The big fella got something to say!

http://www.dunkerbeck.com/pwa-slalom-world-cup-final/

good on him, pwa doing it's best to destroy slalom again.

So as a newbie, I know nothing of the history of this. Why did the PWA remove the wind limit? Were races not happening due to the wind limit? Sponsors and spectators not happy with the cancelled races?

...reads to me like the Big Fella's hanging to get back on a Raceboard again!

you have to run the event. Would you sponsor an event that MIGHT happen?
Make sure all the competitors are supportive - e.g. code of conduct, negativity around an event from high profile competitors dont help... Thats a message for you - Bjorn Dunkendonuts.
Best to find a way to make the event go ahead and be enjoyable to watch. Think about;
1. Select venues with high chance of wind
2. Select venues with multiple sailing location options
3. Lengthen the event window to maximise chance of wind.
4. PWA invest in wind turbines so events can be ran in no wind (farken great idea)

Im sure there is more that can be done..,...

Sure if all the sailors were getting paid attendance, but they're not so have free speech. PWA earns quite a bit but sailors get bugger all prize money, so it sells the sailors out to venues with poor wind (what happens to the prize money when a final hasn't been run?). It restricts the sailors to production and size limits then removes wind limit, sure dunkie could lose a few kg's but he may feel he sails better with the weight or couldn't be bothered if he can plane and go fast in same conditions as other. He isn't the only one suffering, he is the one who spoke up... the same guy who put his name behind and promoted a successful speed event just a month earlier. If it keeps going dunkie will walk away again & (again) we'll have a world cup without the top sailors in the world competing.

who cares what Dunkendonuts thinks.....he's past it. Does more damage then good for the sport nowadays.

Want to get young blokes into the sport and let it thrive?Yes? well get young guys in at the top level and stop parading yesterdays heroes as the poster boys for the sport.

Move the negative old buggers into the speed scene, doing magazine shoots and special events and let them corrode away gracefully.....

All the posts on his blog sound polite and honest what's wrong with that. Why do you hate the guy so much?

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All the posts on his blog sound polite and honest what's wrong with that. Why do you hate the guy so much?

just sharing my opinion bro.....or have i misunderstood the purpose of forums?

who cares what the second best slalom sailor in the world thinks about slalom? Reckon that makes him damn well qualified to have an important opinion. If you're picking on dunky cause of his age may as well get rid of antoine, steve, ross, finian, peter and a good portion of the slalom fleet.

If mummy and daddy have enough money you too can be on the pwa getting your ass kicked by the opinionated oldies. Getting your ass kicked by the oldies in the local slalom series is probably a good place to start getting used to the feeling though.

Everyone suffers at some point, world champ k pritchard couldn't keep up with the big guys when it changed to production gear maybe he should've got fat then if dunkie should lose weight, those guys also complained at the high cost of attending events with poor prize money, they left and the tour lost some of the best slalom sailors around still. Robby Naish didn't have much good to say about pwa at one point either, still one of the best guys on a wave in the world.

Events like defi are getting just as big a following as the tour, just hope if it folds again they keep developing slalom gear.

i reckon if some of the young guys got the same level of support the old guys get then we would see a changing of the guard.

i believe there is a false ceiling in windsurfing which is stopping new sailors being competitive.

Imagine if schmacher had never taken a break from F1, he would probably be filling a seat with one of the top teams today, but what we got to see is that if you put a younger, talented racer in that same position they will out perform the old guy.

The Ol fellas had to earn it once like the young fellas do now. As far as a world champion in Slalom goes I hope it's someone who wins the title in over 10 knots or change the crown to WindSup world champ.

Young guys have the opportunity to out perform the old guys but you have to train hard to do so !!!
most important is to recognize your gear and its potential to out preform your opponent which again equals hard training!!!
all the oldies where in the same position as
young ones today "no given green card" you have to work hard to get where u wana be....
And as we all know the beginning of your career all comes down to daddies big wallet to support you until you can stand on your own 2 feet which I have nothing against ...
but unfortunately most pwa sailors are having a good ride with not so good results and they are surely not pocketing out of their own pockets and not showing any interest of trying to get to the top !!!
As for dunky he is the most decorated sailor till date , through him alot has gone forward in the pwa n windsurfing aspect and for a guy at that age still strong and competing really shows that he can still be up there , and if he can still do it , why not!!!!!
So that you know he brought back the slalom in the pwa and good on him and I hope he still sticks around for a while , he's a great inspiration to many sailors ...
as for the pwa you should ask yourself why aren't they sailing the great venues anymore !!!
you should ask the event before how much money they made which also ended up crap!!!
you should also ask which guys are getting paid by the pwa to compete due to lack of prize money and to keep the tour running!!!
It has become like all other sports , just show me the money and who cares about the competitors!!!
maybe the young guns will show more interest if there is a good prize money to grab for 1st , 2nd and 3rd place ....
And as for 7kt limit that is a joke it doesn't promote the sport any better , they have veered off what true slalom means and in conditions like that all becomes the luck of the draw which your professionalism goes out the window meaning nothing anymore!!!
And good on dunky for starting a true speed event , that's what speed is really about , and most important that we can use Gps to ratify our speeds and at the same time have fun and enjoy , I will definitely try to attend the next speed event he organizes!!!

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i reckon if some of the young guys got the same level of support the old guys get then we would see a changing of the guard.

i believe there is a false ceiling in windsurfing which is stopping new sailors being competitive.

Imagine if schmacher had never taken a break from F1, he would probably be filling a seat with one of the top teams today, but what we got to see is that if you put a younger, talented racer in that same position they will out perform the old guy.

PWA doesn't work like that, if you've got the money the world is yours. They have often talked about guys finishing below 20 something having to qualify to compete, the old guys aren't holding those positions. The older guys had to do their time on such cr@p gear they are amazing sailors. It takes alot of time and money to get good enough to be competitive on the tour before sponsors will look at them.

so is it the lack of junior development programs which is the problem?

Sheesh! Funny how a thread can turn! think the basic concept of BD's rant was that windsurfing in next to no wind isn't much fun!

Pretty sure the organisers would have thought they had a 'windy spot' at the 'right time' of year...they just got skunked..would have been an interesting place to visit for the competitors.

Hopefully New Cal turns it on for them later in the year...failing that they might as well book an event at Green Island, gets a bit of wind I've heard!

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so is it the lack of junior development programs which is the problem?

Whats the problem ?

Always been a big Dunks fan. Speaking purely from personal experience the blokes who weight over 100kg's are always going to struggle on a light air slalom day. Lets face it, Dunks is super competitive, good on him! he just doesnt like getting beaten by flea weights.

There are a couple of guys in the Bayside Club who are deadset geniuses at planing on light air days, good on them.

Dunks is however happy to smash everyone once the wind is cranking! he's a competitive animal, good on him.

maybe weight divisions need to be introduced into slalom and speed..

i recon that if they want to sail in super light conditions just let them sail what ever they want even if its a formula board that way its fair for every one that way being heavy wont be a disadvantage on the light day just like being light isnt a disadvantage on the windy days . Being tall ill always be an advantage though .