Fast-tracking Your Second Grade in Windsurfing

LeeD · Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 1175

I was hooked on an Alto at LakeMerced.
Really caught my first day in the surf, 8th overall day, a Marker111 at Ocean Beach on a S wind day and riding waves from outside bars thru to the shorepound, to get demolished, of course.
Yes, I got my sail caught under the old Sloat pier, the board atop the pier, and me stuck in between.

J64TWB · Joined: 24 Dec 2013 Posts: 1685

It's all about the smile. If your smiling, you're having fun and learning.

joethewindsufa · Joined: 10 Oct 2010 Posts: 1190 Location: Montréal

fellow was out in light to mid winds on an original Windsurfer and sail. he was getting killed. I passed and told him his sail was not full batten and tough to uphaul. he tried my Mistral Equipe with HSM SpeedFreak 8.5 and sailed away. He was grinning ...

About two(2) weeks ago, my colleague Antoine went to Cape Hatteras and was missing just that little bit to get planing. A woman asked if he wanted to plane. "But of course !" She asked then why wasn't he in his footstraps? THEN she followed him in a Zodiac and shouted instructions to him. He was the ONLY one planing then - he is quite light at about 150 pounds.

Friendlies on the water and local forums seem to help a lot.
It does NOT need to be "formal instruction" to be helpful !!!
don't always need the latest equipment either
Have FUN, get TOW and help each other.
ALL will be smiling Very Happy

(It does NOT matter what grade you are in )

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

AndreiA · Joined: 14 Apr 2013 Posts: 73

I enjoyed reading all the comments, including the BS ones Smile

The purpose of the article was to reduce the number of dropouts (apparently the majority of them happen in Grade 2).

Happy sailing everyone!

J64TWB · Joined: 24 Dec 2013 Posts: 1685

Andrei, how did you find your way to windsurfing from the middle of Canada? I know a few who gave it up due to family/career etc. Their sails would disintegrate if they unrolled them now. They are beyond grade 2. Once you plane out in the straps you never forget the feeling. That's the point where dreams start. At least it was for me.

westender · Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 1288 Location: Portland / Gorge

I wouldn't expect to get to grade 2 or above if you only have grade 1 sailing conditions.

Sailboarder · Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Posts: 656

I think dropouts happen when people realize that their local conditions are not up to grade 3 sailing without skipping work and driving far to chase winds.

My personal solution is to use a longboard. It's nicer when the majority of your conditions are not 100% planing even with large sails.

PeconicPuffin · Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 1830

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

There are dozens of variables that determine how quickly one learns to windsurf and how fast they progress. Most have been mentioned so there is no incorrect answer, just different variables.

I learned from a library book in 1984 (I don't remember who wrote it). Rented a Windsurfer a couple of times then bought a HiFly 500 longboard. Within 18 months, I had a Mistral Superlight for racing and a 9'2" Bruce Jones glass board for higher winds after a very sort stent on an Atkin 9'11" transition board. A little more than a year after I began learning I spent 10 days camped at Maryhill in the Gorge in August of 1985. I progressed more in those 10 days than the previous year, even getting on a borrowed 3.7 at Doug's Beach in 40+ winds, for two days. I was still on my 9'2" board, which to say the least didn't want to stay in the water. I don't recall having much fun, but they were unforgettable "holly crap" days.