A Frightening Discovery about Windsurfers

[swchandler]

I knew that if I waited long enough that a savvy sailor like Kevin would offer the consummate post here. Very well presented, indeed.

However, I would like to offer maybe a little twist to things. Particularly on the concept of the "soul sailor" I would put maybe a different spin on things, kind of being additional to the concept of the dedicated "wavesailor".

Being an older guy that surfed hard for a real long time before discovering windsurfing, I've gotten my fair share of the wave scene up close and serious, and that doesn't make my ideal now. Windsurfing for me was an opportunity to break out of the in tight wave scene and move out and about, kind of a soulful freedom to let things rip in an open ocean environment. While I'm also into coming in and snagging some wave when the situation favors that, I like to appreciate free open ocean scenarios, often with an upwind exploratory adventure thrown in.

Lastly, on the "in close" freestyle stage, it's been my observation that B&F sailors (it took me a bit to figure that out too) do exactly the same thing. I wonder if the juncture of both styles might just be exacerabing the immediate scene a bit. From my point of view, I think I'm more focused on the marriage of the kiting scene in the game. Their presence on the outside and inside must be watched closely, especially during their transitions.

[theq]

[jse]

Watching Tyson sail I'm amazed how close he cuts it when he does his moves. I think it might have something to do with how freestyle competitions are judged. I think they want to be able to make as much use of the course as possible, so they need to be able to bust them at the last minute, often right under the judges noses. Gets noticed.

Steve

[nealpar]

[gerritt]

Teampussy - where do I sign up? I'm too much of a pussy to try any fin first moves. The only forward loops I've ever completed were completely by accident and so frightening my wennie turtled and wouldn't come out for hours. Thus, I feel I should be included as an honorary member; both for having the proper attitude, and actual ownership of a pussy, if only for a few hours.

[Wind_Warrior]

[andydavis]

I am B&F only, but I would FS if I could

[swchandler]

Regarding theq's initial post, I was very tempted to comment, as I also have absolutely no interest in performing freestyle tricks. In fact, I don't think that even tried a short board tack in all my years of windsurfing. I stopped tacking as a maneuver when I unloaded my longboard back in 1987.

However, you have to hand it to those younger folks that practice a trick to the point of insanity to master it. Without a doubt, it takes a particular mindset and a whole lot of tenacity to work up a repertoire of tricks.

[kevinkan]

learning tricks like learning anything... just like learning to jibe... it just takes practice and commitment, and it feels good to get over the fear and learn something new. i remember learning to jibe, and it was the same set of fears... falling over and over again, making seemingly zero progress, wondering if it's all worth it, finally making one and wondering how long it will be until you make your next one...

and for most of us, the "freestyle" progression started w/ the duck jibe... and then the heli tack. we have guys here in the bay area in the 40s and 50s going for tricks all the time... it's really great to see, and we have windsurfers in their 20's who have absolutely no interest in it... so it's just about what you want to do... it's never too late to start learning new stuff. and you don't have to go crazy.. there are so many cool, classic carving freestyle moves that just look so sick and don't pose too much danger to ankles, etc...

i can think of two watershed moments for me that got me into trying some freestyle.

1. i saw an old dasher aruba video w/ the abk guys, and I saw them doing the hoss tack... i thought it was the coolest thing ever. i thought it would be amazing if i could ever learn it one day

2. i watched tonky frans sail the hatch on my first trip to the gorge. he was throwing the sweetest duck tacks... i had never seen anything like it before, and i was totally blown away... another one of those "if i could only do that one day" tricks

i honestly never thought i would ever be able to do a vulcan... it just looked way too scary and hard on the ankles (I've had multiple broken ankles and ankle sprains from skateboarding), and it just looked like a bad idea to start trying that kind of stuff.

i guess my point is that i never thought i would go down this path w/ windsurfing, but it feels great to have learned some of those tricks that I admired so much.

i think everybody gets in some sort of a sailing rut... it feels good to break out of it from time to time... and some days it's just nice to out and go B&F... like at Crissy on a flood.

[theq]