nexbie needs advice....and hope

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Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
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nexbie needs advice....and hope

I am 15 years old and 120lbs. Love to sail on the lake, but looking to take it to the next level by adding windsurfing to my line up. If anyone has an old board or rig that they would like to get rid of, I would love to take it off of your hands. Dont have a whole lot of money, but enough to get by. I have been watching people windsurf at LLSC and love to watch it, and would now like to participate in it. If anyone has some cheap gear to sell, then PLEASE let me know. Thanks!
Mike(ethiopia103@aol.com)

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webguy
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Mike,

Gene's Consignment Shop has 2 complete rigs, everything you need to get on the water, for $180 or $200. (I think you had said your budget was around $150, this is pertty close.)

Gene
770-967-0104

http://www.expage.com/genesconsignment/

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Starter Gear

Mike - I've got a lot of used gear, and could probobly put a board and rig together for you for very little $, especially in the context of a lesson. Have you ever had any windsurfing instruction? I naturally have a bias here, but I think most folks would agree that good instruction is critical to maximize fun and minimize frustration. Chris - 404-525-7190 or 404-784-0287.

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Chris,
Very interested in your offer, and also would like to take lessons to shorten the learning curve. What knid of gear do you have for sale, and waht am I looking at spending. Thanks for your time.
Mike

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When you get your gear and lessons, start working on your parents to vacation in Florida, Cape Hatteras, Bonaire or anywhere else the water is shallow and flat. You'll learn quicker in those conditions and maybe even get them sailing too.

You have a very limited budget for getting started, not that you can't but you'll be making some compromises. Compared to other sports, that's actually a pretty cheap entry ticket. (See how much bike $150 gets you in a real bike shop - maybe a wheel). Overtime, try to upgrade your gear, maybe by working on a component at a time. At your size, a ligher mast will make a noticeable difference. Also, look for smaller diameter booms which will fit your hands better.

The good news is that at your size, you won't need larger, more expensive sails. A 6.5 can serve as your largest for a while until you put on more pounds. And the small sail you start with will actually be quite useful for some time.

Two things you may encounter from your sailing buddies: 1) windsurfing is not real sailing - in polite terms, hogwash. You are the main sheet, you are the stays. You don't need no stinkin' rudder because your rig is perfectly balanced. Your sail is generations more advanced than those batten-challenged things they spend a thousand dollars on. Your foils are like a jet wing compared to the biplane wing they use for keels. 2) the sheer speed. Nothing funnier than to hear keelboaters wax eloquent talking about watching the speedo go 6, 7, 8 kts. We begin planing around 12-14 kts and the average recreational windsurfer cruises in the range of 15-25 kts.

Enjoy the process. It may be a bit frustrating at first but you'll have 65 years to get better- yes, 80 yr olds windsurf. You have a whole world of cruising, racing, jumping, freestyle tricks, wavesailing and more ahead of you.

Some will disagree with me but beg, borrow, steal time on a wider board when you start out. Learning to windsurf doesn't need to equate to getting constantly wet and falling off. Get in touch with Gene regarding one of my favorite boards.

Best of luck.

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If you're really interested, call me, cause I'm not much of an E-mail sort of guy. Numbers are above.

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