I think the clinic on 6/26 should be Learn to Windsurf Clinic, SWAP MEET, and GET TOGETHER.
Even if you're not taking the clinic or even helping with the clinic, everyone should come and hang out, socialize, and have some fun (bring your water baloon launchers to make it more exciting for the students).
Also, let's have a real swap meet with all levels of gear, not just beginner rigs. Gene's Consignment Shop's inventory is at it's lowest level in a long time which is the result of some super killer deals. Bring your gear to the Swap Meet, if it dosent sell, YOU can drop it off at the shop afterwards. My commissions are only $25 per board, $15 per sail, 10% on Misc items. Also, check out the current inventory and if you're interested in a particular item, let me know and I might could bring it to the Clinic/Swap Meet/Get Together. See the current inventory at http://www.expage.com/genesconsignment/ .
It appears, that with a lot of nagging, I have convinced two of my dirt biking buddies to give the clinic a try.
I just wanted to give everybody a heads up. I am requesting that you:
1 do not laugh at them everytime they fall off the board and into the water
2 do not splash them
3 do not dunk them
4 no name calling, like "Wind Junky or Wind Snob" for they know not what these mean.
5 do not solicitate loans or beg for money.
If everyone could follow these simple rules then I feel that they will have a fun and productive learning clinic.
I hope they fill out the registration form.
I hate to be so harsh but I know how some of you are.
I with Gene, lets make it a BIG BASH. I'm bringing some brand new closeout gear, as well as lots of stoke, so bring all the cash you can sneak out from your significant other. I'm with Dave on the Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones Rule, which was very effective during my stickball, and back yard football days. Can we bring rocket launchers to shoot at the jet skies and yachts?
copied from, Gaastra.com forum:
tx7
All I can say is that LOTS of people have a crazy little urge to try windsurfing. What they don't have is a place to go and try it, or the courage. Your job is to provide the place, and a little en-courage-ment. Maybe 1 or 2 in 10 will stick with it, but they will become windsurfers and it will make your day.
Here's my top two objectives when teaching someone a first lesson.
#1 - They WILL uphaul and successfully get underway. #2 - Those who learn to get going WILL tack.
It's very important that your knowledge of the really basic stuff is complete. Extremely complete. Gotta re-learn stuff you knew long ago and forgot as it became second nature. It's very important that you can see the positive side of everything, and reward the progress they don't feel because they still fell in the water. Never a discouraging word. Actually, it's surprisingly easy to do.
We had a clinic last saturday with 11 pure beginners, about 2 hours of didactic / simulator, and 3 hours of taking turns with two instructors. One of our group publicized it through her ski club.
The wind was not very cooperative as it gusted from 5 to 25, with lots of 25. Most of the students wanted to use my 2.5 Gaastra Freetime rather than the bigger wave sails being used for the clinic, and a couple had to be dragged into the water and onto the board after the didactic session. But ALL the students successfully sailed under their own power. Very challenging conditions for beginners, and every single one of them sailed under their own power.
About 1/3 of them successfully tacked. And I don't mean step step step step step step step tacks. One two and you're done fast tacks. There's a right way to tack, and there's everything else that people have created. I've not seen anyone who can't learn the right way to tack in very short order. It's a complex move, but on the wide boards today everyone can pull it off. Everyone. Many of them do it on the very first try (after robust simulator time).
Of the 11, I think we had 3 converts - people who want to get (or got) themselves a board and learn more. All of them said they had always wanted somebody / someplace to show them how or give them a chance, but never knew where to go.
I'm bringing 3 kid's rigs and 2 boards they can play around with. I'm also bringing a Start board with a 4.7 rig for the adults. The kids can sail the Start with one of the kids rigs too. My kids are coming, 9.5 and 7. They always have a blast at this clinic.
I think the clinic on 6/26 should be Learn to Windsurf Clinic, SWAP MEET, and GET TOGETHER.
Even if you're not taking the clinic or even helping with the clinic, everyone should come and hang out, socialize, and have some fun (bring your water baloon launchers to make it more exciting for the students).
Also, let's have a real swap meet with all levels of gear, not just beginner rigs. Gene's Consignment Shop's inventory is at it's lowest level in a long time which is the result of some super killer deals. Bring your gear to the Swap Meet, if it dosent sell, YOU can drop it off at the shop afterwards. My commissions are only $25 per board, $15 per sail, 10% on Misc items. Also, check out the current inventory and if you're interested in a particular item, let me know and I might could bring it to the Clinic/Swap Meet/Get Together. See the current inventory at http://www.expage.com/genesconsignment/ .
Gene
Gene Mathis
It appears, that with a lot of nagging, I have convinced two of my dirt biking buddies to give the clinic a try.
I just wanted to give everybody a heads up. I am requesting that you:
1 do not laugh at them everytime they fall off the board and into the water
2 do not splash them
3 do not dunk them
4 no name calling, like "Wind Junky or Wind Snob" for they know not what these mean.
5 do not solicitate loans or beg for money.
If everyone could follow these simple rules then I feel that they will have a fun and productive learning clinic.
I hope they fill out the registration form.
I hate to be so harsh but I know how some of you are.
I with Gene, lets make it a BIG BASH. I'm bringing some brand new closeout gear, as well as lots of stoke, so bring all the cash you can sneak out from your significant other. I'm with Dave on the Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones Rule, which was very effective during my stickball, and back yard football days. Can we bring rocket launchers to shoot at the jet skies and yachts?
Plop
Danny Johnson
copied from, Gaastra.com forum:
tx7
All I can say is that LOTS of people have a crazy little urge to try windsurfing. What they don't have is a place to go and try it, or the courage. Your job is to provide the place, and a little en-courage-ment. Maybe 1 or 2 in 10 will stick with it, but they will become windsurfers and it will make your day.
Here's my top two objectives when teaching someone a first lesson.
#1 - They WILL uphaul and successfully get underway. #2 - Those who learn to get going WILL tack.
It's very important that your knowledge of the really basic stuff is complete. Extremely complete. Gotta re-learn stuff you knew long ago and forgot as it became second nature. It's very important that you can see the positive side of everything, and reward the progress they don't feel because they still fell in the water. Never a discouraging word. Actually, it's surprisingly easy to do.
We had a clinic last saturday with 11 pure beginners, about 2 hours of didactic / simulator, and 3 hours of taking turns with two instructors. One of our group publicized it through her ski club.
The wind was not very cooperative as it gusted from 5 to 25, with lots of 25. Most of the students wanted to use my 2.5 Gaastra Freetime rather than the bigger wave sails being used for the clinic, and a couple had to be dragged into the water and onto the board after the didactic session. But ALL the students successfully sailed under their own power. Very challenging conditions for beginners, and every single one of them sailed under their own power.
About 1/3 of them successfully tacked. And I don't mean step step step step step step step tacks. One two and you're done fast tacks. There's a right way to tack, and there's everything else that people have created. I've not seen anyone who can't learn the right way to tack in very short order. It's a complex move, but on the wide boards today everyone can pull it off. Everyone. Many of them do it on the very first try (after robust simulator time).
Of the 11, I think we had 3 converts - people who want to get (or got) themselves a board and learn more. All of them said they had always wanted somebody / someplace to show them how or give them a chance, but never knew where to go.
Anybody know if there will be any kid-sized gear? Or other kids?
cv
Yes, one of by friends is bringing his family. Kids are 11 and 5.
BTW Chris I just re rented Bristol
I will be bring my kids, ages 10 & 7.
Brian Minsk
There will be kid sized gear. Unfortunately for the owner, he'll be at a soccer fund raiser.
I'm bringing 3 kid's rigs and 2 boards they can play around with. I'm also bringing a Start board with a 4.7 rig for the adults. The kids can sail the Start with one of the kids rigs too. My kids are coming, 9.5 and 7. They always have a blast at this clinic.
Mimi
Ihave a 2.6 kids rig that will be there andis for sale by the way.
Plop
Danny Johnson