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andreafuentes99
Joined: 12 Jan 2016 Posts: 27
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:20 pm Post subject: Why Beginners Get Discouraged |
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Quick anecdote as to why beginners get discouraged from this sport... they don't come to forums like this before buying their first board! And people tell them a little wave board is fine for a brand new beginner.
This weekend in Key Biscayne, guy and his son were trying like crazy to uphaul on an older JP Xcite something, like 125 liters I think, in 12 knot winds with a little chop. Wound up chatting with them, he'd had a lesson (on some kind of big board undoubtedly), bought a used rig 5.0 from adventure sports (good job), then bought the board on Craigslist (ooops).
Anyway I explained to them to get a more beginner friendly board and let the dad actually get on mine and successfully balance and uphaul, pointed out the advanced guys with boards that size were all beach starting not uphauling. But of course they guy who sold them the more advanced board told them it was perfect for learning to windsurf. ANYWAY just sharing an observation. |
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gvogelsang
Joined: 09 Nov 1988 Posts: 435
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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You were very nice to offer the Dad your board for a try. |
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U2U2U2
Joined: 06 Jul 2001 Posts: 5467 Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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The family were the unfortunate fate .
People are people and like a box of chocolates....
Nice that you helped enlightened them _________________ K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you
http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/ |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2599 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: Why Beginners Get Discouraged |
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Hi Andrea,
125 ltrs should float about 275 lbs, if you figure ~35lbs for the board
and sail you're left with 240 lbs for people, but, that doesn't address a
stable platform.
A 200 lb beginner would have a heck of a time uphauling a 125 ltr
shortboard. Maybe a rare exception would be a consistently windy
(20-30MPH) venue, and then the instruction technique and learning curve
would be very different.
Someone in the 100 pound range would probably do alright with 125 ltr
short board, but it wouldn't be as easy as a 180ltr board.
I've never seen nor heard of a 125ltr beginner board, you sure won't
see anything like that in any of the beginner instructional classes
(well maybe for some on who weighs 80 lbs)
A 125 Ltr JP Excite Ride isn't exactly a little wave board, but it's no
good for learning, and people should be more responsible in how they
present gear to the uninitiated.
I expect you to be riding a 125 ltr board as your biggest board probably
within the next 3 years. ;*)
-Craig
andreafuentes99 wrote: | Quick anecdote as to why beginners get discouraged from this sport... they don't come to forums like this before buying their first board! And people tell them a little wave board is fine for a brand new beginner.
This weekend in Key Biscayne, guy and his son were trying like crazy to uphaul on an older JP Xcite something, like 125 liters I think, in 12 knot winds with a little chop. Wound up chatting with them, he'd had a lesson (on some kind of big board undoubtedly), bought a used rig 5.0 from adventure sports (good job), then bought the board on Craigslist (ooops).
Anyway I explained to them to get a more beginner friendly board and let the dad actually get on mine and successfully balance and uphaul, pointed out the advanced guys with boards that size were all beach starting not uphauling. But of course they guy who sold them the more advanced board told them it was perfect for learning to windsurf. ANYWAY just sharing an observation. |
Last edited by cgoudie1 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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konajoe
Joined: 28 Feb 2010 Posts: 517
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Who cares about having the right gear to learn on. Little boards are soooooooo cool. |
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westender
Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 1288 Location: Portland / Gorge
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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What's cool is seeing people having fun on gear that works for their situation. |
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techno900
Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:16 am Post subject: |
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Even when everything goes right (board, sail, venue, wind, instruction), some give up just because the learning curve is so slow.
Some give up because one or more elements aren't just right (too much wind or chop, large sail, small board, bad instruction). Their frustration sends them away.
Some just don't have the time or access to speed progress, so they give up.
Just getting to the water with your gear becomes tiresome for a few, and they just give up.
It takes an understanding family or significant other to commit to a lifetime of windsurfing.
The lucky ones stay with it and overcome the obstacles to become committed diehards. |
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isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:42 am Post subject: |
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Every time, right up to yesterday, some local (the Columbia flows right through town but is too swift for learning) employed person asks me about trying it out, I ask them whether they have the time and interest to drive 75 to 150 miles each way every weekend for half the year for a few years to get competent at Gorge sailing. Every one says, "Of course not." Their expression gets even more incredulous when I explain that many locals drive to the 75-miles-away spot on weekdays after work for just an hour of sailing.
It's not a sport for the casual dabbler unless the conditions are good nearby and they're in no hurry to become proficient. . |
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techno900
Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:48 am Post subject: |
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Heck, I have driven from Raleigh to the Outer Banks on numerous occasions for two hours of day sailing. So have several other "enthusiasts" that live in the Raleigh area.
Total driving in a day of over 400 miles. |
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geohaye
Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1437
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Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Definitely a 4 to 1 ratio applies. Anything up to even 4 hours of driving (total, not each way!) for 1 hour in the straps has always been worth it... |
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