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. Can I ask the AWA reps from each state to advise us on Kato's discussion points and if there is opportunity to implement these actions and how do we support this.
etc..It also made me realise how far I'd come- maybe I won't whinge next time I stuff a gybe..
A few years ago I was considering getting into windsurfing.
- The cost wasn't so much a factor, since there were people on gumtree selling gear in great condition that they'd paid thousands of dollars for, for less than $1k
- The space to store gear was a factor, since I live in the inner city and don't have a big garage / shed to store my stuff. Though I do have a van for transporting at least.
- The difficulty in learning was a factor. Yes, I'll admit I'm a bit lazy, but living in Sydney realistically I would only want to be out the water 7 or 8 months of the year, and half of those months are not even windy, so looking at something where I could get up and riding within one summer was definitely a factor.
- So I chose kiting instead, sorry guys.
Anyway thats my 2 cents, I hope my story helps explain why some people dont get into it, even after genuinely looking into it.
Hi,
I would like to say why I would never take up kite surfing. Windsurfing is my first choice, although I had to wait about 30 years before getting into it. I respect the skill of kiters and can see they enjoy what they do. The unattractive part though is the footprint they leave with the cables connecting the kite to the rider. I never feel really safe around them when they are near, either on the water or on the beach. The experts are in control but you can see many are not. I have a friend who does paragliding. Like the kiters he has cables too but I contrast he is up in the sky away from people. I think that the sport of kiting should be compared to paragliding not windsurfing. I wonder what paragliders think when they see a kite making short hops into the air? Each to their own. There is a lot of choice so respect between the sports is important. Just don't say that windsurfing is a dying or aging sport. Those who do it and persevere are richly rewarded for their efforts
I think windsurfing needs a few ambassadors. Allow me to suggest a few.
Sophia Vergara
Mila Kunis
Megan Fox
Get a few of these ladies into a seat harness, a bikini, and some media coverage and windsurfing is on the front page again.
As a fresh noobie I'll chime in and share my experience.
I'm in my mid 30's and quite coordinated, I have just started learning windsurfing and I have to say that we have here in Perth the best conditions for learners! Shallow river, constant wind and many shops around. Also I have been lucky to be talked through my first couple of days by a mate and his gear.
After 8-10h in the water I can now plane, use the straps and the harness and even did a few waterstarts. But I feel I still have a lot to learn, like anything you do can be perfected and improved.
Considering the cost, I used to enjoy riding my bike on a track, and that's not cheap! bike cost+track fees+petrol+leather gear... Now I can just drive to the river (5mn drive) and be in the water for virtually no money! (once you have your gear obviously). I tried kiting a few years ago and did lessons but it never seemed a safe option for me, power lines and rocks always seemed too close and untangling the lines after a big off is a pretty horrible way to end the day, no such issues with a sail and a mast! (ok except when you get catapulted in the mast!)
Following the closure of the windsurfingsales.com.au website, I decided to visit the "Loft" web page to see where else they were available in Australia. I could not believe the number of stores selling them overseas.
In france 34 stores!!!
What are the factors that make sailboarding so popular in France?
They seem to have lots of wind in France. All the places that have consistent predictable wind and warm weather have high populations of windsurfing. Eg Maui, WA, Southern areas of France etc etc. Cooler weather with wind only the true dedicated extreme enthusiasts want to be out there.
And??? I knew you were old school but didnt think you were a full on homophobic.
And I think you got your figures wrong, WA has waaaaaay more kitesurfers, so you might have to learn to change your homophobic ways.
Besides that, I dont think any of the gay or lesbian windsurfers either would appreciate you using their sexuality as a form of insult. 
Wow, you were quick to respond, just got home from work, didnt expect you to be up so late waiting for me to post.
^^^ I didn't think age was an insult either? Seems it is to you 
I also didn't know you were so into me, or belittling windsurfers, that you would stay up til after 2am awaiting an answer. Guess that's what trolls do, have a crack in the windsurf forum then stay up late with the hand on it eagerly awaiting a reply.
there you go, you can go to bed now.
) and knew you would be patrolling just in case I did. lol. Its been 9 years and you still bite within minutes every time
one problem is that men & women have a lot of sport options in Australia lets take Golf for example you can join a club from $300 to $10,000 depending on what type of coarse you want play to play and if its private or public coarse golf in Europe cost big bucks the other problem is we need windsurfing to be promoted better for example international slalom , speed sailing and wave sailing events WITH TV COVERGE and about Loft Sails R & D finishes around late September then they have too be made I think Bud was sick of trying to sell sails half way through our season
Density is ridiculous here! WA alone is 3.5 times larger than France. Plus we have some very good spots in the south and south west, (etang de Thau, plage de l'almanarre are pretty famous spots)
Also the difference is in France you can't find many good waves so windsurfing less competition with surfing.
The mass media image of windsurfing is pretty dire. Part of the problem is a lot of the stuff we see is targeted at windsurfers rather than getting out and showing the general public all the awesome stuff that's happening at the top level these days. Look at snowboarding, fmx, skateboarding - they sell the crazy 'extreme' image very well to everyone despite the fact that no mere mortal could vaguely be capable of attempting what they do and people buy into the image. Ask someone about those sports and people have an idea of what they are doing; what image does windsurfing have outside of your circle of windsurf mates?
The pro windsurfing bodies seriously need to shift things up and get some kickass media out to the world outside of the windsurf websites/mags etc. Getting quality events at real wave spots and proper live feeds with replays/heats on demand replays like the ASP is really missing too. Why isn't this happening? If they can't do it for money reasons then why aren't they getting the big brands on board? If there was more media appeal then more high profile (non windsurf) sponsors could become interested and keep growing from there...or we just keep it quiet and save it for ourselves ;)
