Better World Windsurfing School - Blog

Windsurfing Passion Rekindled

8/29/2022

June M. had windsurfed several decades ago and is interested in picking it up again. The first (left-hand) video shows June in her first lesson, on August 23. She made rapid progress: The next one shows her working on pivot-jibes in her next lesson, on August 29. (Sorry about the flaccidity of the sail; I keep forgetting that the downhaul tension of this sail works itself loose.)

Father & Son Lesson

7/30/2022

Scott S. and his son Ben S. (age 11) came for a first ever windsurfing experience. Scott caught on quite quickly and was soon helping by giving his son guidance. I usually get lots of pictures and/or video, but this time I hurried too much and started my GoPro camera incorrectly. The picture at right shows the general area we sailed after getting the basics down. Scott sailed around in the blue polygon; Ben stayed a bit closer to shore. We had some trouble trying to get out of the little bay formed by the Howard Boat Club jetty. I tried towing Ben out of there, but there wasn't enough power for that. Scott was good at not getting blown downwind, but he couldn't manage to get upwind enough to escape from said little bay. So we did a bit of walking.

Breezy Afternoon

7/11/2022

It was pretty breezy, but even using my 8.5 rig I got just two planing runs. Both times I tried for a planing jibe, but halfway into them I just got lost as to what to do next.

Dominic L. Gets His First Taste of Windsurfing

7/5/2022

This young man (age 15) caught on faster than anyone else I have taught. After basic instruction on land, I let him use the 4.0 m^2 "Fisher-Price" sail. He did so well, and the wind diminished some, so I let him use my 5.0 m^2 Ezzy sail while I used my 8.5 m^2 Sailworks "Retro" rig.
Much of the video below was shot by his grandmother, Diana P., whom he was visiting.

Using the 4.o "Fisher-Price" Rig

Later, I gave him my 5.0 rig.

Jessie and Chris Get a Lesson

7/2/2022

Jessie had an intro lesson here last year. This year he was accompanied by his wife Holly and their two sons, Chris and Isaac.

Jessie sailing after the preliminaries. The second part of this video shows Jessie making a self-invented jibe; next I'd like to have him perfect a proper pivot jibe.

Chris had no prior experience but did great. This footage was shot by Chris' mom Holly using my Nikon superzoom. Thanks!

Phil B. and Sara W. Get a Beginner Lesson

6/25/2022

Phil and Sara had never windsurfed before, but Sara had sailing experience. After the on-land instruction and some basic practice in the shallows, Sara caught on quickly and took off for the middle of the lake. I put the GoPro camera on Phil's boom and recorded what you can see below.

Day 2 of Strong, Squirrelly Wind

6/18/2022

It was again pretty windy, so I took out my 7.0 rather than the 8.5. I couldn't get planing, but the chop, the inconsistent wind, and natural clumsiness dropped me in the water a bunch of times.

Strong Wind as Squirrelly as It Gets

6/17/2022

Me struggling with strong but inconsistent wind.

Mike H. having apparently a great wing-foiling session.

Breezy Day

6/9/2022

Tony B. Gets an Introductory Lesson

6/8/2022