Windsurfing
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Juggernaut
Master of the Metaphor
It's been almost 30 years since I've windsurfed. As long as the waters calm its a blast. But if it's gusty, it's like walking a large dog in an ice rink. 😉
Honestly there's no reason not to try it. 🙂
Honestly there's no reason not to try it. 🙂
I found it tough. But definitely worth trying.
Delish
Well-Known Member
Yes, I used to be big into windsurfing. It's a terrible idea. Take up heroin instead.
It's difficult to learn--it's the type of thing where if you didn't know it was possible, you would think it was impossible. You have to do about seventeen different things right, all the while balancing on three axes with waves and wind and gravity all conspiring to drown you. You end up with a carload of shit (boards, sails, fins, wetsuits, masts, etc...) then spend your life reading detailed weather discussions and watching remote wind sensors waiting for the moment you jump in the car and drive all over the universe to find wind. But like all the best drugs, when it's good it's sooo good. Once you can water start and sail in a harness it's almost effortless.
Kiteboarding is so much more approachable, both in terms of the learning curve and the gear-load. The eye opener for me was seeing a dude roll up in a BMW GS motorcycle with a board, wetsuit and two kites on the back, inflate the kite and go out in 10-12 kts while I sat on the beach waiting for the wind to fire up to 18+ (it never did). At the time i had something like 3 boards and 4 sails on the roof rack and truckload of other crap.
It's difficult to learn--it's the type of thing where if you didn't know it was possible, you would think it was impossible. You have to do about seventeen different things right, all the while balancing on three axes with waves and wind and gravity all conspiring to drown you. You end up with a carload of shit (boards, sails, fins, wetsuits, masts, etc...) then spend your life reading detailed weather discussions and watching remote wind sensors waiting for the moment you jump in the car and drive all over the universe to find wind. But like all the best drugs, when it's good it's sooo good. Once you can water start and sail in a harness it's almost effortless.
Kiteboarding is so much more approachable, both in terms of the learning curve and the gear-load. The eye opener for me was seeing a dude roll up in a BMW GS motorcycle with a board, wetsuit and two kites on the back, inflate the kite and go out in 10-12 kts while I sat on the beach waiting for the wind to fire up to 18+ (it never did). At the time i had something like 3 boards and 4 sails on the roof rack and truckload of other crap.
if i went kiteboarding i know i would be the guy who gets picked up by a huge gust and dumped in a walmart parking lot
I'm usually pretty good at picking something up and being able to at least do the thing. Got my ass kicked pretty thoroughly my first time trying windsurfing and never went back. Part of that was the way the wind was going that day I would've had to drag the rig a mile or so back to the rental shack if I even got going. Anyway.
I'm a decent snowboarder and I can (sorta) surf. But no reason not to try it out!
I'm a decent snowboarder and I can (sorta) surf. But no reason not to try it out!
olegbabich
Well-Known Member
I used to work summers at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo and while not on Life Guard duty or washing dishes I was good enough to teach beginner Windsurf classes.
I was usually a couple of weeks late coming back to school because we used to hang out and wait for good wind at the end of season.
I was usually a couple of weeks late coming back to school because we used to hang out and wait for good wind at the end of season.