Submitted by webguy on Tue, 01/26/2016 - 23:06
For some reason, windsurfing in these parts is considered a "guy" thing. It really shouldn't be. Of course, when you look on the water at Lanier or a local spot, it's largely men who are windsurfing but that's really more about us than the sport.
We are tempted to blame part of this misperception on that notion that only men would be silly enough to jump into Lake Lanier in the winter time. But, someone in our household did the Polar Bear Plunge into Lake Lanier a few years back with her girlfriends so it can't be that. It just may be that women who are starting out windsurfing or considering it don't see many role models.
Well, thanks to the glory of Youtube, here are some good role models in videos posted recently. They aren't doing anything super crazy, just riding and enjoying things. We hope it encourages more women (and men) to get on the water.
Submitted by webguy on Mon, 01/18/2016 - 00:35
Addiction can be a brutal and ugly thing. We doubt that some teenage at a party, when offered an illicit substance for the first time, says, "Why yes, I'd love to do degrading things in back alleys someday. Let's see where this leads us."
No, the lure is pleasure, comfort and a bit of a thrill. It's only later, when the cravings won't stop that even the most impossible idea seems not only plausible but perfectly sensible.
Most of us started windsurfing on a pleasant, warm and gentle day. A caressing breeze filled the sail and momentary lapses of balance only meant a swim in refreshing if not warm water. It was all so fun. So innocent.
Soon equipment was bought. And then more equipment. You maybe had to bargain with the spouse to justify a new (to you, at least) piece of equipment. Maybe you didn't reveal how much that sail cost after shipping and taxes. But, you were really beginning to enjoy the sport and a mast here and fin there didn't seem like a big deal.
Submitted by webguy on Thu, 11/19/2015 - 11:37
If you are like us, every time you see pics of Hatteras/OBX you wish that you could have been there. Wish no more next spring, our good friend. Barrett Walker has had some rooms open up in his usually quick to fill house.
If you aren't familiar with one of Barrett's Hatteras trips, take a tip-toe through his photo album from his most recent trip: Outer Banks Trip - Fall 2015
Okay, now the details -
Outer Banks Spring 2016:
Again this Spring we’ve rented a 5-bedroom house at the same great waterfront location.
Reservations:
The price per week is - $400 single and $450 per couple. Call either Barrett or Peggy with questions. To reserve please send your check to Barrett & Peggy Walker. Our contact and address information is listed at the bottom of the flyer.
Submitted by Barrett on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 13:40
This Fall Randy joined the Outer Banks Trip and brought along a paddle board. He’s typically the first windsurfer out on the water, but when the wind was light, he headed out on his paddle board with a kite folded up that he deployed once off shore.
When he wasn’t windsurfing or kiting, he headed out in his car, returned with shopping bags that he carried up to his room & closed the door.
Of course we were curious, and asked Randy what he was up to. He responded “I’m advancing the science of kiting”. It was all very mysterious.
The mystery deepened when Randy sought out advice from Ted’s wife, Ruth, about sewing technical stitches that shape fabric with complex curves. He also spent a lot of time on his cell phone and said that he was in contact with a designer in Denmark - very strange. We suspended disbelief when we saw Randy trying out the kite that he put together after a trip to the Dollar Tree where he bought water-resistant fabric stitched together with Ruth’s sewing advice. Note the Go Pro helmet camera documenting his scientific advancements. It was all starting to make some sense.
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