Is it really that important to keep windsurfing alive, or that the next generation takes it up?
Is it a tribal thing? That we want the windsurfing tribe kept alive? Is the current generation allowed to make their own choices about which tribe they belong to? My personal belief is that the next generation is entitled to understand its own environment and make choices to suit itself, rather than be a slave to cultural or tribal traditions, that no longer have relevance to them.
Ok, so I love windsurfing, I'm madly passionate about it, but duz that mean my children, or anybody else's children have to feel the same way? I dont think so.
Windsurfing has given me a great life! Fantastic frendz, all passionate windsurfers, Fantastic Travel, all over the world and Australia, Has fed my obsession for new toyz, it has kept me fit and when I look at my frendz in their 50's that dont play sport, they look old and fat!! Windsurfing is the best part of my life, and I hope to windsurf into old age if possible. My retirement plans are to travel Australia year round windsurfing the best spots at the best times, hopefully with frendz I have made over the years.. D
Duz it really matter if no-one else ever decides to join the windsurfing tribe again, Is it reall that important?
Nope....
I honestly don't mind if kids these days don't think its cool and dont want to take it up. less crowds on the beach and more times in the waves for me!
I think people want to intorduce this sport as a way of getting kids out of the house, off the playstation, away from twitter and to enjoy what we all know is a great sport.
Having said that though, I will encourage my kids to take up some sort of fun sport (windsurfing, SUP, Kiting, Dirtbikes etc.) but I don't really care if no one else does it.
There will always be people who do it, and always be places where you can buy new gear so the sport won't die out for those of us who enjoy it.
I think we need to be careful to show the sport in a positive light as it reflects on all of us as a community but as for getting new people... I don't know...
Maybe someone else can explain why we need to recruit?
Hardies, currently going through a mid to senior life crisis where injuries are starting to take their toll and kiting is looking more and more attractive.
Be gentle on him, once he gets the first set of teeth marks on his pillow he'll be sore but satisfied
It is natural to want to share things we love with others.
Plus it is essential to have a critical mass of windsurfers so there are always people at the beach to sail and socialise with, and to keep the windsurfing shops profitable so they can continue to supply us.
I'm happy sailing with people my own age and older, but I have to admit it is more fun sailing with the next generation. There is something about the energy and vitality of youth which is contagious...
i just want to make sure theres enough people in it for it to be worthwhile for manufacturers to keep making my gear.
I was watching my young bloke surf into the early evening.
The sun had already set as he emerged from the water.
He jumped on his pushie and headed for home.
The dark wetsuit blended into the shadows as he rode off into the distance.
I thought to myself:
How simple is surfing ?
There's no fuss.
No fag gear.
Pure.
Surfing:
Tried that!
Got sick of waiting for days with swell, then paddling out to the only spot in the surf where the waves are breaking and sitting on the board (pretending to be a seal) waiting for a set to come through...
Then paddling like a douche to catch a wave,
Finally catching sed wave, riding it for 30 seconds (on a long one)
Then paddling back out again to repeat!
AND THAT WAS ON A GOOD DAY!!!!
Now, I wait for wind, get down to the beach, setup up and crank on all afternoon in waves, flat water, chop or where ever I please!
Surfing is a sport who attracts alot of young dudes who think its cool, wear all the surf clothes, buy a cheap board and sit on the beach hoping some chick will think he can be cool and surf (not saying this is the case for actual surfers but it attracts alot more "posers" than windsurfing.)
You may keep your surfing sir!
I will stick to my un-cool and "80's" fashioned windsurfing which is far more technical, difficult and costly but provides a sustained rush that surfing just cannot deliver for me.
Not remotely. I am so with you dude. Each to their own and all that
You guys surrounded by windsurfing friends, partners etc are so lucky. I've always lived places where I've sailed alone and not known anyone else who sailed. In the last 6 months I finally ended up somewhere where sometimes I actually get to sail with a couple of windsurfing buddies. It's awesome to talk windsurfing crap with someone who understands and to sail with other people, but does it make windsurfing any more awesome compared with having no one to share it with? Nope. Windsurfing is just perfectly awesome. Wouldn't matter if you were the last person on the planet 
I'm glad that windsurfing has a degree of difficulty and isn't cheap to pursue, it means that when your finally up and out on the water your usually among like minded people who feel passionate about what they do and can understand the kick you get out of it. It's not like running or some other sports where all you have to do is walk into a sports store, throw a little money around and away you go, you have to actually cover some hard yards and put in some perserverance with windsurfing, it shows determination, strength of character. I don't mind that a lot of people aren't interested, drop out or give up, means the beaches and oceans are less crowded and the people that are out there are the ones who are committed and dedicated to it. I'm all for keeping the secret to myself, sorry for the 'zen' but when I'm windsurfing I feel like I have the key to some magic in my hands that not many people know of or understand, when I meet someone else who sails I know that they do, I like that feeling, like knowing the worlds best secret...once windsurfed by a yachtsman who said it was the purest form of sailing, I believe this too...I'm happy to leave the next generation to chose their own paths in life....become the masters of xbox and wii...
Booming in Tas at the moment. Few juniors in the south. And originally only three juniors in the north. But now myself, James and Jordan have got another four guys that went and brought near new free ride gear and coming up fast. Plus a few others that come out every now and then. Soon hopefully a few more with dads windsurfing mates getting their kids ages from 10-16yrs or so up and going very well too, as far as i know.
I do have a few others keen but it's the time and money for them. Where it's hard, when their parents don't know much about the sport.
i stated sailing at 9 one day, i was siting in a 12foot boat with my dad when i was past by a windsurfer at about 25 knots. i spent the next 5 years saving, buying, and learning how to windsurfing. Finely i got the hang of it by 16, gave it up at 20 and started kite-surfing, my father started windsurfing after i gave it up!! copy cat. Whatever your kids are into try to do it with them so play wii if u cant get your kids to windsurf (or kite-surf)
