Is windsurfing popularity still declining?

Hi there

See my post here

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/5-15kt-touring-boards-Kona-SUP/#lastpost

I reckon more of us dragging a big board down the beach with a small rig on light days with family and friends is the way to go.

Ohh shiny

B00BS

"Plodding around on a lake is as close to True Windsurfing as Suping up a river is close to Surfing.....Lightwind windsurfing is closer to dingy sailing than True Windsurfing.. True Windsurfing is different to all other sports because of the distinct dynamics of a planing windsurfer.. Only a planning windsurfer knows the feeling.."

What a load of complete rubbish.

The term "windsurfer" was created by Bert Salisbury, one of the very first customers of Hoyle Schweitzer and Jim Drake. They applied the term to the original Windsurfer and made it a trademark. At that time, windsurfing was mainly about sailing in light to medium winds, and all about longboards.

That's what the term was created for, that's what it means. Saying that doing that isn't windsurfing is like saying that Nat Young wasn't surfing in his early Mal days, or that Hilary wasn't mountain climbing when he got up Everest.

The bizarre thing is that Hoyle still sometimes sails on an Original Windsurfer in light winds. According to Barn, when Hoyle Schweitzer (one of those who created the sport, applied the term windsurfing to it, and actually owned the rights to the term) goes on out an original windsurfer, he isn't "windsurfing".

So Barn reckons he's so special that not only can he tell other people whether they are having fun or not, but he can actually tell the man who basicaly created the term* what it means! Big call!

Having worked in the industry, I know six million UK windsurfers who don't own gear, but go on anual windsurfing Holidays to get their kicks.

So one in eight Poms windsurf? Yeah, right.

"it's just too difficult back home" is what they say..

Perhaps because of arrogant people who pretend that they are the ones who can tell other people when and how to have fun, and what windsurfing really is and what conditions it's fun in?

Of course if you have people saying "windsurfing is only about planing on shortboards" then it will be too difficult for most people. That's one of the points some of us have been trying to make.

Perhaps you could tell Jessica Crisp (pictured to the left, chasing the slalom national champ home at the finish of a windy race) that she's not having fun or windsurfing here? After all, she's only won the World Cup wave title (and overall title) and the Aloha Classic at Hookipa. Since you're willing to tell Hoyle Schweitzer and Bert Salisbury (who created the term "windsurfer") that they don't know what it means, you'll no doubt be prepared to tell Jess that she doesn't know what windsurfing is, either.



You could also tell guys like Warren Holder (7 times national wavesailing masters champ) or Rohan Cudmore (national wavesailing champ) that they don't know what they are doing when they get out in light winds for some longboarding.

I've done plenty of strong wind stuff, including top 17 at the slalom worlds behind Dunkerbeck etc, and getting knocked out of my last wave comp in the second round by a certain R. Naish. So yeah, planing (which you can do on any board) isn't exactly unknown to me, or to Jess, or plenty of other people.

I mention this only to point out that the Wonderful God of Windsurfing Barn is not the only person who has ever sailed something under 10 feet in more than 10 knots. And we really don't need someone to tell us when we are having fun or not, or what we can call what we are doing.

"I'm not arguing against the fact that there are a hell of a lot of people who like to sit in a dinghy in the middle of a lake jibbing and ruddering themselves to race victory.. Those folks probably would excel at lightwind windsurfing aswel.. But these people are weirdos.."

You really have an issue with other people daring to have fun in ways our ole' self-worshipping Barn does, don't you?

It seems that there's Barn's way, or the wrong way. There's words for that, and none of them are pretty ones.

"Of course this will all be dismissed as me being elitist cause I can do a willy skipper.. Which everybody could do if they had sailed as much in their youth as I have.."

It's not your supposed skills and time on the water that brands you an elitist - it's the fact that you slag off anyone who dares to have fun in a way that you can't understand. Planing is fantastic, your "only I, the almighty Barn, knows what windsurfing is and how to have fun" attitude isn't isn't.

Fj surely not lol

After seeing the length of this topic, I thought I better see what all the fuss is about.
Barn - great post. Pretty much the reality whether we like it or not.
Floating around on a Wally could be described as windsurfing Chris you're right, but this does not make floating with a pole anymore popular. We have all done it at some point - dragged the old big board out remembering how much fun it used to be. This is always out of desperation due to living in a location with not enough wind to "windsurf" as we know it today. Its a great sport but once you have tasted strong wind small boards, it is very hard to go back. Yes there are exceptions and some people collect stamps for fun too.

Chris249 when did I say that you were not having 'fun' on your wally??.. If I say scrabble is boring as batsh!t, I'm not implying there are not plenty of folk who love scrabble..

Sailing in light wind is good for a laugh on a summers day, and extremely beneficial for rig control.. But there is only so much plodding one can do.. And it sure as hell is not the savior of True Windsurfing..

Not disputing the accuracy of the title 'windsurfer' for a wind powered surfboard, thats why I penned the neologism 'True Windsurfing'.. If you can't notice a difference between a stationary wally and a planing shortboard then my point is lost..

Wow 17th at the slalom worlds and getting knocked out of a wave comp by Naish. Wtf has that got to do with anything?? Have the nerve to call me arrogant?? lol..

Those who wait for a holiday to go windsurfing remind of those who wait for holidays for skiing, surfing, etc. Call themselves skiers or surfers, but... Hey, I know someone who went to Italy for 2 weeks and thought she came back bilingual.

There are plenty of those strong wind only 'pros' here in inland US. In reality, 2-3 weeks sailing a year in perfect conditions on holidays at Maui or the Gorge or Hatteras makes for a rather limited progress 20 years later.

"But I am still terrible due to no practice" - after 20 years and 'having worked in the industry' ??? - what a terrible excuse. Every other year 1 or 2 kids come out doing very fancy flatwater freestyle after only 2-3 years, and never going on windsurfing holidays.

"I have seen talented, young, athletic friends attain a high skill and enjoyment level in this sport, and give it away" - perhaps they could no longer afford windsurfing holidays?

"this will all be dismissed as me being elitist" - nah, it's not the word that comes to mind. Sounded like an infomercial.

I don't disagree that the sport will not grow, BTW.

I don't care how someone windsurfs, where they windsurf or how often they windsurf as long as they windsurf they are a windsurfer and helping to keep this great sport going.

would windsurfing have existed if surfing had not been invented first?

Well, I went to Canada for 2 weeks and came back cannilingual.
Musta been cos I was on one of those wankers ski-ing holidays.
Call myself a skier ?? Hmmffff !! Get off my lawn !!

I prefer the term "board-sailing" for the slow stuff. I don't think you can say "windsurfing" unless there is a chance of a wave, or a least a chop-hop.
Let's face it. BArn is right. It's a pig of a sport to learn, and is total pants compared to the endless other options on offer.
Chris is right too, when he says simple is more appealing to he LCD. It's bleeding obvious when he points it out. He's still wrong about it more gear oriented than other sports though.
Is not the correct number of bicyles to own "n+1" where "n" is the number currently owned ??