under finned said...
What are your target numbers for parents to be involved KA360? I thought the response was pretty encouraging to potentially take it to the next level of external sponsorship and paid/professional instructors (my vote for getting Barn on the job to teach kids solid technique, ironic comedy and MS Paint!).
Not sure how well developed next years sailing calendars are yet, but I think the opportunity to plan some "sponsor" style days at some of the bigger events gives you a solid captive audience of potential students? Getting a Slalom event down around Jarvis bay, a wave event close by and then heading up to Jimmy's for the Oceanics and you have a pretty good basis for a sponsored calendar just from competitors kids like byronmc. If these events have some sponsorship support and instructors you get to loosen the criteria on having a sailing parent and potentially get a few more kids involved by advertising it more broadly.
I still think the non-sponsored family get togethers are a given though! If we can't get our sh!te together to organise some weekends to do this next season it would be pretty disappointing indeed.
The numbers for next year are not disappointing but what worries me is whether we will be able to get everyone to come at the same time.
You are totally on the mark about Barney - he would be my number 1 choice. But we are a bit ahead of ourselves at this point. We need to get a few kids up to the level where they can get something out of it. I would love to see that as part of the annual weekend if we can develop this to that point.
Another point that I'd like to make is around the potential of incorporating something in the adult events. While there may be merit in this and there may also be a need for kids windsurfing lessons (with paid instructors), I don't really have the resources to organise these. I think that windsurfing parents may appreciate having the option to pay for windsurfing instruction for their kids at events where they are competing, but that needs insurance, rescue facilities and of course people willing to teach the kids. This is maybe something for someone like Tony to come and do with instructors from his windsurf school. Looks like a need waiting to be met Tony
But, my original idea is along different lines. I'm trying to get a "captive audience of potential parents" not "potential students". Where I'm coming from is that I believe that we have lots to gain from teaching our own kids to windsurf. It is an opportunity to develop a really unique relationship with our own kids. And let's face it, if they choose to windsurf, we will have the responsibility for years of working with them to help them progress through the sport. Many people can't afford windsurfing lessons but want to teach their kids. This annual weekend is to fill that need. I'm hoping we can form a network of parents and kids to help and inspire each other and make teaching/learning easier and more fun.
Windsurfing is not about a couple of lessons - it's more like an apprenticeship. You need someone by your side to mentor you long term or have a buddy. You will need to shadow the kids, protect them and look for the right conditions and prepare gear into the future to develop their skills progressively. I have been teaching Alex on the water for 4 years now (and many on land before that) - there's no way I could have paid for that. I'm starting again now with my second child (daughter Elli age 7) and I just wanted to offer other windsurfers the chance to join me on the journey ahead. It is so cool to see what you can help your child achieve in the sport we all love.
BTW, what's even cooler is where that leads. I went to Gerroa today with Alex and we blasted around in 20 knots, carving it up and getting ready to attempt the loop...
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