August 2012

Turkey Live

Originally, this article was about the PWA Tour event in Alacati, Turkey. Thanks to the miracle of the intertubes, slalom racing heats were being broadcast live during the event. Quite fun to watch and a big difference from the dark ages when you saw two pictures in a magazine three months later or maybe a clip on a new VHS video.

One thing that struck me was that jibing is even hard for the pros. Of course, they are trying to jibe way overpowered in a small space between another board and the mark through the wakes of the boards in front of them. Nonetheless, my ego found it comforting that I'm not the only person to swim while trying to get a windsurfer to go from one direction to another.

As the event is finished, chances are you won't be seeing any more live video. (I'm smart that way, aren't I?) We'll leave the link up because it has links to videos from the event that you may want to watch if you missed the live action. And, because we endeavor to entertain and I don't want to delete or change the title of the article, we present a video Chris Voith shot last spring (April 2012) featuring himself and Scott Spreen (Scott is on the yellow board).

Boogie on the Beach April 2012 from Chris Voith on Vimeo.

Our original Post:

Türkiye Live

PWA Alacati, Turkey through Sept 1. They are seven hours ahead of us. Enjoy. If it says unavailable, it's probably finished for the day.

Windsurfing's Sound Track, Part 2

TylerAnd, you don't talk about the forecast.

Since a few a-wipes (I'm looking at you, Gene and webguy) decided to start yakking about the winds from Tropical Storm Isaac, I'm staring out a window at rain and no wind. Apparently these guys didn't get the memo. Like Fight Club, you don't talk about the forecast.

To amuse myself in my depressive state, I decided to reread some of the more entertaining posts on this website, including this one: Windsurfing Needs a Better Soundtrack. It's quite funny, mostly because I wrote it.

Clippy: Windsurfing Clip Art

don't clip me, bro
Clip art of a different sort: A Bris

Janitor's Note: Before someone's lawyer gets their underwear in a DMCA knot all copyrighted images shown are being used under "Fair Use" for commentary and criticism. Lots of criticism.

For some, clip art brings to mind the same connotations as the font Comic Sans. Both were cute and easily available so both were used over, and over and... well, you get the idea. Is there a Powerpoint or PTA flyer that doesn't use one or the other? Both are good ideas that have become victims of their own success.

Inevitably, the world of clip art collided with the world of windsurfing. Windsurfing forty years on still carries connotations of fun, excitement and adventure - characteristics advertisers like to associate with their products. Advertisers and artists don't always worry whether the details are just right. After all, they are selling the sizzle, not whether the steak weighs 240 or 242 grams.

Nigel

Relaxing at the RacesRelaxing on the lawn at LLSC, one of the best views on Lake Lanier

Making Plans for Fall

As the weather turns cooler, our local and regional windsurfing season heats up. Not only is there the promise of more wind but there are a number of regional events including our Fall Classic. Some events are billed as races or regattas but you don't have to be a racer to enjoy things. Hang out with a bunch of other windsurfers, eat, drink and share the good vibe.

Sept 12-15 Hatteras Wave Jam 2012: American Windsurfing Tour East Coast Stop. This is a major league professional event in our own backyard. There will also be special events including clinics.

Sept. 29 - 30 Shell Point Sailboard Club, Tallahassee, Fl Endless Summer Regatta. A party masquerading as a regatta but the racing is top notch. A fun place to windsurf even if you aren't racing.

Oct. 6 St. Johns Long Distance "Race", Jacksonville, FL. "No trophies or fees. We're sailing and we may happen to decide to sail together to a point and back." A great chance to explore a sailing spot most of us just drive over.

Oct. 19-21 The 34th Annual Fall Classic. The Atlanta Boardsailing Club's own regatta/fun weekend hosted by Chris Voith and the Lake Lanier Sailing Club. Details will be up shortly. It begins with folks arriving Friday night, racing Saturday and Sunday and a killer dinner Saturday night. Camping is available if you want to hang out all weekend without driving back and forth. 34th Annual - still blows my mind.

XTC: Making Plans for Nigel

Publicist

Haters gonna hate"It's hard to look right, at you baby
But here's my number, so call me maybe...

Simon, is that you again?

We were unexpectedly taken to task for something we wrote in our last post. It's not that we've never typed something we thought might land wide of the mark. But, we've always considered our posts much like singing in the shower when we are home alone. We sing loudly in an uncertain key, without regret and take our bows to the cheers and applause from our imaginary audience. But, then one day, Simon Cowell pulls the curtain back and says, "that was dreadful."

At that point, why our mind isn't on how Simon Cowell got in our bath but whether Randy Jackson will offer praise, we don't know. Nonetheless, the resulting discussion concluded with our admission that much of what appears on this website is sportist - a most pernicious sort of prejudice. Windsurfing receives preferential treatment vs. other sports such as dressage, curling, and buzkashi. Much to our chagrin, at least two of these sports will appear in future Olympics while windsurfing has been unceremoniously booted. But, if you haven't already, there's still time to Sign the petition to reverse that decision.

August

Props to the Peconic Puffin for the link to the video.
Charles Krauthammer is an Idiot.

One thing our "boarding" community has been good at is keeping conversation civil. We tend to avoid topics that inflame passions - politics being one of them. There are better venues for those discussions. Judging from the comments on more general news sites, many people are incapable of objectively discussing issues of the day.

That being said, Charles Krauthammer is an idiot. I understand that he has a "product" he wants to sell but it reminds me of the Monty Python pet shop (parrot) skit: It's not dead, it's resting.. If it were comedy, it would be brilliant. Masquerading as political commentary it's painful. The Puffin also draws our attention to the fitting memorial to Jim Drake at the end of the clip.

Charles Krauthammer: Windsurfing is about as "hoighty-toighty" as dressage.

Charles Krauthammer on Hoighty Toighty Windsurfing
Click here or the image to view the video

Farrah Hall slept in her board bag and with the homeless in her Olympic windsurfing campaign. Ben Barger lived in a tent. The dressage horse, Rafalca, lived "under a vaulted, tile ceiling in a terrazzo-floored stable with brass fittings."

Planning My Vacation

koaaala
In our last post, we promised you windsurfing koalas. When we promise windsurfing koalas, we DELIVER.

Even though it's the beginning of August, Mrs. Webguy and I haven't taken a real vacation. We'd hoped to go to France and watch the Tour de France or England to watch the Olympics but a representative at our credit card company suggested that Statesboro, Valdosta or Ft. Oglethorpe was about as far as our credit card would stretch. Already having visited all three, we decided to stick around Atlanta.

However, our fortunes have changed and I've set out planning a little jaunt beyond the borders of GA. The missus loves the beach but Florida this time of year is a bit unpleasant with the jellyfish, stifling heat and general lack of wind. The water is too warm for any sort of seabreeze and the afternoons are usually punctuated by lightning and thunder. Thunder, I don't mind, but lightning gets my attention.

I heeded the advice of my good friend CV, gave up on the idea of windsurfing in August and looked for a place to play golf close to a beach. I really don't play golf. With my ADD, I really can't get much past the 14th hole without getting terribly bored. But if I go on a golf vacation this time of year, it's pretty much like going on a windsurfing vacation. I'm not going to do either, but, it is a vacation.