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manuel
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:22 pm Post subject: Why is dirt windsurfing not more popular? |
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1 sail 1 board all conditions... so why?
1. We can practice practically anywhere
2. No need for a wetsuit
3. Practically anyone can do it
4. Only needs super simple rig
5. No need for carbon or anything fancy
6. Due to easy gliding, gusts are easy fended off
7. On a slight slope, we can push off and not even need the min 5 knots!
Imagine, a dirt park on a hill, with slopes, pipes, short grass, dirt, small jumps, sand, etc.
When I see how much interest there's in foiling... I can't help but think why is dirt windsurfing more popular?
A simple random vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s4QgCUTCNM _________________ *NEW* - Manu's Windsurfing Blog, The STORE! |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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That's parking lot windskating.
Ever fall off your skateboard onto cement? That hurts.
Ever drop your boom, mast, and sail while moving? Your gear hurts.
Lots of hurt, a bit of fun. |
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joethewindsufa
Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:55 am Post subject: |
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check local buddy's website (GTJ)
www.windskate.ca
he is getting other locals into it as well
Guy is what I call a "dedicated windsurfer"
seems to have dedicated his life to the sport
great guy - pardon the pun |
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grantmac017
Joined: 04 Aug 2016 Posts: 946
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:45 am Post subject: |
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My attempts on pavement felt nothing like windsurfing. Board turned and accelerated all wrong. |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2599 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Yeh. dirt surfing! Oh wait, I'm 63 now, probably can't take the crashes.
-Craig |
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manuel
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 10:48 am Post subject: |
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I never had issues with crashes. I let go of the sail and walked off or something jogged off if I were to go fast. I did a 20-mph run once but that wasn't really the intent in the first place.
This is a vid from one of my very first sessions:
I'd say biking is more dangerous for sure.
A mountain board is much more stable than a skate. _________________ *NEW* - Manu's Windsurfing Blog, The STORE! |
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techno900
Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 11:01 am Post subject: |
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If you have short grass or smooth dirt, and wheels big enough to run smooth, it could be a good deal. I have tried it on a friend's board on pavement and it scared the hell out of me. Hilly, and a spill at 10 mph or more (easy to go that fast, hard to go slow), equals loss of skin or worse. |
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bred2shred
Joined: 02 May 2000 Posts: 989 Location: Jersey Shore
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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I skate sailed a fair amount way back when. Haven’t done so recently. In fact, I skate sailed way before I ever windsurfed - using a board and rig I built myself when I was probably 10 or 12 years old.
It can be fun, but if you don’t have a skateboarding background, I would say it could be a little risky. While I’ll admit that this was not necessarily the case when I was a pre-teen/teenager, the objective really should be for focusing on turning and sail transitioning, not generating top speed (a rig on wheels and roller bearings is capable of going super fast).
Some of the limitations that likely hold back skate sailing -
Higher risk of injury than sailing on water. Although this can be reduced by wearing protective gear and limiting speed.
Need the right conditions, generally 5-10 mph wind.
Need the right location - large open, uncrowded space or parking lot with a smooth surface that gets a good wind fetch and that you won’t get kicked off of. This can be very hard to come by in the US where most parking lots are either too crowded or the owners will kick you off due to liability.
Need dedicated board and rig. Soft sails or sails with 3/4 battens are best for luffability (most performance sailors don’t have either). Need to accept that the rig will be dropped on asphalt (i.e., you don’t want to use your good boom and sail).
sm |
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manuel
Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1158
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I definitely would only go with a mountain board.
The other day I was on the beach doing sail chi and lots of people were truly interested it was surprising to me. One windsurfer was curious enough to give it a try.
I view it a bit like sail chi but with a plus were one can freely roam around a local park and do some slides and such. _________________ *NEW* - Manu's Windsurfing Blog, The STORE! |
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isobars
Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935
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Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Our gang quit because of the horrible injury rate. At its peak we had 6-8 guys (no girls; they're smarter than that) riding them everywhere we could find the space ... bulldozed new housing developments, big corporate HQ lawns, hard-packed sand dunes, streets, parking lots, grassy public parks, university grounds, beaches, and much more, until broken ankles, wrists, and collarbones put an end to it. We've never been chased off any public or private land (or any body of water, for that matter).
With full desert-racing/motocross gear and some pro football pads (my normal desert-racing gear), I outlasted most of them, but just as I gave up landsailing for its risks, I finally gave up dirt bikes in favor of WSing.
Worst injury I ever got was from windsurfing, in 2013. |
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