I live around buford dam and i was wondering if there were windsurfing classes or lessons that are close by...i don't really want to go out there without knowing anything. i have a board and a sail however i do not know if they are suitable for learning. any suggestions?
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I am a US Sailing certified windsurfing instructor who has been doing professional lessons at Lake Thurmond (aka, Clark Hill Lake) over on the GA/SC border, near Augusta, for the last 7 years. Read about my lessons at my website listed here just below in this message. 90% of my students come from 2 to 4 hours away, such as Atlanta, Columbia, SC, the coast, sometimes Alabama and Chattanooga. I do small groups of 3 to 5. In fact, I have 4 this weekend (Saturday) so I have a space open.
Closer by, Chris Pyron does one-on-one (or two) lessons by appointment at Lanier. I think you can reach him at 404-784-0287.
Chuck Hardin
Whitecap Windsurfing, Inc.
c:706-833-WIND (9463)
As noted, (Thanks Chuck) I do provide windsurfing instruction in the Atlanta area. Give me a call if you're interested. Above is my mobile#. Home is 404-525-7190.
has anyone learned to windsurf using books or DVD's, i do know how to sail if that help.
if you want to go the DVD route, I like Windsurfing 101 which is listed on the first page of the windsurfing category on ebay today.
Linda
after a closer reading of the description on ebay, that DVD may not play on your DVD player
Linda
Nope it probably wont... its recorded in a Pal format
you can get the NTSC version it at
http://www.totalvid.com/Windsurfing-Videos/Windsurfing-101/
cheaper
Yes, it will play on the DVD player, because you can buy one at Best Buy for about $25 which supports NTSC and PAL
Forget the DVD. Take the lesson. The DVD won't teach you why you are falling in the water so much. An instructor will.
pk
The entire US Sailing windsurfing beginners' course is on the web, in text and short streaming video segments, at http://www.windsurfing.sailingcourse.com The whole thing is there. Very thorough. But, I'm telling ya, this sport is the least intuitive sport you'll ever try. The dvd's don't do a very good job of conveying wind knowledge which is critical to making sense of the other steps they are telling you to do. I've done every board sport there is, and they all involve one aspect of balance -- you on the board. Windsurfing involves three aspects of balance -- you on the board, balancing the weight of the sail over the board, and balancing the angle of the leading edge of the sail to the wind to create lift and to go STRAIGHT at 90 degrees to the wind direction. But, I do think some people can learn it from dvd's, depending on their feel for what they re seeing on the screen. Heck, people have learned this sport without any instruction. It can be done. Our own Danny Johnson is a good example. Perhaps he can tell you how many months it took him to get to where many people typically get in one or two days with good instruction.
Besides the dvd's others mentioned, there is a new one out -- "Beginner to Winner" that is 4 hours of instruction from day one to learning to do planing jubes and jumping, including rigging. I have several copies in stock.
Chuck Hardin
Whitecap Windsurfing, Inc.
c:706-833-WIND (9463)
Lessons-R-good
Lessons and a DVD-R-better
Alan
I love DVDs, but I could benefit greatly from a lesson every time I go out.