“Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.” Denis Diderot.
Windsurfing highs are what we look at this issue and foiling is part of the conversation. Wind foiling has continued to develop, mature and reinvent what our sport can be. But it’s a difficult conversation. Will it be part of the Olympics? Is it for me? Why are we talking about it? People have strong opinions one way or another, I’ll offer mine.
Not windsurfing, that would be easy, but not very rewarding, unless you’re talking money wise of course. It’s rare time on the water doesn’t leave you feeling better for it afterwards. That has to be worth something more than the pound. There’s more to it than just the physical act and the effect has always felt at its greatest for me when I’m learning or failing, which often go hand in hand. Foiling has heightened that experience, pardon the pun. It’s so different, so fun …and scary, so satisfying when it goes right. It’s a rush of feelings, a taming of fears and for those that have forgotten the feeling, it’s windsurfing! “Which are the experiences you tell stories about? The nice, comfortable easy ones or the difficult, uncomfortable ones?”, says Hannah Cockle, RYA OnBoard Operations Officer, as the RYA explains this month why windsurfing helps develop positive character traits and its benefits for kids.
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New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
