The OFF Season – Coping with Windsurfing Withdrawal

[mamero]

Some of you lucky windsurfers live in areas that permit you to sail 365 days a year. Many of us however live in regions where we are tied to the seasons. Here in Vancouver Canada, hard-core sailors could potentially start windsurfing as early as March and finish as late as November. Of course you need a thick wetsuit (5/4 or more), mitts, hood, and some solid skills to cope with the fall wind storms. For the casual or recreational windsurfer May to September is usually the norm. So November in Vancouver is around the corner and, although there may be the occasional wind storm to come, the number of windsurfing sessions remaining this year are seriously numbered.

I now find myself in the corner of my living room in the fetal position, pondering my accomplishments of this season, craving that blasting adrenaline rush, fantasizing about next year when I execute the perfect carve gybe one after another after another.

What do you do to cope with the sudden loss in the off season?
What are ways you can maintain or improve both your windsurfing skills and fitness when your next time on the water is perhaps months away?

Is there a support group I can attend to help me through?

[PeconicPuffin]

March in Canada must be cold! We sail (or try to) 12 months of the year on Long Island, where rigging in snow is part of a day's session.

[mamero]

[jp5]

That's just nuts.

[grantmac017]

I live two hours south of you, I'd call this the ON season! I've been stoked for the winds of winter to roll through.
Then again I started off prone surfing which is far colder and you can't wear a drysuit (which is luxury).

-Grant

[rswabsin]

Mamero

One thing you can do is scope out the wind and water conditions throughout the winter in your area. Take note of any saltwater bays that don't readily freeze over, note typical temperature range on the windy days, note the more prominent wind directions and do some research online into winter dry suits, heavy wetsuits, boots, gloves, etc. - most of these go on sale come next spring so that could be a good time to pick up stuff for next winter. As long as you have the right drysuit or wetsuit for the water temps, sailing in temps as low as 35 degrees isn't all that bad. Once you get near freezing, water tends to freeze up on your sail and boom and things start to get a bit less fun. Winter sailing also involves frequent brakes to warm up - like sail for 20 minutes and come in to warm up hands. Its also good to have a friend to sail. So use the time do some local research.

Rob

[joethewindsufa]

what happens in the Great White North near Montreal

as stated GOOD season is May to SEPT
there are people who go to Hatteras, NC in April/May and Sept/Oct to begin and end the season

also spring and fall people do windskating - on skateboards
in winter - after JAN typically people go on ice n snow until gone
deep snow is LESS friendly and kiters do better
can't wait to try my "new" sled

[wynsurfer]

Learn to ski, snowboard, or snowkite, Whistler is 1.5 hours by car from you. That place is awesome! It's OK to have more than one passion.

https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/

[cgoudie1]

What Slinky said! I grab my sticks and go get some rides on
crystalline water. Or, if there's none of that, I grab my mountain
bike. Or if I've got a serious Jones, I head for Maui (or at least
South to Mohave).

-Craig

[isobars]