A suggestion of quitting windsurfing was the best motivation reader Michael Fairrie ever received. Read on to find out why.
“So I guess you’ll be giving up windsurfing, you certainly won’t have any spare time, that’s what happened to me” was the sagely advice from my neighbour when talking to him outside my house next to my heavily pregnant wife. Then he came in with the second body blow, “You’ll no doubt be selling your gear, and your van.” As we were expecting twin boys I knew I was looking down the barrel of a life changing event, but giving up windsurfing was not something that I had ever even considered, and selling my gear – well hold on a minute.
I’ve lost count on the number of times I’ve been asked, “what size are you rigging up?”, a universal greeting amongst strangers on the beach and old and new windsurfing friends. But more alarming, I’ve also lost track of the numbers of excuses I’ve heard for people quitting windsurfing: work, family, backaches, no spare time and even kitesurfing.
This throw away comment from my neighbour had a real impact, and left me thinking. No more windsurfing?, if it can happen to him can it happen to me, that can’t be right?. Giving up wasn’t even an option I had considered! Was this true?, would I end up being another casualty making excuses for quitting!. No, no way, this throwaway doorstep comment turned out to be the best windsurfing motivation I’d ever received.
Denne historien er fra Issue 360 - October 2016-utgaven av Windsurf.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 360 - October 2016-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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.
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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!
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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.
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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!