anyone ever try windsurfing?

I windsurfed for a number of years in the early-mid 80s while stationed in Pensacola and San Diego. Bought my rig new in 81 while in P'cola for about $750. I'd go out in bays or lakes. Never made it out into the ocean or the surf. The sport was very popular then until around the mid-90's or so. Don't see it much anymore. Kite surfing seems to have replaced windsurfing to fill that nitch. I sold my rig after moving to VB.

 

Well until everyone started kiting, i know a few that have windsurfed. I have not. I've kited but i mainly just surf. Looks like a lot of work.

 

windsurfing is a sport of the past. it's all about kiting... my ideal conditions have become waist to chest high with 22mph South sideshore winds

 

i really wish i had a kite or wind board kite surfing is really popular here. ive seens some dudes lose a kite in 50knt winds the coast guard came in a chopper and took him away, while is expensive ass kite flu away.

 

#bestwindsinbelmarNJ

 

I think wind surfing needs to make a come back. There needs to be better more affordable light wind gear and I think it would be a hit. Cape cod and RI are still big sailing spots tho , seems like the conditions there makes sailing more practical than surfing as far as regularity in epic conditions goes.

I use my hobie when it's flat but wind is good. I reckon kiting or wind surfing could be the same substitute. The hobie is pretty epic tho. I recommend it.

 

Man, You absolutely, positively, with every breath in your soul, love Belmar NJ. In fact, you speak of it so much i'm tempted to call my local surfing chapter and all 58 of us roll up in Belmar and surf like there is no tomorrow. What block do you surf on so we can meet?

 

I have heard of people getting indecent exposure citations while dropping the towel. Whether intentional or not. all rumor of course so I'm not sure of the legitimacy of that info.

There are still a lot of windsurfers out there but kiting is a lot easier to do. Easier to learn, more freedom, and less to haul around.

 

Dude you totally should, it'd be so worth the trip.

#OnceYouGoBelmarYouNeverGoBack

 

I simply admire y'alls commitment to your spot.

 

Many times i do wind surfing as it is but kiting, and we know that it is very easy. Windsurfing is very interesting sport and enjoyed by every one who do this, but in today scenario less no. of people do this. So we should advertise and promote the windsurf so that it should come back.

 

Bro it's totally true! Invite everyone! Anywhere from 16th to 18th ave is the best spot in town!

#everyoneiswelcomeinbelmar
#havepizzaafterwithgruvi

 

jackd!ck sees great potential for the banner market w/ windsurfing boards.

#windsurfersarewelcomeinbelmartoo

 

wasn't that replaced by kite boarding? Kiteboarding looks fun. But only the guys who are good at it. The guys who suck do not appear to be having any fun at all.

 

I've windsurfed for 25 years (hence my handle).

Kited for one year and hated it.

Been surfing now for four years and love it, even though I knocked out three of my front teeth on my second year.

I started surfing because there was a year there where there were great swells and the wind was non-existent for weeks at a time. Kept at it because I enjoy the simplicity of just showing up with a board and not having to rig all the equipment.

Windsurfing is a lot of fun, but is not easy to learn - especially if you want to windsurf in the waves. Because it is challenging, it is much more rewarding. Prone surfing is similar in that way.

Kiting sucks a$$ because it is easy to learn and is usually done by arrogant douchetards that think they are hot sh1ts doing the latest "extreme" sport. Kiting in flat water is about as demanding and exciting as hanging from a clothesline in your backyard, yet surprisingly dangerous to you AND the people around you if you are the testosterone riddled, massively inked, protein powder chugging, spiky haired twenty year old crowd the sport attracts.

To me, kiters are the SUPers of the windsurfing world: Because it is easier, anyone can do it within a few days and it clogs the water with people who don't understand the rules of the road, safety and common sense.

BTW, that guy in the video is Jason Polakow - the guy surfs big waves, is a world champion windsurfer, kites and SUPs. Survived a 3 wave hold down at Peahi last year - look it up - super scary and makes you realize how difficult those conditions are, even while they make it look so easy. There's also some vids of him at Teauhupu (sp?) that are amazing.

For more vids, have a look at Robby Naish from the older generation and from the younger generation of windsurfers look at videos of Kai Lenny who is also one of the guys prone paddling at Peahi.

 

I windsurfed for many years surfing waves and it has many advantages over surfing... but one big disadvantage - no tuberides. The speed and power is unbelievable compared to surfing. It's best in long, lined up walls... even sectiony waves you can't make surfing... that lets you rip down the line and do big hard turns, then get big air sailing back up into the lineup. Best waves I've had windsurfing have been outer shoals around the inlets in South Jersey, where it's always bigger and trickier than the inside sandbars.

I've only kited a handful of times, but it seems to me to be the best of both worlds... surfing and sailing. Kite surfing uses smaller boards for better performance because you don't need the flotation that you do on a sailboard. Plus... you can get little barrels. The down side of both sailboarding and kitesurfing is the cost, and if you're looking for peak performance and pushing it to the max, you do go through equipment.

 

Yo lb crew, you seem to know about wind surfing. In your opinion what's the best set up for a sail board that can efficiently tack upwind? It seems like all the fast boards never are sailing upwind but rather to some degree down wind ... I want to get a board that can get upwind well so I can really head out with it to find some solid breeze but not get stuffed if it's off shore