myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
Tell me about the new longboard craze
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Darbonne



Joined: 27 Jan 2012
Posts: 252
Location: Farmerville, Louisiana

PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wish I could have made it. That must be Bruce's Kona. Will you be at the Pumpkin Cup?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GURGLETROUSERS



Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 2643

PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 4:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I note that Dolphins prefer the Kona 1. They don't come out to play with me when I'm on anything else.

I can't speak for the preferences of Sharks, Killer Whales, or Loch Ness monsters. (Nor would I wish to!)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mac



Joined: 07 Mar 1999
Posts: 17736
Location: Berkeley, California

PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of our stars, Bill Weir, sailing a formula board in surf at the Gate. R.I.P. Bill, we miss you:
http://www.sunsetsailboards.com/blog/41-windsurf-sessions/114-some-video-of-bill-weir-wave-sailing-fort-point
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Arthur_TX



Joined: 03 Sep 2013
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think i will try to make it to pumpkin cup.

Weren't very many at the swap meet compared to many years ago when I last attended.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
giuantramontana@gmail.com



Joined: 01 May 2010
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a similar story to Arthur_TX and recently found a new windsurfing life thanks to longboarding.

I used to be an avid windsurfer from 1985 to 1998. Until the early 90s, I had sailed and raced locally longboards enjoying it. By the mid 90s, I ended up to be the only one among windsurfing friends with a longboard, so I sold it and moved toward wave sailing. At that time, negative publicity against on longboarding was huge in the media considering longboarders = beginner. When life and career came along, I was forced to abandon The Sport because I did not have time to follow the wind with a 80 liter board in a hatchback.

I tried to get back into the sport in the early and mid-2000s with no success (same issues, no time to go sail when it was windy enough for a wave or slalom board where I was living at the time).

Then, I moved to Seattle and met a local oldtimer who told me to get a longboard if I was hoping to sail in town. I did it, and don't regret it.

Longboarding has replaced most of the other physical activities. I currently longboard with any breeze or wind. Longboarding has allowed me to get back in shape, so I can take sporadic trips to the Gorge to slalom race and B&J.

After 3 years into it and participating in local informal racing events, I decided to take a big step and organize the perfect longboard vacation (after getting my wife onboard with the plan Smile).

Early this month, I went to Czech Republic and took part to the Worlds Raceboard (The longboard event). I was not ready to be competitive, but, anyway, it was a blast. I will definitively repeat the experience in the future. Just starting a race with other 109 sailors around you, it was intimidating at first, and an adrenaline spike later (see photo).

Talking about longboard resurgence, this year Worlds had the largest number of participants ever: 110. It was a great learning experience and great fun, too. It was great sailing with a very friendly crowd with participants from all over Europe, Australia and Argentina. I was the only USA sail number. Many of the participants return every year and would like to see more participants from this side of the world.



1276732_10151841585064318_470085022_o.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  216.69 KB
 Viewed:  15873 Time(s)

1276732_10151841585064318_470085022_o.jpg


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sailboarder



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 656

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's great to hear that raceboard events are friendly too. I've done a Kona event that was great, but I was assuming that raceboard events were more down to business.

Thanks for sharing your story.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
konajoe



Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Posts: 517

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

WOW! That's really a nice event.

But I started reading some of the reports and blogs from the racers. Sponsored team riders were talking about making equipment choices, right and wrong. I personally hate racing against folks who have access to better equipment than I have. But I know it has its place.

If you liked that event, check out one of the big Kona events next year. One board, one sail, one fin. No equipment war. No pumping. Very fair racing. You'll love it!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sailboarder



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 656

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On the KonaOne page, there's an inteview with Max Wocjik. He won the raceboard world and the Kona European. I think he dominated the World's but found the Kona to be a tighter challenge.

http://www.konaone.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
giuantramontana@gmail.com



Joined: 01 May 2010
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Regarding Kona events, I will certainly look for future events as long as they offer charter. At the Raceboard Worlds, I chartered a new Starboard/Severne 9.5 set and rented a 8.5 rig locally.

Regarding Raceboard, I feel I need to add some clarifications and corrections on your post. The class limits the gear a sailor can register for the whole event to 1 board, 2 sails, 2 fins and 2 centerboards. The board must be a production board, so no favoritism for team riders (btw the world champion in raceboard also won the kona european on his first time on a kona, so he is good independently from gear and pumping). The extra gear is necessary given that you may race in any conditions as long as the average wind speed is between 5 and 30 knots. The two sets of registered sail/fin/centerboard are mostly for light or high wind. If races are all held in light wind, everyone end up using the light wind set, but it may happen strong wind. At this year event,we had strong wind in the first day with two races held in 18g28 (knots) and two races in 14g22.
Raceboard is certainly more physical when raced in light wind. A good aerobic training will help in light wind because it allows to pump more and/or better. However, the class rules also limit the total number of races per day and the number of consecutive races (back to back) when light conditions occur.
The class allows for a more competitive race, but I found the event to be quite friendly with only 1-2 protests per day.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
giuantramontana@gmail.com



Joined: 01 May 2010
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Regarding Kona events, I will certainly look for future events as long as they offer charter. At the Raceboard Worlds, I chartered a new Starboard/Severne 9.5 set and rented a 8.5 rig locally.

Regarding Raceboard, I feel I need to add some clarifications and corrections on your post. The class limits the gear a sailor can register for the whole event to 1 board, 2 sails, 2 fins and 2 centerboards. The board must be a production board, so no favoritism for team riders (btw the world champion in raceboard also won the kona european on his first time on a kona, so he is good independently from gear and pumping). The extra gear is necessary given that you may race in any conditions as long as the average wind speed is between 5 and 30 knots. The two sets of registered sail/fin/centerboard are mostly for light or high wind. If races are all held in light wind, everyone end up using the light wind set, but it may happen strong wind. At this year event,we had strong wind in the first day with two races held in 18g28 (knots) and two races in 14g22.
Raceboard is certainly more physical when raced in light wind. A good aerobic training will help in light wind because it allows to pump more and/or better. However, the class rules also limit the total number of races per day and the number of consecutive races (back to back) when light conditions occur.
The class allows for a more competitive race, but I found the event to be quite friendly with only 1-2 protests per day.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6  Next
Page 4 of 6

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group