I was curious and just discovered (from what I can tell anyway) that the GTC is 5 years old this May. From a total number of 58 sailors to now well over 1000 is a fabulous achievement for the guys who made it all happen (especially Nebs and Hardie) .

I've now been a GPS TC'er for about 3.5 years (joined around the beginning of 2009) and have meet some great people and very interesting characters . It has increased my love for the sport ten-fold and I hope to still be doing it when I'm as old as Firiebob .

From reading about Elmo's epic tales of woe to the big sessions at The Pit and Lake George, the long forgotten blow ups debating doppler postings versus trackpoints & Navis v Garmins, friendly inter-team and team rivalries, Bender's bruise, people stoked to get their first 30knots on the board, juniors coming of age and blowing the oldies out of the water, and the introduction of international teams to the fray, has been a really enjoyable ride down the speed run.

Thanks again & Happy Birthday Guys.

Woo Hoo happy b'day GTC.

i think the locals windsurfing shops have benefited the most out of the GTC. Well mine has anyway

Yeh its Fabulous, Thanx to everyone thats made it what it is, and in particular Nebbs, for the magic website, and thanx to snags above me for his recent help!!!!!

on ya boys lets hope we can celebrate with a nice 45kn run on sat

Well said Snags - that about sums it up

It's great to see a community based organisation (and even that, an internet based community) thrive & grow like it has. Met soooo many people locally, interstate & even overseas.

Now I just got to get me my 2nd GPS - lost my 1st last month in New Caledonia

hippo birdie 2 ewes

Congrats to Hardie and Nebbs. 5 glorious years and all those Kms chasing the speed genie.
Nebbs can you easily do an all challenge total Kms from the database? Would be interesting to see.

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Wineman said...

Well said Snags - that about sums it up

It's great to see a community based organisation (and even that, an internet based community) thrive & grow like it has. Met soooo many people locally, interstate & even overseas.

Now I just got to get me my 2nd GPS - lost my 1st last month in New Caledonia

Poor Wine Man, lost his GPS in New Caledonia. My heart bleeds

Yes you've got to feel sorry for Peter..... on the last day the gps falls out of the bag.....and we still haven't found it !!!

I even checked at all the fine restaurants and bottle shops (just in case )

But most welcome back anytime Peter !!!

5 years
Happy birthday GPSTC, mobs of thanks to Hards, Nebs and the others now behind the scenes, awesome result guys

well said sausage,it has been a great ride,i joined in 2007 and have had some great days on the water and some really hard days ,had some great adventures and sailed in some amazing places, most of it with my son ,and a lot of great people. TC is great for the sport.thanks GPS TC.

let's face it GPS TC saved windsurfing in Australia, we were splintered and slowly shrinking group of die hards left in the sport. Now the passion is back and we can share our love of the sport across Australia.

Well Done! Herds and Nebs

Cheers Russ

Okay, here's the list of the first 58 guys (and Gals) rankings who posted a session for May 2007. Amazing to see the majority still sailing (and amazingly still at the pointy end of the challenge)
1 Chris Dimond 19
2 Carl Macdonald 30
3 S-rad 44
4 kato 49
5 Shelby 57
5 Slowboat 57
7 Ulf 74
7 Bender 74
9 Matthew Robertson 81
9 Sam Doecke 81
11 Firiebob 82
12 Scott Farley 87
13 Kimba 94
14 ODIN 97
14 Magnus 97
16 Elmo 99
17 Brett Pattemore 108
18 Hardie 123
19 haggar 130
20 nebbian 133
21 Hamma 135
22 Knut 140
23 Chris Ting 152
24 Claude Lecoq 153
24 Sam Parker 153
26 Uncle Mike 158
27 Ben Kirk 164
28 Thor 170
29 Troppo 177
30 Snides 179
31 Glenn Kelly 184
32 Choco 185
33 25 186
34 David Flanagan 192
35 Chris Reiffel 193
36 Sam Fawkes 198
37 Simon Fleetwood 205
38 Darryl Meares 209
39 mikey 211
40 Larko 229
41 Andrew Nestor 230
42 Decrepit 231
43 Timbo 234
44 Grumps 249
44 richi 249
46 Pauly 250
47 Rippo 257
48 William Ditcham 258
49 Moi 267
50 Nathan Hohnberg 274
51 Hooray 275
52 conan 280
53 Peter Leversedge 286
54 Pointman 287
55 Mickey 294
56 Nat 299
57 Nathan Bowness 302
58 Gadget 311

My congrats and thanks to everyone involved too. Definitely re-invented windsurfing in this neck of the woods. Met great people, been to some sweet places and had a ****load of fun along the way.

P.S Sean, check all the empty good bottles of red, Pete probably shoved his GPS in one to see how fast he could drink it.

Lots of thanks from here in the UK as well, I only joined back in September 2010 and it has changed my life in quite a big way.

So many Addicts have been created through the TC

Certainly thinned out the wave line up

Wow thanks a bunch guys!

It never ceases to amaze me how many people enjoy using the site, I've made some amazing friends through it, and I quite literally wouldn't be here (in WA) today without the support and encouragement of some of the characters that post on there.

Thanks also to Hardie for his unceasing enthusiasm, and Sausage for helping us out lately.

I'm humbled

Thanks to all who have made the GTC what it is today. Long may it continue to bring in windsurfers into this great community

Top stuff guys but I'm personally getting bored with the whole GPS format we need something different introduced to keep it fresh don't know what though.

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choco said...

Top stuff guys but I'm personally getting bored with the whole GPS format we need something different introduced to keep it fresh don't know what though.

Hey Choc personal criticism without constructive ideas & alternatives never goes down to well, and usually boredom is self-generated, its what ya tellya self is boring, boredom is not a concept that exists in nature, its a psychological phenomena, but you're obviously very bored to even make such a post

Just a note to say I'm glad I joined the gpstc this year.It's wonderful to take part in such a fantastic website and participate in the challenge.
It has definitely rejuvenated my interest in windsurfing, and so good to discover a somewhat hidden community of friendly like-minded folks all enjoying this brilliant sport in so many great locations world wide.
So a big thanks and HAPPY BIRTHDAY GPSTC!! Well done to those who made it happen!
Cheers, Gabe.

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hardie said...

choco said...

Top stuff guys but I'm personally getting bored with the whole GPS format we need something different introduced to keep it fresh don't know what though.

Hey Choc personal criticism without constructive ideas & alternatives never goes down to well, and usually boredom is self-generated, its what ya tellya self is boring, boredom is not a concept that exists in nature, its a psychological phenomena, but you're obviously very bored to even make such a post

Lol i think i understand that, constructive idea? could be something like where 2 sailors do a synchronized jibe to see what combined alpha they both get, a new challenge/format in GPS like the time when Mal introduced the concept of alpha racing itself.
Even if it's just a "one off" for a month, I'm not actually bored with GPS but it would be fun to have something different instead of the usual classes.....maybe I am bored maybe I need psychologicall help?.....or some farken wind!!![}:)]

Being bored is an insult to oneself!

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AUS1111 said...

Being bored is an insult to oneself!

I'm not bored now thanks guys

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choco said...

hardie said...

choco said...

Top stuff guys but I'm personally getting bored with the whole GPS format we need something different introduced to keep it fresh don't know what though.

Hey Choc personal criticism without constructive ideas & alternatives never goes down to well, and usually boredom is self-generated, its what ya tellya self is boring, boredom is not a concept that exists in nature, its a psychological phenomena, but you're obviously very bored to even make such a post

Lol i think i understand that, constructive idea? could be something like where 2 sailors do a synchronized jibe to see what combined alpha they both get, a new challenge/format in GPS like the time when Mal introduced the concept of alpha racing itself.
Even if it's just a "one off" for a month, I'm not actually bored with GPS but it would be fun to have something different instead of the usual classes.....maybe I am bored maybe I need psychologicall help?.....or some farken wind!!![}:)]

It's the ol' wind deficiency syndrome...

Hey Choc not used to working hey
Mate grab ya swag and come to FNQ and Green Island, just bring your boardies, check the forecast

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choco said...

Top stuff guys but I'm personally getting bored with the whole GPS format we need something different introduced to keep it fresh don't know what though.

should have come to tarrifa choc sandy beaches, clear water topless babe and wind.
**** load of kites though.

Happy Bday GPSTC wow 5 years time flys

Happy birthday gpstc:-). We definately need some f#%#ing wind in SA....

GPS TC is great fun for us too. Great competition between the belgian teams and trying to stay in top 10 will be difficult this year (last year 9th, oesterdam boardriders club)
I celebrated my 10.000 km last friday

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yvesb54 said...

GPS TC is great fun for us too. Great competition between the belgian teams and trying to stay in top 10 will be difficult this year (last year 9th, oesterdam boardriders club)
I celebrated my 10.000 km last friday

Didn't realise Belgium had so many members, 48 members and 4 teams. Nice to see.

My big question is, what about the French sailors?

Too individual.... having to put up a team would be harder than going fast....