Ever had problem of having to take the kids to sport or mow the lawn or visit the in laws or do something else when the wind is blowing and all you want to do is go for a sail. Imagine having an excuse to go sailing that is beyond questioning and tops any other family commitment you may have.

The solution is Techno 293

No longer will anyone be able to place obstacles in the way of you going for a sail, you have to go for the kids, and what kind of a parent would you be if you weren't out on the water supporting them.

Seriously though the Techno Aust Class Association has been recently formed and we are keen to grow youth windsurfing around the country. Techno 293 is the largest windsurf class and is a feeder for all other windsurf racing classes. We are actively seeking new members so if you have kids get them into Techno 293 and leave any guilt of going for a sail behind.

That is a great promotional video for youth windsurfing.

Where are all the next generation windsurfers in Australia? Considering how popular windsurfing was in the eighties and nineties in Australia, you would have expected the kids of that generation would have been strutting their stuff on windsurfers now.

Why haven?t the parents of that generation got their kids off their computers and taught them how to windsurf?

Wouldn't it be great to get this played on prime time television to get parents/kids motivated and into this great sport!

Gregwed hard to say, I posted it here on Seabreeze, the best possible target audience you could think of and I have my doubts as to how effective it will be motivating parents/kids who are already in the sport. That said I am glad you replied cause it gives me an excuse to lead into blurb about why Techno is good for windsurfing.

Following is one of the primary aims of Techno Aust, from the constitution

To consider and create a strategic development structure for all sailors passing through the class with the aim of their continuation within competitive windsurf racing participation

One of the goals of the class is to be a feeder of new blood for windsurfing, that will be good for all classes, clubs, retailers and manufacturers and anyone associated with the sport.
Windsurfing needs new blood and recruiting juniors is the way to go, look at the AFL, Rugby League, Cricket or Netball they all have junior programs cause if you leave it to late to recruit kids/teenagers mostly have already chosen a sport. Also new blood doesn't have any pre-concieved ideas about how windsurfing should be ie short boards, high performance sails in 15knots and up and there is a strong argument that the high performance focus on the sport in the past contributed in no small way to the decline of new participants.

Some reasons why the Techno class is a good for Windsurfing

1. It is a proven established class worldwide and the formula works as demostrated by the sheer number of kids involved globally.

2. Kids need structure, how many kids would play football if they only got to participate every second or third weekend and then only kicked a ball around, not many I think, they play football cause they get a game each week, they get to compete each week with other kids. Techno delivers a structured safe environment where they get to participate every weekend with a specific purpose ie racing.

3. Kids need to belong. Kids in techno met other kids with a common interest and they see them every weekend and make friends, soon they belong to a new social group that see's itself as windsurfers cause that's what they do, that's their sport.

4. Something to progress to: Kids need goals and techno provides that in abundance, Its one of two Youth Olympic Classes and as such is ingrained in the Yachting Australia system. Support and training and high performance coaches and everything every other sailing class enjoys from YA is available to Techno, the difference is at the moment the opportunities in techno are far greater because in Australia there is far less numbers than other sailing classes. I also believe Techno is the official youth class for the AWA and ISAF. Two techno kids from Qld got sent to Brazil in five star luxury a few years ago by YA because they won the National Champs and were selected as part of the Australian Youth Sailing Team. One of them now is a Severne team rider the other is on track to get selected to represent Australia in the next Olympics. Both cut their teeth in Techno

5. Racing makes average sailors good and good sailors better, so a strong junior fleet in Aus will deliver competitive sailors in the future for all windsurf disciplines to fly the Aussie flag.

6.Techno is One Design: Its not about the gear, its not a gear war for parents to fund, saying that the gear is good, its durable, its fast, and its exciting techno's can jump, gybe, plane upwind or downwind and they have a usable range of 3-30 knots or for $3000 brand new fully rigged. Also kids are equal no one has better or worse gear and that's important to kids, they don't want to get left behind. Parents can also be confident when they buy a board it will be suitable to learn on and they can keep using it for years and years so its a great investment, no need to buy new gear every year and that's a problem for other sailing classes ie start in opti's then move to laser 4.7, then radials or 29ers or 49ers etc etc. Techno is also easily transported and that's another plus over other classes.

7.Techno is not mutually exclusive, my son sails techno, formula and short boards, some of the other kids are big into wavesailing. To be a member of Techno Australia you need to either have a YA silver card or be a member of an AWA affiliated club, we will encourage new recruits to join both and that will deliver a larger membership base for local windsurf clubs.

Thats a few points, we are developing a junior program in Qld at the moment, first step was to get qualified instructors and YQ are running a course at our request in October, next step is to get some additional gear and get a program going and thats in the pipeline. Eventually we hope to have like minded people around the country get involved and begin to build a junior fleet to feed the Techno class that will feed all the other windsurf classes.

Some big plans from a few parents but as Paul Kelly said "From little things big things grow"

From what sort of age could a kid ride a Techno?

I am a bit surprised by the size of everything !
How kids could manage to operate sail at this size 8.5 m2 since my largest sail is 8.0 and feels so heavy already.
Then boards 12.5 kg , twice as much as mine slalom board.
But that is obviously Olympic competition not our Sunday recreation.
For this also reason recruitment will be limited only to those ambitious kids that are looking for professional sporting career not just fun I am afraid.

Kids don't use an 8.5 they learn on kids rigs as the video shows and the weight of the board is not relevant, as you know smaller boards are for advanced sailors. As for age I think they can start as young as the junior dinghy sailors 7 or 8 yo or when they can pull up a rig.

The plan with junior recruitment is structured similar to dinghy sailors ie
YA has a tackers program that introduces kids to sailing (perhaps we can call juniors windsurfers helitackers), they then progress to the opti green fleet which introduces them to racing on a inshore course, kids then progress to full blown racing out on the full size courses.

We want to follow a similar formula as it works here for sailing and for windsurfing overseas ie for new recruits the emphasis is on learning, kids that have the basics down then do small inshore course, it may be upwind downwind or even a simple reach to a mark 50mtrs off the beach and back, then when confident they can progress to the full course even with a smaller rig than the class rules allow and finally they progress to a full techno set up and start racing for sheep stations. In the early stage I think any gear will do its not important, only when they start full racing will it be nessecary to move to a techno.

Having little kids sailing with big kids will naturally inspire them to want to do what there doing.

The kids currently doing techno are doing approx 70 races a year, with that amount of TOW you will be surprised how quickly they progress, from the time my son (14yo) stepped on a board with a kids rig to doing his first regatta on a techno was about 4 months, he didn't finish any race but that doesn't matter, within a year he was racing at Hawks Nest in the Formula Down Under Pro. The kids learn so fast it will put you to shame.

As an instructor on public wages you may have a hidden agenda to propagate communist era sporting equipment and mass participation Cammd.
I doubt you could force anybody enjoying windsurfing at free will to use techno crap.

I could say from my own experience that from this perspective the years I did try to learn windsurfing on similar BIC board were completely wasted.
It maybe looks good on school propaganda movies but in real life there is nothing to learn beside very early beginner steps.

Board is not responsive and once you have proper equipment need to learn windsurfing maneuvers again.
Regarding family matter only by paternal authority you could force a kid to torture on such equipment. In our family we did just opposite.
I did try to learn on similar monster board and my teenager kids jump almost straight on JP 84- 92L . They learn everything in no time at all,
for me everything started working when I did switch to much smaller board.

Results are in for the Ergo Hestia Cup
2013 TECHNO 293 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
27th July to 3rd August 2013
Sopocki Klub Żeglarski, Sopot, Poland

Competitors
Under 17 Boys 159
Under 17 Girls 74
Under 15 Boys 93
Under 15 Girls 28

i.e. 354 competitors in Techno 293 class at one event this month from the following countries: ISR, FRA, UKR, USA, NED, GER, ESP, RUS, NOR, GBR, POL, HUN, MEX, ITA, LAT, TUR, ARG, BEL, PUR, THA, SIN, EST, NZL, LAT, HUN, IND, HKG, JPN.

Anyone reading this post should clearly recognize the unfactual bias that Macroscien has against the Techno 293 product, which is out of step with what today's windsurfing kids have embraced.

Wow Macro that reply was unexpected did I do something wrong by you in another life. I even defended you in the past while others were getting into you. That was a pretty harsh hose down you gave me and the reference to me torturing my kids was bordering on offensive
No I am not a paid instructor I am a volunteer parent but I do have an agenda to encourage mass participation in youth windsurfing although I haven't tried to hide it.

If you don't like bics thats fair enough 8000 tortured kids may disagree but you missed the point I think. I haven't tried to say the techno is the best board ever invented but I think your review on it is a bit unfair. The reality is you can learn more than only basic manoeuvres you can learn to race you can learn tacks and gybes and jumps and board and sail trim and how to tune gear for different conditions and you can learn how to gain height and pick laylines and calculate angles vs speed to maximise vmg and lots of other sailing stuff.
My point was what we believe the class can do for windsurfing in Australia and the opportunities it can present for the kids.
Mate I invite you to come up to rq on Saturday there's two races on, see if you can beat one of the tortured kids on those monster boards around a course .

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Macroscien said...
As an instructor on public wages you may have a hidden agenda to propagate communist era sporting equipment and mass participation Cammd.
I doubt you could force anybody enjoying windsurfing at free will to use techno crap.

I could say from my own experience that from this perspective the years I did try to learn windsurfing on similar BIC board were completely wasted.
It maybe looks good on school propaganda movies but in real life there is nothing to learn beside very early beginner steps.

Board is not responsive and once you have proper equipment need to learn windsurfing maneuvers again.
Regarding family matter only by paternal authority you could force a kid to torture on such equipment. In our family we did just opposite.
I did try to learn on similar monster board and my teenager kids jump almost straight on JP 84- 92L . They learn everything in no time at all,
for me everything started working when I did switch to much smaller board.

I'd slow down with the drugs mate

It's a bit sad to see the negative comments when you see all the kids enjoying themselves.
You never know, if you give it a go you might like sailing just for the fun of it instead of bagging others.

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cammd said..

8000 tortured kids ...

Where does this number come from?

It sounds a bit like there might be a little "unfactual bias" in some of what you have reported too

I don't really like disagreeing with anyone who is trying to get kids into windsurfing but some of the claims made above are just a touch exaggerated...

I'm not a great fan of teaching kids to windsurf on boards that don't have padded decks and have footstraps in the wrong place for their body size or that have such heavy rigs. The mast track and dagger board box are also right where they have to put their feet - not a very friendly design for small toes! You say that they cost $3000 and then people still have to buy a series of smaller rigs to get them ready before they start with the standard rig for their age. There is much more appropriate learning equipment available for a lot less cost. I would think that we are better off teaching on friendlier gear and then buying racing equipment for kids who want to race.

The first video looked like it was a lot of fun but I have to say that a 5.8 metre sail for under 13s is too big for most. In any case, even with smaller rigs, I don't think that you are right about little kids (under 14) learning easily on these boards. And certainly not 7 or 8 year olds. I have taught two children at that age so I know from personal experience. These boards are too big for small rigs to maneuver and your claims that they can be used for LEARNING TO JUMP are a bit hard to believe (although I accept that they are easier to jump than an RSX). I would not recommend anyone wanting to teach someone small to use this equipment.

I agree that racing is very helpful in making sailors stronger but I also think that all disciplines have something to add to making someone a great sailor. There is a lot to be said for freestyle in helping to teach rig control for example. It is also a discipline which kids find really fun. Fun is what attracts kids to the sport. Racing is great for some but the rest need something more to keep them interested. The majority of windsurfers don't want to race. By the way, one design doesn't make everyone equal - kid's come in different shapes and sizes so one size of equipment doesn't suit all - a small group will have the advantage. Also, possibly the reason that not everyone will love this idea is because most windsurfers do love windsurfing in more than 15 knots on a short board. Have a look at the UKs Team 15 concept where they offer racing but allow the kids to learn other disciplines if that's what they prefer. They attract and keep a lot of kids to the sport while still creating a feeder group for future Olympic competitors.

On your point about YA support, I don't think it's that great - didn't they vote for kitesurfing over windsurfing and I also heard Sean O'Brien commentating at a PWA event that Luke Baillie wasn't sent to the Olympics despite ranking 5th in the world!

Having participated in formula events in the UK and Netherlands which are often run as part of the techno events on the same courses (or at least they share some of course marks), I can say it's pretty popular and the kids easily outnumber the adult formula/RSX/race board entries.
They seem pretty good too!

They seem to send them out in anything from about 2knots up to the high 20's.

Ka360 thanks for the comments the number of members is from the international class association so I didn't make them up but I can't verify if the class association did or not.

Regarding your point about not all kids will want to race is valid and I agree. I should have said that kids wanting to race techno will need to move to techno set up other will move to other disciplines, my bad. I would like to make the point again to be a member of this class you need to either have a silver card or be a member of an awa affiliated club. We don't want to drag members or potential members from windsurfing clubs the opposite we hope to deliver more. If kids get introduced to windsurfing through this initiative and choose to pursue freestyle or wave or slalom or whatever than that's a win for windsurfing. We will participate in windsurfing events with other disciplines in order to expose kids to other classes so they can choose for themselves.
I saw last night the burrum windfest will have mixed class course racing straight away I want to get techno up there to showcase the class and expose the to kids to speed sailing.

When talking about setting up the class one of the main concerns we had was how do we get new members as techno is a class members move through they dont stay in it so we will need an ongoing supply of new recruits hence the need for a junior program. The reality is only a percentage of kids will want to race as you said others will do something different. The T15 program is the inspiration for this initiative and the model we want to follow but note it has been running over 10 years and started as an RYA program fully resourced.

Regarding YA and Luke Baillie, Wayne Baillie his father is the vice chair of the class if any one has a reason to feel bitter it's him but he knows that holding onto the past won't serve our future goals. The reality is YA have resources we want to tap into so to ignore them would be foolish. I don't think YA will come to us to ask us what can we do for you. We will have to get some runs on the board that gives us an argument to claim our share of pie. In addition kids wanting to pursue Olympics sailing will need to be in the YA system those that don't can just remain with local clubs or be recreational sailors. YA like every organisation in the world they will invest where they see a return if we can show them windsurfing is a source of growth they will support us. The strength of the techno class worldwide was one of the strong arguments that got the Olympics decision overturned YA sought comment from the class association in Australia but we didn't even have one, you have to agree that isn't a good look.

Regarding choice of learners boards again I agree there are better boards to learn on. The club we are with is ready to spend some money on gear but I am not sure how much. If their willing to spend tens of thousands on a fleet of new starboard starts than fantastic. But if they will only buy some kids rigs to put on the techno boards they currently have then that will have to do for now. Edit: to be honest we are grateful for any invest the club is willing to make in windsurfing

Thanks for the comments I was hoping to get a discussion going on youth windsurfing so bring them on

I was thinking that the board was crap until I tried it and had a lot of fun the all afternoon.
I wonder how the 8m rig goes.

Regarding better equipment, I'd rather sail a AC72 off course...

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cammd said..

I was hoping to get a discussion going on youth windsurfing so bring them on

This is a very refreshing response cammd. I have been a little disheartened lately because too many people are inflexible about the issues involved in getting new blood. Too many only consider their discipline and get defensive. I firstly want to make it clear that I think the techno class is a vital part of the bigger picture. It has an important role to play. My interest is in the initial teaching and motivating of children (and their parents). I'm impressed that you are open-minded and happy to take a broad approach because I think that we will not get far unless we look at the best available solutions for getting kids into windsurfing rather than just pushing our own interests and areas we are passionate about.

Different approaches are needed by age group and discipline. I believe the best sailors get benefits from learning all windsurfing disciplines. They can specialise of course but they should be all rounders first if possible. Too many people (adults as well as kids) have been put off the sport because of using inappropriate equipment for their ability. I believe that beginners need the most care regarding equipment choice. I have lots to say about how to teach kids but I can see that there aren't a lot around right now whose parents are willing to commit.

There are of course a heap of other factors that have resulted in lower take-up rates of windsurfing. The issue needs to have a multi-pronged solution worked out and given a holistic approach. Team 15 type programmes will go a long way (although it seems to me that there are problems with funding and including that yacht clubs are not in ideal windsurfing locations).

On a completely different note, I'd like to raise a concept/idea for further discussion. This is not just about kids though. How does this sound?

MASTERS and APPRENTICES

If every windsurfer took on an "apprentice" we would double the number of windsurfers in one year. Maybe we could create a competition like the GPS teams challenge and see which state could increase their numbers more. Any organised events could cater for "apprentices" to compete (with acknowledgement to their "masters" in some form of reward too). The role of the "master" would be to share their passion, help the "apprentice" buy their first appropriate equipment (not just sell them their old gear) and stop them from buying any old bargain on ebay, shelter them from bad experiences on the water, sail with them, rescue them and tutor them. The "apprentice" could be their own child or an adult buddy. There could also be something along the lines of earning badges for skills (like the Scouts do).

I wouldn't get to disheartened about differing views on how to recruit new people to the sport, consensus is a very elusive ideal. I like your idea about a recruitment competition, maybe as an inter-club competition, could be difficult to measure and validate new recruits introduced by recreational sailors statewide but club membership would be relatively easy to measure I would think. Competition always motivates and no one wants to be at the bottom perhaps the AWA could have an annual award for best state and club.

The winning club can report on how they won that way a best practice will be established, ideas that work will be shared and competition will get fiercer with the ultimate winner being windsurfing as a sport.

Cammd - Knowing you both personally (not sure if you know each other) English isn't macro's first language and i think there's a lot of stuff lost in translation

hope the bic racing takes off because it always seemed like the ideal affordable/fun option for racing, and maybe what RSX should have been?

Cheers Haircut, no hard feelings here and thanks for the well wishes.

Lets put Macro's kids up against the Techno kids!

Macro... if it took you years to learn to windsurf then it was definitely not the equipment being the problem.
After a few days.... yes days..... with some coaching the under 17 kids are up and going. 3 days in foot straps and planning, ready to learn gybing.
The 7.8m rig is very soft and would equate to a similar slalom sail around the 6m mark. They also have a choice to use a 6.8m sail....again a very soft easy rig and would equate to around a 5m slalom sail. The board is one design and is a good thing as it becomes the ability of the sailor that makes the difference, not equipment differences etc. The board is very robust and built to withstand rough treatment hence it is heavier, not like a slalom board.
The concept works extremely well and has a great appeal. I was surprised how fast and responsive the board is to sail, if sailed correctly.
There are better boards and sails around obviously, but this is a class of board and is sailed in big numbers overseas.
It is a great board to learn the discipline of windsurfing properly and opens many doors to explore all areas of our sport.
You only had to be at the QLD Youth regatta in Yeppoon last month to see for your self.
The smile on a kids face planning around for the first time in 18-20 knots was priceless, they are hooked for life. That's what it is all about.

are there any good condition technos for sale in brisbane? there is nothing in perth and was considering taking one back when i see family in 3 weeks

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boardboy said...

Macroscien said..

As an instructor on public wages you may have a hidden agenda to propagate communist era sporting equipment and mass participation Cammd.
I doubt you could force anybody enjoying windsurfing at free will to use techno crap.

I could say from my own experience that from this perspective the years I did try to learn windsurfing on similar BIC board were completely wasted.
It maybe looks good on school propaganda movies but in real life there is nothing to learn beside very early beginner steps.

Board is not responsive and once you have proper equipment need to learn windsurfing maneuvers again.
Regarding family matter only by paternal authority you could force a kid to torture on such equipment. In our family we did just opposite.
I did try to learn on similar monster board and my teenager kids jump almost straight on JP 84- 92L . They learn everything in no time at all,
for me everything started working when I did switch to much smaller board.

I have for a long time bitten my tongue rather than respond to your incesent posts and replies on SB, but today I feel i have the mood to express a long reserved judgement. Macro???you seem like a jerk.

Your not alone with your feelings board boy. Macro contributes very little constructive or useful comments in sb . It would be interesting to watch him sail given his extensive knowledge of our sport.

He is a troll and not worth engaging in dialog

nic202 i will ask around for you see if there are any for sale.

We have been lucky here in Brisbane to have Maks Wojik (current raceboard world champ) offer to run training sessions every weekend. The sessions are great we had about a dozen sailors on saturday and the main exercise was 1 lap windward return short course with a new start every 4 minutes this went on for about an hour. Was great fun sailing in very close proximity at planing speed and having to fight for a spot on the line and round the marks with other sailors right on you. There were plenty of stacks and we all learned to be a little move assertive and a little less polite when it came to starting and mark rounding.

The level of interest of the kids goes up ten fold when there is a good windsurfing coach and a stuctured training program.

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AUS1023 said..

boardboy said...

Macroscien said..

As an instructor on public wages you may have a hidden agenda to propagate communist era sporting equipment and mass participation Cammd.
I doubt you could force anybody enjoying windsurfing at free will to use techno crap.

I could say from my own experience that from this perspective the years I did try to learn windsurfing on similar BIC board were completely wasted.
It maybe looks good on school propaganda movies but in real life there is nothing to learn beside very early beginner steps.

Board is not responsive and once you have proper equipment need to learn windsurfing maneuvers again.
Regarding family matter only by paternal authority you could force a kid to torture on such equipment. In our family we did just opposite.
I did try to learn on similar monster board and my teenager kids jump almost straight on JP 84- 92L . They learn everything in no time at all,
for me everything started working when I did switch to much smaller board.

I have for a long time bitten my tongue rather than respond to your incesent posts and replies on SB, but today I feel i have the mood to express a long reserved judgement. Macro???you seem like a jerk.

Your not alone with your feelings board boy. Macro contributes very little constructive or useful comments in sb . It would be interesting to watch him sail given his extensive knowledge of our sport.

He is a troll and not worth engaging in dialog

AUS1023 you are obviously a very intelligent, handsome, and insightful young man. May the winds always blow in your favour.

Why is that always on SB while you argue about concepts everything comes to personal attack?
Nobody could stand or accept different view to the most popular.
If I bring logical and rational arguments ( in my opinion) is never confronted with counterargument that could undermine mine, but instant attack on the person itself. I am happy ( like all M***scientist listen to counterarguments and change my stand accordingly to presented facts.
If this post could be treated as next scientific proof we will see a sea of red thumbs without even reading it, trying to understand or respond in civilized manner.
In some worlds ( for example science) different, alternate view on the old truth is very valuable. If we don't have even agree on everything we should be able to express at least different opinion without instant punishment.

Lets take my unlucky post - one expressing that using big sail could be fun and 8.0m2 if sail-able for adult determined person - brings total critique ,
and here by contrast expressing my concern about kid handling even bigger sail could be a problem brings even more passionate critique.

Could we dispute ideas and concepts without constant personal attacks?

Hey hey I learned on one of those "techno craps" ...

Started two years ago on a T293 and loved it! Regret selling it as it was a pretty fun board to sail in marginal wind conditions. I remember spending weeks trying to learn how to carve gybe on my 118L hifly and than spent one day on the T293 than came back and was nailing my carve gybes on the 118. Damn I miss that big board...

Does it matter what kids learn on as long as they get the opportunity to try windsurfing? if you look at some of the boards that people learnt on in the 80's they were horrendous and I would argue that any modern day board has something going for it. I'm sure the Techno is just fine and given the structure and following the class has why not get behind it in Australia?

I am questioning the needs of teaching kids windsurfing.
I am just not completely convinced that Techno is the best option to bring masses onto the water.


If clubs comes with organisation, money, equipment and trainers/ teachers isn't that possible to learn on proper slalom, wave board or even all round boards that all we are using now, not something that nobody from you back into after first steps on Techno ?

Advantage of Techo possibly is suitability for any wind condition ( means no wind - when every other windsurfer stays at home kids could still crawl the water ).
How many of you use Techno now if have a choice to use anything else ?

To test such case club should open three classes with different boards and see which one will be most popular among students.