I was talking with a friend today about how we first started in windsurfing. I was wondering how did others first learn about windsurfing, how did they get into and continue on with the sport.

For me I tried a number of different sports when I was in secondary school. About 25 years ago my school (Clayton Tech in VIC) had a trailer with 10x Wayler beginner long boards and a power boat. When you reached year 9 you had to choose an activity for Wednesday afternoons. Windsurfing was one of those activities. No one really knew how to windsurf, including the teachers. We even did not have wetsuits only life jackets. Most of the time we used the boards as a sit down paddle board. Most students came along to get away from school and the BBQ we always had each trip. A few of us did in the end buy our own setups and continue to try and teach ourselves how to windsurf. Our parents shared the transport down to the beach. During winter we played around with landsailing at school and then at our local ovals.

Some friends taught me in 84.
I can't remember when I first got hooked but I had the attitude that the B thing wasn't going to beat me! I'd just swear like a trouper & get back on.I think I was just getting into sailing then so that would helped.Addicted probably the first time I planed on the Dufour Wing foot wedged up against the mast to prevent getting thrown off.
I just wish there had been lessons back then as it would have speeded things up so much.

I watched this Aussie movie called Windrider when I was Just a Kid, This started the whole windsurfing journey for me....I was instantly hooked on the idea of blasting across the water and flying through the air.

I made my way to the local library and got every book on windsurfing they had...That was a total of one. I spent months reading this book and watching Windrider over and over, My old man finally convinced I was serious about this and offered to take me the Canberra to the nearest windsurfing shop. We spent the day looking at boards and sails and Dad offered to buy me my first board, This is when reason kicked in.

We lived about 2 hours from Canberra and at least an hour from any body of water that could be sailed and we only went down the coast for 2 weeks a year. I wanted that board so bad but I couldn't do it to my dad, he would have spent his last cent just to make me happy...we were not a well to do family, but they gave me everything they could.

My windsurfing dream now laid dormant for many years....

20 years on, I relocated with work to Canberra and My dream was awakened. I was out at the lake one day and watched the locals blasting back and forth across the lake, The odd loop thrown in to really get my adrenalin pumping. The next day I went and bought my first beginners board from Scotty at the Wetspot, Got a few sailing and rigging tips and I was off....3 years later I still love it. I've done 2 trips to Australian Windsurfing Mecca, Geraldton WA and have learnt so much and still continue to learn every time I get on the Water.

I love this sport and now can't imagine life without it.

I was going to take up surfing, but did not like the idea of been shark bait, and sitting on a board all day, waiting for waves.. So I then thought, what about windsurfing?? most the time your moving and you dont need waves to surf..So I went down to the local shops, and brought the trading post. I spotted a ad in the paper, wich was a guy selling all his hire gear, for real cheaps prices, and I thought 'great' 'I have hit the jack pot' So I ended up buying one off him, and so did my brother. We both brought off him 2 huge one design sailboards, and some really old rigs.. We then went down to our local lake in the bush, and practised for hours till we could windsurf..

Yep Evan, it was that movie. If I remember correctly, the loop he did (which was a huge thing at the time) was in slow motion and edited together and I think he started the loop left foot forward and somehow managed to come down right foot forward (or visa versa) Movie makers .

Think it also featured the mighty Z boom

I've only seen it once, ages ago.

i started a few years agao on my dads old set up, this was a big ass stand-on mistrall with a fibreglass mast, plain aluminium boom and old triangle sails. I started one family holiday at rottnest (western australia) in longreach bay. My dad rigged it up and i sailed around the boats in the bay, it was good because i quickly learnt how to turn so i didnt hit the moored yatchs ... since then i have been given a borad by a nice local man from melvile , my brother became a kiter so i could use his old board aswell and i bought a new rig last season finally so now i am sailing fully in the 21st century

Bondalucci said...

Yep Evan, it was that movie. If I remember correctly, the loop he did (which was a huge thing at the time) was in slow motion and edited together and I think he started the loop left foot forward and somehow managed to come down right foot forward (or visa versa) Movie makers .

Think it also featured the mighty Z boom

I've only seen it once, ages ago.

I could be wrong, but wasn't green leader in it as a stunt double?? Oh hang on, maybe that was a Disney movie made on the GC.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. If I'd known then what I know now (totally addicted, can't survive without it, turn into a jibbering wreck and hurl old ladies up the supermarket aisles when deprived of it) I'd have run a mile from that bloody Hi-Fli 555.

Fortunately, I didn't.

ejmack said...

jh2703 - Windrider, was that the movie with Nicole Kidman and Tom Burlinson? If so I remember see that also.

It sure was that movie, I got hold of a copy last year...Cost me $3 from a Clearance bin in a video store. I've watched in a few times over the last year...It brings back some good memories.

In about 2004, a mate and fellow boat sailor said lets try windsurfing, so we bought two boards fully rigged for eighty bucks ! (this windsurfing is cheap !) A bic dufour wing and a hifli wally thing. Tie on booms, huge triangular sails. Not easy gear to learn on....What followed was the natural progression everybody is familiar with $$$$$$$

The movie Windrider was where I came up with my user name many years ago. I've had the movie on VHS for a while. The other week my wife spotted it in JB HiFi on DVD, which I bought. I will have to get it out at the Russian start of session party this year.

1987-I was out on my wave ski at Merewether Beach when a southerly buster came through. 3 guys came out on wave jumpers doing these what seemed like huge jumps (back then) and I thought how good is that. Went out and bought some wave jumping gear, I think the board was a storm 8, a real sinker and a 5.4 NP. Went to Warners Bay for my maiden voyage,had no idea, trying to uphaul this non floating board, major embarrassment. Luckily there was a friendly young girl sailing near me who had a learners board. She gave me a go on her board and a few tips, I think her name was Melony...............
Any way sold the storm 8 and bought a panther (I think that was the brand), it was around 11ft long and the rest is history.

Mrgob said...

It seemed like a good idea at the time. If I'd known then what I know now (totally addicted, can't survive without it, turn into a jibbering wreck and hurl old ladies up the supermarket aisles when deprived of it) I'd have run a mile from that bloody Hi-Fli 555.

Fortunately, I didn't.

I first learnt about it when I looked out of the verandah of the flat I was renting at Nth Narrabeen beach and saw these strange looking sailing craft punching out of the shore breaks and then coming back again. I think there were flags and a marquis tent on the beach. It was around 1977-78 and I think it was Australia's first Windsurfing Wave event or part of the international Windsurfing circus that was around that year. Year later I discovered they *were* Windsurfers with bent up noses. But I did nothing about it till...

Whatever it was I was impressed and by coincidence maybe a year later I met one of a handful of "authorised" Windsurfer instructors in Oz who offered me a lesson. I then rented a Windsurfer from the western end of Narrabeen Lake. After about 6 separate sessions the operator told me to buy one coz it would be cheaper. I wasn't quite hooked coz the board was sailing me but after buying a used German made Sailboard Fun (11'6" square tail) progress was quick. Chop hopped it on the Lake and then ventured out into the surf and jumped my first *wave*, amazing rush and then I was really hooked. I needed to update the board as f'glass boards were the thing to have in the surf.

Following year I think I bought Scotty O'Connor's old wave board from the Hot Buttered factory shop who sponsored him at the time. Well that's what Fitzy told me anyway. Learnt to waterstart quickly coz it sank, I was much larger than Scotty, but it jumped everything well and could carve a gybe. This was followed by 2 more glass boards over the next few more years with up to date rigs. Things you can afford when you are young and single!

It was an interesting "golden" period for sailboarding over that time. Dropped out in the early '90s but came back this year. Lots to re-learn but I'm hooked again.

Saw a guy on a One design at Palm Beach after a surf. Asked him what the story was and he offered me a go. 2 days later I bought a used One Design and was totally hooked. That was 84' I think.
Learned the basics at Narrabeen lake. Changed down to a Bombora Tri-fin and ventured into small surf at Long Reef. That was it, couldnt get enough!!
Been through many glass boards over the years. Had a break around the mid 90's.
Now hooked on the GPS thing and still stoked on windsurfing.
Luckily was part of the "golden era" in the 80's and saw and did many fun things.
Windsurfing got me to travel all up and down the east coast of OZ, Maui and some of the Pacific isles.
Best sport in the world!!!!!!

jh2703 said...

I watched this Aussie movie called Windrider

Ah yes that was my favorite movie back in the day.

www.videodetective.com/movies/windrider/2476