Been having a discussion an another forum, and thought it might be good to have it here as well:

This is in reply to someone who stated "The whole speed thing is doing my head in.......... I just want to enjoy my sailing":

I think getting obsessed with the numerical aspect of the speeds you are achieving is a bad thing and can spoil the fun!!!!!!

I have spoilt a few fabulous runs, because I looked at the gps and didn;t see the speed I wanted and felt disappointed, yet the run was totally exhilerating, so I gotta get out of that habit, it's****** stupid!!!!!!!

Getting too caught up with the latest and fastest equipment is what killed the sport in the early 90's so that's another bad thing for the sport!!

So I think you are on the right track and not silly at all!!!!!!! Although for other reasons you are a complete imbecile!!!!!

The enjoyment of the sport is in the feeling you get from it, not what speeds you do or equipment you have, ask yourself after each run or session "Did it feel Good?".......... and sailing with friends and with other people who are passionate about the same thing is also what makes it feel good!!


For those that are super serious or completely obsessive, then the numerical speeds and equipment, are part of what makes it fun for them............. But for the rest, the Challenge is just one more reason to go out and do something that makes you feel good........... never lose sight of that!!!!!!!

I was thinking the same thing actually, that session yesterday with Hardie, Decrepit, Elmo and Grumps was totally awesome... it doesn't matter if you don't hit a PB, just managing to arrive at the break at the same time as a wave is enough for me! Had one magic ride, three bottom turns, the lip was crying out to be smacked but I was a big girl and chickened out. Also did an underwater loop (catapult where you realise what's happening and sheet in hard) which was sort of weird.

Even though the swell wasn't that big, it was utterly fantastic to get a dose of chaotic regularity, something that I think strikes a chord in the most primal centres of our brain

I think it all comes down to conditions. When the planets align and the wind and waves coincide, it's time to go WindSurfing. When it's windy and flat, strap on the GPS.
Reminds me of that peanuts cartoon where Linus says "I want to have a convertible, and a lake. When it's sunny, I'll drive my convertible. When it's raining, it will be filling up my lake."
What a lovely sentiment

Hardie , where will you be from tomorrow?

Interesting post.. I think most realise when they have been taking it to seriously and take a step back. The numbers can be fun, but not if you get too obsessive about it.

for me it's fun everytime over figures.

i just sail the gear that suits the conditions and my gear reflects this. slalom/formula for up to 20 knots and wave board and sails for anything over that.

not bothered if i don't jump higher or spin faster or do a speed PB every time i hit the water. not really bothered if it's only 8-15 knots and i'm out cruising on the formula kit. that's still a blast.

at the end of the day it's all about windsurfing for me. sometimes i take the gps, sometimes i don't, sometimes i try and do tricks sometimes i won't. sometimes i blow every gybe sometimes i make em.

one thing i always do is try and get out on the water.

edit" - location also plays a big part. conditions are always better at one spot versus another. so i move around a lot and try to enjoy each spot for what i offers.

Gestalt said...

for me it's fun everytime over figures.

i just sail the gear that suits the conditions and my gear reflects this. slalom/formula for up to 20 knots and wave board and sails for anything over that.

not bothered if i don't jump higher or spin faster or do a speed PB every time i hit the water. not really bothered if it's only 8-15 knots and i'm out cruising on the formula kit. that's still a blast.

at the end of the day it's all about windsurfing for me. sometimes i take the gps, sometimes i don't, sometimes i try and do tricks sometimes i won't. sometimes i blow every gybe sometimes i make em.

one thing i always do is try and get out on the water.

edit" - location also plays a big part. conditions are always better at one spot versus another. so i move around a lot and try to enjoy each spot for what i offers.

Couldn't have said it better

hardie said...

Getting too caught up with the latest and fastest equipment is what killed the sport in the early 90's so that's another bad thing for the sport!!

Yeah,
but in the early 90's,
there was no internet and no GPS meter.
All you had was a friend pointing a speedgun at you.

I'm no speedfreak,
but I'm guessing there must be a lot of geek-appeal with the dumping of data into the old computer.
Am I right ?

hardie said...

yoyo said...

Hardie , where will you be from tomorrow?

In mandurah, pm me if you wanna make contact, i'll give you my phone no.

I ment, where will you be from, tomorrow.

Today Tuvalu, yesterday South Sandwich Islands , tomorrow?

It's hard to know where I'll be from on a minute to minute basis, let alone the next day