drops.)
Since there are a few videos being shared, I going to attach one of my favorites; an old one of Matt and Kevin Pritchard down at Punta San Carlos. Small waves, but add the power of a sail and it doubles the effective size of the waves. I love the shots of the two brothers figure 8'ing turns down the wave. Sorry about the audio, this used to have a nice soundtrack with it:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSmnAcgOgBs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSmnAcgOgBs)
If anyone ever wants to blend a trip of SUP in the morning and easy wavesailing in the afternoon, San Carlos is tough to beat, though I recommend taking a 4/5 wetsuit and warm clothes for the evenings. Solosports makes it easy to fly in now and let them take care of the tents and equipment. (no, I don't work for them, but I did have an awesome trip down there for my 60th birthday a few years ago.)
-
I think windsurfing is going to make a comeback for me.
Cool. I will keep my eye out for an F2 with brand new foot straps and say hi. :)
Hahaha! Yep, with turquoise Northwave sails. Throwback gear from my previous life in the cold PNW.
I went over to Kihei side today and only sailed about 1/2 hour because, although it was really good when it was blowing (I was screaming on a 4.7), there were ginormous holes. I still had fun but I was glad I'd spent most of the day doing more productive stuff since I had such a short session. I was just waiting for it to shut off - it didn't, even when I was de-rigging, but the holes were pretty bad at times. The good part was that I felt better today than the previous days and my jibes started to come back. It's going to take some mileage but you don't really forget what you learned - muscle memory is real. The body is an amazing thing.
Nalu, cool vid. I have a ways to go before I'll be slashing and burning on waves. The consequences of crashing and getting caught inside with all that gear give me a lot of pause and make my wallet-operating muscles twitch. That said, I'm still pretty stoked about the possibilities for sailing in waves but I'll probably be nibbling rather than biting off surf in big chunks.
-
covesurfer, glad you have caught the windsurfing bug again. (The only things that I have found to match a great day of wavesailing is surfing a fast hollow glassy wave, and heli-skiing in Canada in neck deep powder down through steep trees with lots of air drops.)
Since there are a few videos being shared, I going to attach one of my favorites; an old one of Matt and Kevin Pritchard down at Punta San Carlos. Small waves, but add the power of a sail and it doubles the effective size of the waves. I love the shots of the two brothers figure 8'ing turns down the wave. Sorry about the audio, this used to have a nice soundtrack with it: If anyone ever wants to blend a trip of SUP in the morning and easy wavesailing in the afternoon, San Carlos is tough to beat, though I recommend taking a 4/5 wetsuit and warm clothes for the evenings.... I did have an awesome trip down there for my 60th birthday a few years ago.)
"Since there are a few videos being shared"
Alrighty then...I've wavesailed quite a bit with Cali boy world champs Matt & Kevin (KP) Pritchard over the years...so cool to watch these guys grow up...
Matt married a local SB gal...so, we see him from time to time...kids and all...
Here's some shots of KP riding one of my my fin designs...always inspiring...
http://surfingsports.com/cali_kp/index.html
A quick vid edit of some vid footage that my wifey captured & I had in the can from 15+ years ago...not the best stuff I have by far...but, it was already A/D captured on a HD...opening sequences was when I was just learning to loop...also, early on the adoptive curve of trifin sailing wave boards and fin development...
https://youtu.be/RSAfeS2D_5Y
Seems like more than a few wind fiends 'round here...got any mere mortal footage of yourselves?
Post it up...& stoke the fire...whatcha got?!?!
-
As long as we are on the SUP zone, Two Windsupn on my Sealion XL 150L.
Group shot on a real windsurf day.
All taken in RI this fall.
Cheers, JP
-
Cool...WS is a great tool to have in your arsenal of watersports...thanks for sharing...
My latest sailing sesh was a windSUP sesh a couple of weeks ago on my 148 liter 8'11" Hammer just to keep my boom grippers in condition...
This blog post was a better sesh earlier this year...the vid clip was filmed from 3 different POV angles...
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2015/04/hammer-windsup-2.html
A few pics below of a powered up 5.0m2 day, in the footstraps, the day before the above sesh in April...I love powered up 5.0m2 days...
Bottom composite frame grabs from the vid clip I posted yesterday...everything happens so fast in wavesailing that it almost necessitates freeze frame...;-)
One of the appealing things about SUP...it lets you slow down and smell the roses...;-)
-
Looks like wave sailing without foot straps. I guess the difference is most windsurfing boards barely float you while SUP surf boards tend to be very floaty. But I would worry that a SUP board has the strength and rigidity to handle the forces of a fully loaded sail.
Fun looking pix.
-
Looks like wave sailing without foot straps. I guess the difference is most windsurfing boards barely float you while SUP surf boards tend to be very floaty. But I would worry that a SUP board has the strength and rigidity to handle the forces of a fully loaded sail.
Fun looking pix.
I agree in that I'm not sure I would want to put a sail on a really nice lightweight custom SUP. Forces when you are sailing is one thing, but when a wave blows up and dashes your rig and tumbles your board, that's a lot of abuse.
The Sealions are made for sailing in waves. Something like 60% windsurf / 40% paddle. Some day I need to try SUP surfing some other boards to see what I am missing. I really don't know any better at this point. I might add a 135L 8'3 Sealion to my quiver next year. Those hammer boards look a good way to go as well.
JP
-
The Dog is right on for the ideal sail for this kind of stuff. No surprise there. The Maui Hot Sails Superfreak is ideal for boards that are slow to plane--or never do. I don't think I have any other sails remaining, other than maybe an old triradial moldering in a pile somewhere. Cadillac big power push instead of the bang, bang of mylar. I know it sounds geezerish, but I much prefer sailing SUPS, mostly for the old school feel. I've had mine out in some pretty sketchy conditions and never broke anything other than a boom. Oh, and a universal, but who counts those.
(http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=28508.0;attach=66730;image)
-
Holy crap, is that PONO!? We gotta go sailing this winter!
Love the vids and pics. No conditions for w/s the past few days but got a downwind run in my one-man and another few sup-surf sessions with glassy conditions but small kine waves. I'll take it anyway.
Thanks for helping feed the stoke with these posts!
-
No, that's probably wardog. I can still jump, but I can't land.
This is me, ripping it up on lake michigan in 2007 on the Starboard 12'6" I gave to Bob and a 9.0 Superfreak with a Hokusai "Great Wave" panel. Probably blowing chree to fi'. Praying to make it back to land.
(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rippin.jpg)
-
We probably do not want to use this clip to attract younger people into the sport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk9SYy5RRkM
-
Wave Sailing on a SUP has rejuvenated a bunch of old time windsurfers here.
I can say however that throwing a mast track on a SUP doesn't mean it will perform
It take serious designs to both paddle well, SUPsurf well, and SUPsail well too.
I know what works and I'm NOT getting into what doesn't
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
i that "lawn mowing", bill? gon take a while given mow-speed and the apparent significant acreage!
-
i that "lawn mowing", bill? gon take a while given mow-speed and the apparent significant acreage!
I call that holding up the laundry to dry...;-)
I love wavesailing...but, aerials are fun as well...the Freaks do behave themselves in the air...but, they are known for luffability...and, durability...
-
The Dog is right on for the ideal sail for this kind of stuff. No surprise there. The Maui Hot Sails Superfreak is ideal for boards that are slow to plane--or never do.
(http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=28508.0;attach=66730;image)
Also ideal when it blows over 50mph on boards with fins that are designed to be controllable...cuz they "breathe"...flex = twist...;-)
http://surfingsports.com/wardog_fin_designs.asp
-
i that "lawn mowing", bill? gon take a while given mow-speed and the apparent significant acreage!
Slow mow for sure. Just goes to show the the extremes a junkie will go to. I had to pump the thing all the way back to the beach. Should have brought a paddle.
-
More signs of a comeback, Windsurfing Now is a new print magazine for North America. I liked the link to this video from Robbie Swift;
https://www.windsurfingnowmag.com/robby-maui-favorites-2015/
-
Not what I would call a sign of a comeback...unless you are talking about going from zero windsurfing mags in North America, temporarily, back to one...;-)
I think that mag just took Windsport's place...Pete DeKay was the guy behind Windsport...now Windsurfing Now is his baby...best wishes...
Windsport website hasn't had new news since January...their Facebook even longer...their Instagram link is kaput...etc...I haven't seen an issue in awhile...they shipped them to us for the shop from Canada for "free"...
The biggest publication in the US, Windsurfing Magazine went away at the end of 2011...never to return...it was propped up for years by the other 35 mags in the Bonnier Corporation...
http://www.bonniercorp.com/brands/
-
Hey it's a big deal these days to start a publication in print. It puts windsurfing back on the map. ;D
-
Just had to report somewhere that Maui had the first truly big north swells of the season; surf forecaster Pat Caldwell called it 20' to 30', and I would say he was about right. Too big at most places to surf or paddle, and there was just barely enough wind to bob my 90 liter and 5.9 out the channel if you timed it right and were lucky. While I was out, there were 50 people on the beach, but only one other guy (half my age) who was also attempting to work the main outside peak, so no crowd problems at all. Wavesailed some nice 20+ today before I had to pay some dues. Got taken out by a mast and a half high lip, and when I finally surfaced after a nice long hold down, my ear lobe had been torn and was fully spit apart all the way up. Had to go and get it stitched back together by my friendly windsurfer doc, but those few rides were sure worth it. One of these days I am going to realize that I am getting too old for that much size, but not today.
-
Yea, judging from Si Crowther's Facebook page it was quite big at Jaws as well;
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691686584&sk=photos&collection_token=691686584%3A2305272732%3A69&set=a.10153689930121585.1073741827.691686584&type=1&l=2ca7c6afef
The NOVENOVE ALOHA CLASSIC starts today but will they get wind for the event?
-
The former editor-in-chief of "Windsurfing" is an occasional contributor to this site. He's "uglysuper". (I don't know if I have the spelling right. I write a couple of articles for him, back in the day.) Bonnier was going to do a SUP mag, but they canceled it.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
For those who enjoy windsurfing, AWT at Hookipa is live online. Guys are getting punished on the way out - little wind and big whitewater. Lots of guys on the rocks
http://www.alohaclassicmaui.com/live/
-
I stopped at Ho'okipa on my way to Kanaha and watched the contest for a while. It was way over mast high out there and difficult conditions - huge sets with variable wind and lots of current. Some guys got pushed all the way down to inside Lanes trying to get out. Robbie Naish came out of retirement (again) and made it look easy and simple. The star of the day was local guy Josh Stone, just killing a wave that was one of the biggest of the day, ending it by landing a massive aerial off a 15' lip. The whole beach broke into a big cheer.
But should be some good SUP surf conditions coming up here. More NW swell and lighter winds.
-
Sailed the last 2 days, SUP and regular windsurf. Maui is just crazy with 20-30ft waves, I am happy when they say 3-4, like today. Yesterday was pretty big by New England standards, buoys were reading over 10ft. It has been a great fall. One from today, we had a crew of 3. Ezzy did a great job on the graphics of the Elite wave sail.
JP
-
Nice pic!
What's with the boom though, looks like it is bent?
-
It's a Z-boom. Front hand grip is angled and underhand. It's inherently weaker than a regular boom, but ergonomically more natural. Used them for 30 years. I have only broken one. No longer available for sale anywhere. I have a cache of them in my garage.
On another note, that Aloha Classic live feed is awesome, amazing conditions, pro's just getting creamed by the big waves.
JP
-
I should post a pick of the zebra strip zooms I have hanging in my shop it was a long time ago when I used those now I hang my wetsuit on them.
-
I had a pair of those...they were distributed by a local company...couldn't ever get them dialed...didn't work with chest or waist harnesses...then carbon booms came along...
Windsurfing Hawaii was another local Santa Barbara WS company at one time, until they moved to Stevenson, Washington and the Davies bros bought them...a number of local "investors" lost money on that call...but, never really affected their trustafarian bottom line...;-)
I helped WH develop their carbon booms...and, harnesses...footstraps...harness lines...etc...
To this day, IMO, still the best WS harness ever produced...even used it during my kiting era...I still have two of them...and, wifey has one of the prototypes...
Fun day keeping the boom grippers in shape today...didn't have to go far to sail out into the green waters...
https://youtu.be/nGyFJ3WBbVk
-
nice vid--but jeeze it reminds me i dint miss all that gear--and you keep it relatively simple.
board leash paddle==mantra
-
nice vid--but jeeze it reminds me i dint miss all that gear--and you keep it relatively simple.
board leash paddle==mantra
LOL...yup, it did get kinda silly back in the day of wind fiending...;-)
Almost all of the wind fiends that I helped convert to standup, have said that standup helped them get their wind addiction thing back under control...
I have no idea how to treat a SUP addiction...;-)
Because I'm constantly doing R&D on SUP and fin designs, I go to the beach with 4 or 5 SUP's...including my 8'11" Hammer windSUP, which never leaves my van...and, I have one sail rig to go along with it...a 5.8m2...as close to the holy grail of the "one board" solution that I have seen...
If it's a *real* WS day, (foot straps for jumping and planing) I do keep it relatively simple these days compared to the past...I optimize the drive/sailing ratio...and, I certainly don't drive 20 hours up or down the coast chasing it during the season...or, hauling all that gear through airports like we used to do...but, it always seemed to make it feel worth it when you scored an epic sesh where your gear was totally dialed because you had the right stuff...part of the reason we even hauled our own gear to Maui...rental gear was always a step down...but, airline fees have pretty much taken away that option...
Yesterday was a town day...I pull up and rig within 20 yards of the launch...
I took 2 dedicated WS boards...and, rigged one sail...5 minutes max...put 2 piece RDM mast together...insert mast in sleeve...insert base in mast...downhaul...connect boom...outhaul...done...
Part of the trick of keeping it simpler in WS, is having good gear with a bigger range...sails that can be tuned up or down effectively...floaty wave boards that plane up fast and can handle higher winds and seas by effective fin changes...etc...
It does get more complicated on combo SUP/WS road trips with the wifey (she sails and SUPs) and dogs...makes me glad that I have a Sprinter...otherwise, I would need a trailer...which I don't do anymore...except for my "wheelless trailer"...
http://surfingsports.com/wheelless_trailer.asp
-
Oops...sorry for the double of same pic...I wish we could modify posts...
Our Labs have a space in the Sprinter with all of that SUP & WS gear...
It used to be worse when I also hauled kiting gear and surfboards along with WS gear in our Ford vans...;-)
I ended up dedicating an E-350 diesel Ford van to just WS...now, it's our SUP demo van down at the shop...
-
No denying you need a lot of stuff.
My trip to the beach always includes Sealion/paddle/mast/boom/5.7 (which is all pretty easy to deal with)
add in 110L quad and quiver bag if there is some hope for real wind,
add in smaller high wind board as the forecast increases.
JP
-
Yeppers...not that complicated...solid 5.0m2 day here today...93 liter wave board...one of the funnest bump & jump days this year...clearing winds in November...water temps still warm...who says El Nino is bad for windsurfing? Now we just need it to generate some waves...;-)
-
Dunno about windsurfing making a comeback...but, the wind sure has...;-)
Another 5.0m2 windsurfing day yesterday...back to back 5.0m2 days in November?!?!
Sailed down in Ventura for some wind swell waves and a few big jumps...caught up to a foil kiter and got a little footage...
https://youtu.be/frDb0OKA620
Only two longtime hardcore windsurfers and a handful of kiters around...not that long ago there would have been a couple dozen kiters...and, a couple dozen windsurfers back in the day...especially, in conditions that good...
-
When I get some good SUP sessions I say to myself I don't need no stinking windsurfing, but then when I get some good wave sailing sessions I remember how much fun it is and say that I will never quit. It is a great dilemma to have. :)
I was out with a foil-kiter the other day. I have to say that those foils scare the crap out of me. Looks too much like a big knife blade stuck on the bottom of a board.
-
When I get some good SUP sessions I say to myself I don't need no stinking windsurfing, but then when I get some good wave sailing sessions I remember how much fun it is and say that I will never quit. It is a great dilemma to have. :)
Zackly! Why take a skill set that took so much time and money to develop, out of the tool box...especially, when you do get rewarded from time to time...;-)
You aren't going to be able to go off when those epic wave/wind conditions present themselves, if you aren't in decent WS shape...
One of the reasons I got into windsurfing back in the day was because of the limited surfing resource...nowadays, good surfing resources are even under more crowd pressure...the wind resource is wide open if you have the skill sets and gear...even mo bettah than the good old days...go figure...;-)
The other main reason is we were camping/surfing down in the Baja for long stretches...windy at the points every afternoon...saw some Maui boys travel through and they took advantage of it...if you can't beat them...may as well join them...;-)
I was out with a foil-kiter the other day. I have to say that those foils scare the crap out of me. Looks too much like a big knife blade stuck on the bottom of a board.
Not really scared for myself...but, I am for them...eventually, I'm sure that I will have to rescue one of them...
I remember picking up a couple of foils back in the day from Laird to repair...they are under tremendous loads...not to mention the rocks yesterday at low tide...
Several guys around here are into it...with the exception of Peter Trow, all I see is them doing is going back and forth even slower than on their kiteboards...
I caught the guy yesterday like he was kiting in molasses...;-)
-
Farted around without a harness. It seems like my strength is greater now from SUP and no harness isn't so bad. Refrained from going out and leaping waves like I used to. Landing without slamming takes timing that I've lost from not windsurfing so long. One flat landing and I'd be ruined. Saving my back for paddling which beats me up enough.
-
When was this taken? Next time, tell me and I'll come join you
-
wardog--I gotta hand it to you--you regularly consume all the drugs you sell!! no bad batches!
-
wardog--I gotta hand it to you--you regularly consume all the drugs you sell!! no bad batches!
LOL!
Engineering "designer drugs"...surfing sports toys...and, then self medicating...using myself as the guinea pig, is the surest methodology for refining the buzz...;-)
-
Farted around without a harness. It seems like my strength is greater now from SUP and no harness isn't so bad
Fun Huh? I was wondering if it was just my imagination or has SUP cured my "arm pump" disease. Looks like it does as Headmount has experienced the same phenomenon. Nice to see you getting out there Bill!
-
It's been so windy in New England I might forget how to SUP. My last paddle day was the day after Joaquim. I did miss one good paddle day a week ago, but my brain is wired for the wind for now. Seems like quite a few folks have been out sailing.
Maybe a paddle next weekend, but a SE gale on Thursday means more windsurfing.
Starman - I attribute the arm strength thing to sailing my sup with no harness on a ton of days that I might have been wind waiting. The strength from paddling can't hurt either.
JP
-
Same thing around here...already sailable this morning...blew like stank yesterday...
I'm just waiting for the tide to drop...waves are OH...
November is normally some of the cleanest SUP surf conditions of the year...this month has been full on spring like conditions...weirdness...my apple and peach trees are blooming...
-
We've had a whole week of over 30 winds here on Maui. Yesterday had gusts topping 50. SUPing downwind was the best choice out there tho I saw wndsrfrs and kiters braving the onslaught.
This after months of doldrums.
-
Some shots from Peahi earlier this month, Kai, KP, Polakow, Graham, and most of the usual suspects,,,,,,,,,,,,, wow!
-
That last pic is a beauty.. :)
-
Fun day here in the windy waves yesterday...sailed locally with 10 windsurfers...4 kiters...
Massive waves closed the beach and damaged Ventura Pier...it was gusting 40mph at one point...
Our local sailing point break was more docile...but, still packed a punch...
Vid clip from yesterday...
https://youtu.be/DxN-JJQnnEE
-
Kind of cold, blustery, and windy for Winter Solstice here in SB...notched another sailing sesh for 2015...above normal winds for what should be the best paddling weather around these parts...looks like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are going to blow, also...my boom grippers are in good shape...but, so much for glassy El Nino surf conditions...;-)
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2015/12/winter-solstice-2.html
EAST SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL FROM PT. CONCEPTION TO PT. MUGU CA
INCLUDING SANTA CRUZ ISLAND-
221 PM PST TUE DEC 22 2015
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING...
.TONIGHT...NW WINDS 20 TO 30 KT...BECOMING 15 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS TO 35 KT THIS EVENING. COMBINED SEAS 7 TO 10 FT
DOMINANT PERIOD 8 SECONDS.
.WED...NW WINDS 10 TO 20 KT WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 25 KT...BECOMING
15 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 8 TO
11 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 7 SECONDS.
.WED NIGHT...NW WINDS 15 TO 25 KT WITH LOCAL GUSTS TO 30 KT...
BECOMING 10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. STRONGEST WESTERN PORTION.
COMBINED SEAS 8 TO 11 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS...SUBSIDING TO
7 TO 9 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.THU...SW WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING W 10 TO 20 KT IN THE
AFTERNOON. WIND WAVES 1 TO 3 FT. NW SWELL 6 TO 8 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON.
.THU NIGHT...W WINDS 15 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT...BECOMING N
15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 6 TO
8 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 7 SECONDS. CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE EVENING...THEN
CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
.FRI...N WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS TO 25 KT...BECOMING NW 20 TO
25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 6 TO 8 FT
DOMINANT PERIOD 7 SECONDS...BUILDING TO 7 TO 10 FT DOMINANT PERIOD
7 SECONDS IN THE AFTERNOON. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE MORNING.
.FRI NIGHT...NW WINDS 15 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT...BECOMING N
10 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
-
I'm gonna pull my gear down from the loft. Lots of days that windsurfing would work and nothing else will. I might even pull down some real windsurf boards instead of just SUP windsurfing.
-
I'm gonna pull my gear down from the loft. Lots of days that windsurfing would work and nothing else will. I might even pull down some real windsurf boards instead of just SUP windsurfing.
Pono, the new generation of big quad waveboards might suit you well. I got a Quatro 110 quad this spring and it turns on the wave like an 80 liter board. Not so much struggle to keep it on a plane as it floats. Goya makes a 118L wave toy. My windsup still see's it's share of sailing in the sub 15 mph winds.
Sailed 2 December days so far, 50 deg on Monday so toasty warm. JP
-
I first started windsurfing in Kailua back in 1983. I loved it and stuck with it until 2000 when I completely switched over to kitesurfing. After living in San Diego (where the wind is chronically light) for a few years I started to get back into windsurfing again. I tried formula boards and windSUP and had fun with both (although only on flat water). I've just turned 60 and recently moved to the Outer Banks (N.C.). Although the wind is much more consistent here, I'm really on the fence on whether I even want to get back into kiteboarding. All my kites are dated and most have leaks. Although I have much more experience kiting in waves than windsurfing in waves, I miss the independence I had with windsurfing. I never needed anyone to land or launch. And if the sh*t hit the fan, I could just sit on the board and paddle in. When I talk with some of my kiting buddies here, some of them have voiced the same opinion. Next decent day here I'm taking my windSUP out and giving it a go. At present I don't know anyone else here who is windSUP-ping but that may change...
-
If you are on Hatteras island, there are definitely people SUPsailing. They're probably not out so much now that it's winter. However come spring time you should run into them.
-
If you are on Hatteras island, there are definitely people SUPsailing. They're probably not out so much now that it's winter. However come spring time you should run into them.
I'm not on Hatteras Island and the kiting, windsurfing crowd here is much smaller here. Lots of SUP-ers though. Come this Spring we'll see if anyone else here is giving windSUP-ing a go.
-
I first started windsurfing in Kailua back in 1983. I loved it and stuck with it until 2000 when I completely switched over to kitesurfing. After living in San Diego (where the wind is chronically light) for a few years I started to get back into windsurfing again. I tried formula boards and windSUP and had fun with both (although only on flat water). I've just turned 60 and recently moved to the Outer Banks (N.C.). Although the wind is much more consistent here, I'm really on the fence on whether I even want to get back into kiteboarding. All my kites are dated and most have leaks. Although I have much more experience kiting in waves than windsurfing in waves, I miss the independence I had with windsurfing. I never needed anyone to land or launch. And if the sh*t hit the fan, I could just sit on the board and paddle in. When I talk with some of my kiting buddies here, some of them have voiced the same opinion. Next decent day here I'm taking my windSUP out and giving it a go. At present I don't know anyone else here who is windSUP-ping but that may change...
We followed the same path dabigkahuna.
One key factor that weighed on me when considering a switch from kiting back to windsurfing, was were did I see myself at age 70 or 80. Did I want the wife and I kiting into our later years? When I looked around, I saw lots of people charging hard at 75 (men and women) on windsurfers, not kites. Kiting might be too risky at that age.
I windsurfed today with a lady 76 years old in 20-25 knots tearing it up. I'm pretty sure I made the right choice.
-
For chasing down ducks, windSUP'ing wins easily over paddling. No (milk)bones about it.
-
The biggest attraction for me to windsurfing after prone surfing 17 years were:
1) Having as much fun getting out, as surfing waves.
A) Easily powering over insane amounts of white water that would drag a prowner or SUP all the way back to the beach.
B) Getting as much height as possible on jumps.
C) Working on forward & back loops at every opportunity.
D) Big aerials off the lip.
E). Being able to sheet in down the line and outrun close out sections to get back on the clean wave face.
F) Surfing outside breaks that were not accessible to prown.
G) Being able to have a great time surfing when the wind was too much to enjoy other surf sports.
H) Being able to go eight times as fast a a typical SUP.
I) unmatched wave count per session.
-
I first started windsurfing in Kailua back in 1983. I loved it and stuck with it until 2000 when I completely switched over to kitesurfing. After living in San Diego (where the wind is chronically light) for a few years I started to get back into windsurfing again. I tried formula boards and windSUP and had fun with both (although only on flat water). I've just turned 60 and recently moved to the Outer Banks (N.C.). Although the wind is much more consistent here, I'm really on the fence on whether I even want to get back into kiteboarding. All my kites are dated and most have leaks. Although I have much more experience kiting in waves than windsurfing in waves, I miss the independence I had with windsurfing. I never needed anyone to land or launch. And if the sh*t hit the fan, I could just sit on the board and paddle in. When I talk with some of my kiting buddies here, some of them have voiced the same opinion. Next decent day here I'm taking my windSUP out and giving it a go. At present I don't know anyone else here who is windSUP-ping but that may change...
We followed the same path dabigkahuna.
One key factor that weighed on me when considering a switch from kiting back to windsurfing, was were did I see myself at age 70 or 80. Did I want the wife and I kiting into our later years? When I looked around, I saw lots of people charging hard at 75 (men and women) on windsurfers, not kites. Kiting might be too risky at that age.
I windsurfed today with a lady 76 years old in 20-25 knots tearing it up. I'm pretty sure I made the right choice.
Sometimes you just gotta throw caution to the wind (pun intended). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rS4bafAdK8
-
SUPFlorida - good summary. All the things that come to my mind also. The size of whitewater you can plow over with a W/S board is amazing, even when you are slogging through it.
-
WindSUPing is big down there particularly in the spring If I can be of any help getting you set in the right direction or launches PM me
But there is great kiting down there too Let me know if you need anything in that regard
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
SUS has sucked recently on Maui and i have gone thru my boards and sails and started back into WS as well as KS.
If its too windy to regular surf then just Sail...People need to adjust.
-
SUS has sucked recently on Maui and i have gone thru my boards and sails and started back into WS as well as KS.
If its too windy to regular surf then just Sail...People need to adjust.
The past couple of days have been pretty epic for SUS. Everywhere. North, south and west. Not sure how long this run is going to last but with the windless pattern, coupled with plenty of swell, today in particular, it was like being in surf heaven.
-
Mid-winter windsurfing on Maui can be iffy because the trades pretty much go soft for the winter. But yesterday they kicked in for a day and with the remnants of our latest NW swell it turned out to be a great wave sailing day. Caught everyone by surprise as there were very few of us out at Kanaha. I always expect to see the DW'ers go blasting past at some point but didn't notice them but I am sure they were out there somewhere. Beautiful day, all in all.
-
All my windsurf buddies defected to kites.... and except for one really bad loop attempt gone very wrong (where the windsurfer literally broke his neck), the only injuries we had were cuts from oyster shells or or the like....and ok...one broken leg...but that guy was old with obviously brittle bones. I was passing him about 10' to windward and his leg just snapped like a twig the way out to our outer reef.
Back to the point... these guys I had windsurfed with for over a decade all the sudden started really getting screwed up. Broken bones, screwed up backs, shoulders, knees...and can't forget the guy in Stuart who was killed by a school of Bull sharks when the wind died a bit an he couldn't relaunch his kite. I mean where do you go? That kite board sure insn't going to give you any way to get even partial out of the water... When kiters water start in marginal wind they look like premium live bait...not that it's that much better dangling beside a windsurf board trying to pump yourself up in marginal conditions...But hey even a sinker (windsurfer) would be much better than a kite board in those circumstances...
-
All my windsurf buddies defected to kites.... and except for one really bad loop attempt gone very wrong (where the windsurfer literally broke his neck), the only injuries we had were cuts from oyster shells or or the like....and ok...one broken leg...but that guy was old with obviously brittle bones. I was passing him about 10' to windward and his leg just snapped like a twig the way out to our outer reef.
Back to the point... these guys I had windsurfed with for over a decade all the sudden started really getting screwed up. Broken bones, screwed up backs, shoulders, knees...and can't forget the guy in Stuart who was killed by a school of Bull sharks when the wind died a bit an he couldn't relaunch his kite. I mean where do you go? That kite board sure insn't going to give you any way to get even partial out of the water... When kiters water start in marginal wind they look like premium live bait...not that it's that much better dangling beside a windsurf board trying to pump yourself up in marginal conditions...But hey even a sinker (windsurfer) would be much better than a kite board in those circumstances...
My experience and thoughts are almost identical to yours. I once attempted a long distance trip via windsurfer along the north shore, Oahu. About half way (and in the lee of one of the smaller islands) I fell into a group of portugese man o' wars. My hands and arms were badly swollen but was able to eventually paddle/sail back to the beach. I had a fairly floaty board at the time. Had I been on a kiteboard it might not have ended as well for me . With all the shark attacks here last year, I kind of like the idea of being able to sit on the board, out of the water, if my rig breaks.
Incidentally, I met and kited with the fellow in Stuart a week before the shark attack. Very nice guy and a very sad story. I was only there for a couple of days but definitely saw signs of shark activity while I was there.
-
^ you crawl into the [upside down] kite.
Not fun and you sure aren't going to re-launch this way but you are very visible above water and from below you look huge. Standard operating procedure.
-
All my windsurf buddies defected to kites.... and except for one really bad loop attempt gone very wrong (where the windsurfer literally broke his neck), the only injuries we had were cuts from oyster shells or or the like...
Was this STRETCH, William Reidel, or was it another guy that also broke his neck doing a loop?
-
All my windsurf buddies defected to kites.... and except for one really bad loop attempt gone very wrong (where the windsurfer literally broke his neck), the only injuries we had were cuts from oyster shells or or the like...
Was this STRETCH, William Reidel, or was it another guy that also broke his neck doing a loop?
I was windsurfing Waddell the day Stretch broke his neck. It was crowded in front of the parking lot so a bunch of us were sailing down in the Hole. I saw Stretch attempt a forward loop and only get half way around. Minutes later, I sailed by his abandoned rig and knew something was wrong. Larry Dini from B&D Sports found Bill floating face down and now was trying to swim him in. By the time we got him in the shorebreak there were about four of us helping out and Stretch looked really bad. He was not breathing and his face was blue. I am no expert, but I couldn't feel a pulse.
The tide was high and a couple of big surges washed over all of us prompting us to drag him up father onto dry sand. Of course we had no idea at the time that his neck was broken. This was way before cell phones. Doug Mack ran down the beach and then up the trail to the only pay phone at ranger station to call 911. In the meantime, my friend Kirby Fosgate started mouth to mouth and CPR. After a few minutes we rolled him over on his side and he barfed out about a gallon of salt water and gasped in some air. Instantly the color came back to his face and he was surprisingly lucid.
It took the better part of an hour for the paramedics to get all the way down the beach to where we all were. We loaded him up and all carried the stretcher across the beach to the parking lot.
All in all a very scary experience. I'm glad that Larry and Kirby were there, as they both were instrumental to Bill's survival.
-
^ you crawl into the [upside down] kite.
Not fun and you sure aren't going to re-launch this way but you are very visible above water and from below you look huge. Standard operating procedure.
This is what the poor fellow who died in Florida did. The story as I recall was that the kiter crashed during a jump and before he could relaunch a shark bit him. Unable to rescue himself, he swam to his kite and layed on top of it to stay afloat. A lifeguard on duty realized the guy was in trouble, paddled out and tried to tow him in. But since the kiter, at that point, was tangled in the kite lines, the lifeguard had to tow both the kiter and his kite. By the time they reached the shore the kiter had lost too much blood and expired. Really sad story that could have happened to anyone.
-
ouch. Kiter's need to carry a knife. Windsurfers don't.
Apparently this guy's brother gave him a knife just on take off of his crossing. I remember this event.
http://www.reuters.com/article/uk-sharks-redsea-kitesurfer-idUSLNE82601820120307
God knows why he didn't think the wind might drop during the night!!!
Sorry for thread drift, probably a million stories along those lines. Here's the big windsurf comeback (sorry if they've been covered - haven't read all this thread):
AHD Sealion
http://www.ahd-boards.com/models/sealion-wings-2/
Their Tactik looks like a fast WindSup but doubt it's a lot of fun to jibe.
http://www.ahd-boards.com/models/tactik-sailboard-2/
-
Crazy windy around here last several days...at least one kiter rescue that I heard of...several surfer rescues and a SUP rescue because they were getting slammed against the cliff...a 3' tide and there is no sand now...
When the wind switches offshore, the pragmatic thing to do is ditch the kite and swim in...a sailboard is a better flotation device...;-)
-
Sorry, windsurfing, part II, the return is going to have to wait. Drone snowboarding is the new thing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj39lrKPUp4
-
All my windsurf buddies defected to kites.... and except for one really bad loop attempt gone very wrong (where the windsurfer literally broke his neck), the only injuries we had were cuts from oyster shells or or the like...
Was this STRETCH, William Reidel, or was it another guy that also broke his neck doing a loop?
Beasho...not the same incident...but sounds similar....North Jetty Ft. Pierce Fl. Solid 4.7 weather...perfect side shore out of the south with a near mast high sets on the outer reef. The sailor was from Vero Beach and I didn't know him by name...he went for a forward and sounds so much like you described...two of his friends saw it happen and found him face down in the water... he couldn't' move. As luck would have it, one was a chiropractor and the other an anesthesiologist . He flat lined twice, one at the scene and once at the hospital. I'm thinking it was around 1995 give or take a year or two. He ended up being very blessed...Heard he made a full recovery and suffered no permanent paralysis.
-
Sorry, windsurfing, part II, the return is going to have to wait. Drone snowboarding is the new thing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj39lrKPUp4
We're way off topic, but since I work with some guys in the industry I thought I'd just say that, although I think it's a cool idea, making a drone to tow a windsurfer/kitesurfer would have some huge challenges to overcome. Way easier to design/build a quadcopter to tow a snowboarder.
-
^ kiddingggg. I'm so not into complexity in my sporting life. Life is complicated enough. I seek simple in sports and nature.
Though it is slightly more gnarly than cross-country snowboarding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w7sVSMbjyM
I'm still a windsurfer BTW. Got all my gear. Only national title I ever got. Oh! and still one snowboard as well. (but never use it)
-
Still OT but there's also a less techy way of towing a snowboarder... Skijoring...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmHKhqvyx6s
-
I did that once in Colorado. Biggest problem is that there's a horse in front of you, and they kind of do what they want to do, harness on not. It was fun though.
-
Been some good blows lately...nice sized wind swell yesterday...looks bigger today...
4 windsurfers...3 kiters...
-
We're way off topic, but since I work with some guys in the industry I thought I'd just say that, although I think it's a cool idea, making a drone to tow a windsurfer/kitesurfer would have some huge challenges to overcome. Way easier to design/build a quadcopter to tow a snowboarder.
I could do it. I'm working on a waterproof conversion for the little selfie drones, but the easy way to build a waterproof drone is to start from scratch, which is what I'll do this summer in Hood River. Build it as a autonomous drone following a smartphone. Use the phone mounted on the crossbar to control it.
I could do it, but I'm not gonna.
-
Not a come back it never went away here in SNJ
What we are and have been seeing is a balooning interest in Wind SUPing in the surf adds days of fun to every summer and we have some super fun spots here in South Jersey to actually surf sail your SUP
water is warming wind is here and the surf was epic this morning and we are in NEW JERSEY
jimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
Another great windsurfing day yesterday in Santa Barbara...6 windsurfers...2 kiters...lots of down the line waves and jumps going out...
Cool to see a new college windsurf kid join the local crew...
We were lit all day on 4.2m2 - 5.0m2 sails...small boards...my boom grippers are feeling the burn...hurts so good...;-)
-
21 windsurfers at my hot spot (A.L.) last Saturday, some of them from Warren's crew (as seen in his latest post), so no, it never went away.
17 the following Sunday.
-
Over 100 sailors entered the OBX-Wind long distance race last Thursday in. Avon, NC Formula boards and 11m shared the course with 4.7's and wave gear over the 10K sail. It was so much fun they ran a second race a few hours later. Windsurfing isn't dead out here on the East Coast. The AWT last fall had close to 40 competitors. Most of the sailors have SUPs and WindSups too. The cross over is a natural.
-
21 windsurfers at my hot spot (A.L.) last Saturday, some of them from Warren's crew (as seen in his latest post), so no, it never went away.
17 the following Sunday.
Aloha Greg,
I'll prolly see you in the zone manana...wind swell should be building up there...Sunday may be good waves...SUP and/or sailing...we'll see...
Yesterday was phenomenal wind...but, today was off the hook...smaller guys on 3.7m2 and 4.0m2 sails...zero kites...7 sailors...
Ian, the youngest sailor around here, just turned 21...
-
It's a good thing you didn't come up today, we waited for the wind to fill in, and then it did.
What we've been hoping for is at least one hour on 4.7s when the waves are still clean, then bail out when it becomes stupid/strong wind that kills the waves.
Yesterday and today were not two of those days, a good solid 15 minutes of comfortable w'surfing until it became stupid/strong.
IOW, you missed nothing, we are longing for normal wind, maybe tomorrow.
-
Aloha Greg,
We were actually north of the Golden Gate that day...
Hope to see you, and the gang, on the next south swell blow...we've been getting some sessions in...but, not good waves...
Deb is even fired up to sail A.L. after a couple of days of 5.0m2 at the lake...
https://youtu.be/YsoFlz1luqs
-
With all this talk about foils it brought me back to what I always enjoyed about wndsrfng which was a solid contact with the surface. Reading the surface the best you can and doing whatever you are into to maximize that effort whether it be just hauling ass, jumping or carving a turn. Downwind paddling replaced it because of the unbelievable joy I've found surfing out in the middle of the ocean but I still dig wndsrfng.
Wndsrfng without strong winds doesn't seem so enticing so unless you live around SLO or Waddel Creek or the Gorge, it might be ho hum. And with the assault of DW paddling and kites in these places, I'd guess wndsrfng will continue to decline. It has here. Most of the guys that do it here are visiting from Europe or elsewhere.
-
The prices of new w'surfing equipment is getting ridiculous, $2100 for a new board!!!!!!!!!!! , $600 for a new sail or mast!!!!!!!!!! , $700 for a new carbon boom!!!!!!!!!!.
If you haven't kept up with it, only needing a new whatever only once in awhile, then it's pricing itself out of the market for newcomers.
It's still easy to find used stuff to learn on, but once you want some new stuff, you'll be asking yourself, what the hell!?!
It's probably on par with golfing now (including green fees on the finer golf courses), only a guess, I don't golf because I tend to be a club thrower.
-
Aloha Greg,
Definitely some sticker shock out there...even with closeout deals...but, being out on good gear that you have confidence in, sure gets the adrenaline going and makes it worth it...
p.s. new carbon wave boards are more than $2100...some new carbon race boards are now over $4K...;-)
-
Yes the SUPER High end windsurfing equipment is pricey
BUT
There are plenty of high performance NEW windsurfing boards for under $1200
Carbon mast starting @$200 NEW Sails (high performance/major MFG) for around $500
All the above will last (and perform) for over 10yrs so the cost per use is CHEAP
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
In 1998 I bought a used Mistral Wave 257 for $900. Last month I bought a used 2016 Starboard Atom IQ for $1,000. Not buying the "too expensive" argument. Quality has gone way up and the prices are not much different when adjusted for inflation.
-
It's tough to go from SUP downwinding back to windsurfing. I pulled my stuff down from storage a few days ago, and I was stunned by how much crap I have, and some of it needs to be replaced. I did a couple of setups, just to see if the mast sleeves and stuff were okay. Amazing how much time it takes. I know I'm out of practice, but sheesh!
All the same, since 70 is my breakout year, time to get back into windsurfing and probably kiting. I'm stepping up my bicycling too. Even with a motor it's great for my knees and legs. Stronger already.
-
I sold my last windsurfing kit last year. I don't miss it. Too many sails needed. Too long to rig. Too many problems. Too much speed.
I enjoy the simplicity of SUP. Plus, I can get out more than twice as often.
-
Bill,
I have plenty of 70+ yr old windsurfer and ONE 90yr old here in NJ Don't know what the scene is in HR & Maui
just my 2 cents
JimK
-
I hope to become a 70 year old windsurfer someday...I know a few...and, I have plenty of SUP clients in their 80's...
I have been windsurfing with my wifey, Deb, for over 30 years...she was never a "windsurf widow"...more like a "rigging slave"...;-)
Her sister has been windsurfing with her husband for just as long...they mostly do the Alaska to Maui to South Padre Island circuit...
However, the vast majority of couples that we knew from sailing over the last three decades, either don't sail together anymore...or, don't sail period...or, aren't together...
I know the level of commitment and time and money that it takes to get proficient...especially, in waves and beach break scenarios...very few couples are ever going to get there...especially, if they have kids...so, that is one of the reasons that windsurfing is a hairy legged dudefest...with declining participation...
Let's also not forget that hanging out on a windy beach is not the most pleasant activity in the world...it takes wind to windsurf...;-)
Deb has squatted behind her fair share of shrubs deep down in the Baja, while chasing wind...showering with Hudson sprayers to conserve H20...etc...so, necessity became the mother of invention to keep the marriage together...it succeeded...;-)
She windsurfed last week...cold and windy...and, wants to go again on the next blow...still rigging after all of these years...lucky me...;-)
http://surfingsports.com/wheelless_trailer.asp
https://youtu.be/_yDIf0JJkNw
That doesn't change the fun factor of it, though...it's still just as fun...even the flat water sailing...probably even more so, now that it's not the scene it once was...
For me, it was never about just selling windsurfing gear...or, SUP gear for that matter...it was total immersion in the sport and lifestyle...and, a desire to make the gear go better...so, that it was easier and more fun...more miles of smiles per recreational dollar invested...that has been the passion and driver...and, inspiration for our byline...
Stoked For Life ®
That's what drove me to start designing fins decades ago...helping to design light air wavesailing gear...building lighter and stronger and better performing SUPs...and, now messing around with windfoiling in light air...etc...and, whatever comes next...
-
I'm 60 and have been windsurfing a long time - still stoked when it gets windy. I have 1 board, 1 boom, 1 mast and 3 sails. That kit covers me from 18 to 40 mph wind, in waves or bump sailing. I spend the winter in Baja surfing and sailing and being able to sail when it gets too windy to surf is awesome. Long live windsurfing!
-
+1 Surfknobby
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
I had some pretty good success flying my new foil...pretty stoked...loving it so far...
First off...it's very smooth flying above the chop...kind of ethereal...and, kind of frightening at the same time...;-)
My biggest crashes occurred when I would see how high I could fly it...until I realized that you don't have to fly it that high...maybe too much wind and not enough skill yet...of course, pilot error...smaller board would be better once the foil is flying...ended up taking the front footstraps off for now...felt a little less frightening have a brain bucket and impact vest on, though...there definitely is a learning curve...;-)
I can now use the same sail size as my wifey...we were at least 0.5m2-0.7m2 apart non regular windsurf gear...
-
The prices of new w'surfing equipment is getting ridiculous, $2100 for a new board!!!!!!!!!!! , $600 for a new sail or mast!!!!!!!!!! , $700 for a new carbon boom!!!!!!!!!!.
If you haven't kept up with it, only needing a new whatever only once in awhile, then it's pricing itself out of the market for newcomers.
It's still easy to find used stuff to learn on, but once you want some new stuff, you'll be asking yourself, what the hell!?!
It's probably on par with golfing now (including green fees on the finer golf courses), only a guess, I don't golf because I tend to be a club thrower.
That's why there's disc golf.
-
The prices of new w'surfing equipment is getting ridiculous, $2100 for a new board!!!!!!!!!!! , $600 for a new sail or mast!!!!!!!!!! , $700 for a new carbon boom!!!!!!!!!!.
If you haven't kept up with it, only needing a new whatever only once in awhile, then it's pricing itself out of the market for newcomers.
It's still easy to find used stuff to learn on, but once you want some new stuff, you'll be asking yourself, what the hell!?!
It's probably on par with golfing now (including green fees on the finer golf courses), only a guess, I don't golf because I tend to be a club thrower.
I have always found the used market for windsurf equipment to be quite friendly to the buyer. Most windsurfing enthusiasts seem to be wealthy, and like to upgrade their equipment often.
JP
-
Kalmus Beach, Hyannis, MA. Cape Cod still draws a decent crowd on windy days. A few days ago around 7-18-16
-
Hey Weed, what about Friday, the 22nd??
I'm always looking for someone or something to blame! Surfing with a paddle did it to my days as a proner, and it has taken a lot of the "wind out of my sails" for windsurfing.
Weed captured me on an epic Friday afternoon at Cape Cod's Kalmus Beach.
-
As a windsurfer Weed knows, that picture does not quite convey the craziness of being full out on a 3.7 sail.
As far as windsurfing being dead, it was a lot more exciting than the surf we've had for the last few weeks.
Thanks Weed, I thought that was a great shot!
-
Agree that Weed captures some of that local fun that WS provides...
We just camped and hung out with some wind addicted board heads for a week up in Oregon...good times getting caught up...