abba Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 I'm going away soon, and decided to give windsurfing a crack! Dad was into it in the late 80's early 90's... and suprisingly all his gear is in good cond still! North for you They are slightly wacky colours... theres alot of pink and flo green! Anyone else windsurf? I appreciate kitesurfing is better and the new thing, and alot less of a faff setup wise, but windsurfing is different It might give me the shove to use my ion on the water! and maybe even get out sailing! Quote
D3. Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Go wherever the wind takes you . Never been one of those 'us vs them' types, the way i see it, if your on a beach doing something otherthan watching eastenders, your onto a winner! Quote
abba Posted June 15, 2011 Author Report Posted June 15, 2011 I've been kiting since 2003... and confident in the buggy... not even taking it this year to force myself into boarding! Just fancy a change and windsurfing is going to work out cheap as all the gear is ready to use! It has just cost me a few quid for a half decent wetsuit Quote
KaptainKremmen Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 Windsurfing is bloody hard compared to kiting but very rewarding. Don't get fustrated if you don't 'get it' right away Quote
abba Posted June 15, 2011 Author Report Posted June 15, 2011 Just rigging the sail was hard work! In theory i think i have the technique in my head... can't quite get the idea of tacking and all that... Will try to get the gopro mounted in some way and catch the action lol... probably use the car suction pad similarly to the surfboard mount Quote
Crispy Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 I've been looking at cheap windsurf sails on eBay to make a sail for an RC land yacht. There really are some shocking colour combinations out there! Quote
abba Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Posted June 30, 2011 I actually moved today! Ache now though! Quote
Bex Posted June 30, 2011 Report Posted June 30, 2011 well done.... I tried it back in the late 80's and spent 2 days trying to get on 2 days trying to stay on 1 day trying to move it without falling off and once moving 2 hours trying to get back from other side of the bay to the beach I started from, then the next 2 days in the pub watching my instructor show off... ahhh what a fantastic week that was.... Quote
shrimpo Posted June 30, 2011 Report Posted June 30, 2011 My first time on a Windsurfer for many years, last weekend, did try it once a long time ago. Got an old rig from the bay, and gave it a go, managed to stay up on it and move a bit, even a couple of turns, but must say still spent a bit of time in the water. Will give me a toy to play with when the wind is to light to bother sailing me boats, in the summer months.. Must say, it is strange how hard it was, as done kite surfing in the past, though TBH spent a long time getting the hang of that, but as you are already in the water anyway..... oh and yes lots of time getting up, going down, up, down, now to think back.... oh well worth the time to keep at it... Must say though the old land based stuff has taken a bit of a back seat, since I got my boats.. Keep at it abba, you need a change sometimes to keep the interest.. Shrimpo Quote
mick Posted June 30, 2011 Report Posted June 30, 2011 I windsurfed from the late 70's. Tie on booms and flat sails with no battens and loved every minute. Still got 4 boards here at home BUT the minute I had my first go on a kite, that was it; I never windsurfed again. I've had a little go on hols but it just doesn't do it anymore. Mind, neither does land kiting and I've done that since 2003. Its water or nowt. Give it a go, you'll love it. The first time you see the board moving its great. Your first planing sesh is the next buzz. @Shrimpo. RC electric 3d helicopters for me. I hate the fickin things. I've got 6 now. :( They truly are the hardest thing to learn to control. I aint half good at repairing. 6 months and I'm only just past hovering. Quote
shrimpo Posted July 1, 2011 Report Posted July 1, 2011 @Shrimpo. RC electric 3d helicopters for me. I hate the fickin things. I've got 6 now. :( They truly are the hardest thing to learn to control. I aint half good at repairing. 6 months and I'm only just past hovering. LOL. I got one as well, (4 way control) for the No wind days, and must say after spending out £££ on a good few sets of blades, only managing to chase the bloody thing all over the park, have not had it out for a while (chopper that is), + the battery's only lasts a short while, you do need no wind when you start. Have watched others fly them, and it is good when someone can do it, maybe not enough time spent on PC games in the past to get the control thing right... TOY's you got to have them... Must say though, the indoors ones (micro) are good fun, and robust so if you do crash them normally ok, not so good the the light fittings though... Shrimpo Quote
mondeoman Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 Same, same here. I windsurfed for 25 years, then got a kite and buggy to teach myself kite control, then went on the water and that was windsurfing and land kiting finished. What I do fancy for the summer is getting something like the airush sector board for a spot of "long board" cruising. I think the credit card can afford it! Still got one windsurf board in the garage but can't see it ever hitting the water again. Quote
abba Posted July 4, 2011 Author Report Posted July 4, 2011 I enjoyed windsurfing... even though i only had 2 sessions and neither had ideal wind conditions! Session 1 i spent an hour practice getting on the board without the mast and a sail... so was very wobbly but got that... then started working on lifting the sail... but found it hard to balance as there was no wind to lean against Session 2 i stood up and got the sail up straight away... but with changable wind direction... i wasn't able to move further than a few meters. I thinks its something i'd like to play at... but there is alot of gear to carry around and setting up is far more involved than kiting Had two weeks away down in Conwall & Devon and had 3 days of kiting/surfing... the weather was a bit too nice for the gf to sit around watching me fall off things i think Quote
englisho Posted July 13, 2011 Report Posted July 13, 2011 Knocked kitsurfing on a head about 3-4 years ago (maybe even longer) and moved on to windsufing (yes.. it's the opposite direction to most people but I needed something that was more of a challenge). My god was/is it a challenge!! Three years on and I still cant manage a gybe without getting wet. Absolutely love it though and the release from tangles strings was a blessing in itself. Modern kit is completely different to the old stuff you see on ebay though (which would put anyone off) so be careful. The smaller, friendly and less transient crowd reminds me of MTBing in the late 80's. I highly recommend it Quote
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