Sport Today

This is a short message and all but I think I finally figured it out
the other day after thinking about it a long time.  And this is just a
little theory of mine.  Windsurfing is such an old boys club.  Like
golf (especially how it was before Tiger and Nike and what not).  Same
idea going on if you follow.  Yes there are plenty of women involved
in the sport and everything, and some younger people (under 25).  I'm
just referring to the character of the sport.  And I think this is one
of the main reasons why the sport is not growing very much, especially
for younger folk.  Just open up a magazine - except for the typical
Hot Shots section, most of the people are older males.  Do you think
any kids want to mimic these people?  NO.  Do I or any other young
sailors look forward to checking out the "how to waterstart" for the
umpeenth time?  No.  Do kids want to be like their parents?  No.  So
if older folk are always the people in these mags, why would kids want
to windsurf?

Honestly it would be nice if there were enough resources within the
community to get something like a "Thrasher" or "Surfer" style mag out
there.  But seeing what happend to Wind Tracks, that ain't going to
happen.  I'm telling you, I like looking at all the big phat tricks
and everything.  yeah i know, I'll hear how "but windsurfing isn't an
extreme sport".  yeah yeah yeah.  But kids want to be extreme, and if
they see all the extreme stuff that can be done windsurfing, they may
think "wow, that looks fun, i'd like to do that."  Furthermore, does
surfing have to be extreme?  No, i've seen plenty of older folks on
their bigass longboards having a good time.  but you don't see that
***in the suf mags because nobody wants to see it.

So basically, the windsurfing magazines suck.  They will suck forever.
I'm looking forward to learning how to uphaul in 15 knot winds.  Oh
yeah.  forget about the goiters, spocks, big Jaws barrels, blazing
speed runs, etc.  

Ok, so this turned into a rant.  But whatever.  Hopefully someone will
see something in this and see kinda what i'm saying.  agree or
disagree, whatever.  These are just my feelings.  And I'm not a total
punk kid anymore.  I'm 20.  been sailing for 10 years.  so i guess its
just built up frustration.  And the fact that i haven't sailed since
august and what not.....

oh nevermind

Cris Pavloff - sailor turned student

Cris,
Can you say GEEZER? It is a state of mind more than chronological
age......
I agree with you there, however.......blaming the print media for lack of
interest from twentysomethings in windsurfing is ludicrous! Why did you
start at 10 years old?
Did your parents sail? You were exposed to it from someone , somewhere,
someplace......
oh nevermind......whatever. Windsurfing takes time to master and is a
relatively expensive sport compared to so many ego sports out there.Kids
have their eyes wide shut......if you can't learn fast and easy they are
over it.
I agree at times it seems windsurfing is a "dudefest"......Have you taught
a girl how to sail?
(I did and then I married her).
We need to make this NG an interactive focal point for content related to
windsurfing.....text, photo, and video.....Over at alt.surfing, we grabbed
the bull by the horn and got diggity wid it! Stop waiting for ****er or
****ing to satisfy your prurient interests and create your own content!
Write stories, grab your camera, scan photos, digitize video......be
creative!
We are in the computer age......****er and ****ing are owned by BIG
corporate entities now and have lost their soul........same with
Wind****ing  and American Wind****er.
Stay tuned, there are projects being developed right now, that I know of,
that are going to revolutionize the media machine......Brick and mortar
are gonna come crashing down!
I understand your angst if you haven't sailed since August.......damn!
We had a blow today on the Central Coast that should continue. Get caught
up on your homework and book reports kid, it's gonna be a windy Spring in
Cali!
P.S. Maybe you need to transfer down here to UC Santa Barbara.

MOONDAWGZ WINDSURFING
http://SportToday.org/

<< So basically, the windsurfing magazines suck.  They will suck forever.

Ex-frickin-zactly !!!!
I had never realized that my head wasn't supposed to be up my arse while jibing
until I saw the PROBLEM jiber photo in the latest technique article !  

        As someone who started windsurfing when I was 15 or 16 back in the mid-80's, I
can still remember being blown away seeing pictures of folks like Dave Ezzy,
Craig Maisonville, and Mike Waltze on ridiculous waves at Hookipa as well as
California coastal hard cores at Waddell and Jalama.  Wind Tracks started to
bring back that same vibe writing about the fun, instead of doing half-assed
"product testing". Of course, they're dead.
        << We are in the computer age......****er and ****ing are owned by BIG
corporate entities now and have lost their soul........same with
Wind****ing  and American Wind****er.
Stay tuned, there are projects being developed right now, that I know of,
that are going to revolutionize the media machine......Brick and mortar
are gonna come crashing down! >>
Well said. I hope you're right.

<< Kids
have their eyes wide shut......if you can't learn fast and easy they are
over it. >>
Holy generalization Batman ! Damning a whole generation of kids, who sounds
like the geezer now ?  

I think the general lack of young people in the sport is better chalked up to
lack of access and exposure.  I was xc skiing at our local park today and
watched a pack of middle school kids hike the sled hill in 15 degree weather in
order to get some turns in on their snowboards.  They didn't look particularly
weak-willed.

Anyway, who cares ? I'd rather hear about the sailing on the central coast.  
just my .02,
Mike

I knew it would sound like that......like me explain further in the context of my
experience
here on the West Coast. I surfsail at quite a few traditional surfing spots in light air,
while the waves are still clean.There are periods when surfsailors and surfers are both
out at the same time.I know surfers get exposure to wave riding at speed and aerial
maneuvers of sail powered surfboards, yet very few are interested, considering the numbers
of surfers that are exposed
to the sport. The younger surfers are trying to bust air on their surfboards and already
possess
H20 knowledge, yet turn the other way when we do aerials, loops, or just get big air and
sail away. The sport is totally accessible to them in their backyard, but they will drive
8 hours up to Mammoth Mtn. and spend heaps of $$$ to go snowboarding because it is an
easier, much faster learned sport.
The used windsurfing gear market is insane! I can by a custom surfboard  for $300, surf on
it for 2-3 years, fix the dings and turn around and sell it for $200. Try doing that with
a $1400
sailboard! Maybe, you get $500-$600. Supply /demand economics I know.....my point is
it is cheap....pennies on the dollar compared to new....to  get into sailing considering
what you get, but if a surf kid has $600 he/she most most likely will buy a new surfboard
/ wetsuit and have some change left over .Going from a skateboard to a surfboard or boogie
board is a
smaller step than to a sailboard ,where you need a huge vehicle to carry your gear.
It's a hard sell for kids, from a time/money investment viewpoint,to get into sailing
unless you have parents who are ***ed or friends that have parents who are sailors.
This is in the context of a booming economy as well.
It is a multi-faceted problem and  people in the industry haven't figured out the answer,
if there is one.
That is part of the reason ,windsurfing is a geezer sport. Geritol anyone?
P.S. Now, why there are not more women sailors is a whole other enchilada........

MOONDAWGZ  WINDSURFING
http://SportToday.org/

Cris wrote  << So basically, the windsurfing magazines suck.  They will suck
forever. >>

Really?  And how would you make them better?  What did Clay fail to do, that he
couldn't attract enough subscribers and/or draw the ad dollars to keep
Windtracks alive?  If you loved Windtracks (I did) what was it missing?  What
is Windsurfing Magazine missing for you?  Beyond dimestore insults, what do you
suggest any publication do to succeed?  (Clay ought to publish the list of
paying subscribers to the Journal here, and out all the posers and people who
whined whether they were going to get credit for their remaining 2 bucks from a
previous subscription.)

Wardog gave the good answer...create alternate windsurfing media online.  
American Windsurfer will probably tank (unless Clay fixes it) so with the loss
of Wind Tracks and the absence of suggestions that would make a windsurfing
publication more attractive and commercially viable, it's the Net for us.  

Michael
US5613

I would be happy to create an online windsurfing magazine if others will
supply articles and pictures. How about it huh?

 But kids want to be extreme, and if

Which is it? Do you want to see extreme windsurfing or not?

It is ashame that the younger folks don't participate more. Trouble is, takes so much time and
money to learn, not to mention dedication. My girlfriend's 14 year old would rather spend 6
hours a day playing magic cards on the computer than doing something outside. He's got the
perfect build for windsurfing, biking, basketball, or whatever he'd like to do outside. Even
lives on the lake. Have any suggestions for getting him interested in windsurfing short of
chasing him out of the house?

Alan (41 year old geezer)

club page:http://www.charweb.org/sports/windsurfer  

Alan --

Yeah, teach a 14-year old girl to windsurf and have her sail past the
house a few times!

As a 37-year old geezer it really pains me to remember the opportunities
I blew off while a young-un to surf, sail, whatever. But it's not clear
to me that there was much anyone could have done at that age to talk me
into it. Geezer pressure in this stuff at that age is counterproductive.
Peer pressure is much more effective.

Is there a sailing club nearby, boats, boards, whatever, where other
kids sail? Access to that would make things more likely to stick, though
really, 14 year olds pick their own interests.

-Steve B.

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

I am a new and enthusiastic windsurfer who is 26 years old.

A kid can save up and buy a snowboard for less than $500.00.
A new windsurfer can easily set you back $3000.00

Then, you need to find a good place to go and you need to find some other
people your age to go with--this is difficult.

You also don't tend to buy a windsurfer to try it and see if you like it.
If you are lucky, someone at your cottage might have one.  Then, once you
try it, you will probably spend hours simply trying to get enough balance to
get moving.  It takes a lot of effor to finally be able to fall in love with
the sport.

Dude, you need a sesh' bad!

< - snip - long rant about windsurfing 'zines & geezers - >

Seriously, those are good points about youth participation, or lack of, but
it is hard to agree on the solution.  

A few years ago when the mags were more "radical" people complained that
they made the sport look too hard and alienated the "recreational" market.
Now you are saying they are too wimpy.  It is always hard to strike a
balance and find the middle ground.  To me it is not about making it look
hard or easy, but to show the fun in all forms.

We should also try to turn people on to the accessibility.  Part of the
appeal is being able to throw a board and a few sails on the car, find any
body of water with a breeze, and get on it.  It doesn't have to be Maui or
Aruba.  

I have always felt that most of the mags focus too much on far away
tropical islands and not enough on local sailing.  Let's face it, most of
us are not beginners, or Maui ***s, but intermediate to advanced
slalom and bump &  jump sailors who sail lakes and bays or small onshore
waves in the mainland US, Can, or Europe.  This is a huge chunk of the
sport - what most of us would call "fun sailing" - powered, non-extreme
shortboarding that can be done almost anywhere by almost anyone, yet it is
under-represented.  The business mentality seems to be that we are either
World Cup pros, or total kooks, mostly ignoring the vast middle ground.  

Skiing and snowboarding got this right.  Look at most any ski area trail
map.  A few black diamonds, a few green circles, and a lot of blue squares.

No one wants to learn windsurfing just to be a beginner, but most of us
will never sail Jaws or land a one-handed Spock either.  That's ok - let's
show how much fun one can have blasting around the local bay with a 5.5, or
doing club races with friends.

Maybe it is even more simple than that.  Rather than depending on the
manufacturers or magazines, just tell everyone you know how cool it is to
windsurf.  Grab two or three of your best pals, drag 'em down to the lake
and get them on a board.  If you don't have proper beginner gear and
teaching ability, sign 'em up for a lesson.  Do whatever it takes, but if
each and every one of us turned three people on to windsurfing we'd have
more fun, cheaper gear ( more volume = lower cost ), and a new market for
our used stuff.  

For the kids, don't try too hard to "sell" them, just give them a chance
and they'll get hooked on their own the same way we did.  Make sure they
have decent light gear.  Set a good example.  If you are always complaining
about the conditions or your gear no one will be inspired, but if you are
stoked every time you come in of course others will want to try it.

I think the mags and the industry have good intentions, but are often out
of touch and looking at it from a big business perspective.  This ain't
rocket science...Windsurfing is FUN!!! Spread the word.

Oh yes, here's one specific idea to attract attention: On holidays, spring
break, etc. whenever there are a bunch of people out on the beach try
getting a bunch of windsurfers out where people can actually see you.  Not
the super-cool secret spot windsurfer-only beach, but the big public one
right in front of the resort hotels.  Race, jump, party, whatever...It
doesn't have to be epic conditions, just get out and have fun in public
view.  Free and effective, especially if you can stand being nice to people
who come up and ask dumb questions.  Smile, tell them how great and easy it
is, and give them directions to the local shop, school, or club.  

Brett USA-70

Alan,

How about a 14 year old girl who windsurfs on his lake.
Think that would jump start him?

this is so true!

I windsurfed for the first time I was 9!
Since then I always wanted to sail!

When did I get my first board?

When I was 20!!!!! What's wrong with that!

Simple... I was cashed strapped, my parents were not windsurfer, I did not have a car!
So Instead I went surfing using my bike... simple ...cheap...

Ok, but you are wrong.  and you know it.  Fine I'll agree with your
snowboard numbers but then there are all those *cool* snowboard
clothes that you have to factor in, but forget about that.  Yeah, a
NEW rig, board, etc. can be 3000+.  But there is so much used gear out
there and no one is or should be starting on a 3 grand kit.  Someone
could easily start, a kid too, on a kit $500 or less.  gimme a
break....

and yah, I understand that there are billions of other issues for the
lack of growth and yours here is a good point too of course...

cris

Sorry, I guess somehow that you didn't take this as sarcasm.  no, OF
COURSE i DON'T want to see "highwind uphauling" or "how to set your
harness lines so you don't lengthen one of your arms by several feet"
articles.  Show me the extreme stuff.  As I said, do it like SURFER
does by showing some 25-foot Mavs BOMB on the cover and then actually
a STORY on that big day.  crazy idea I know, having the cover have
something to do with the content of a magazine.  They should put
55-year old overweight balding guys in bonaire putting their knees
through their sails.  it would be more appropriate.

Yeah, i don't know exactly how I ended up making this be about the
magazines.  that's not really what I intended.  I'm focusing on the
whole coolness factor.  and surfer and thrasher are COOL magazines.
Kids want to be like cool people.  Do kids want to be like Vince
Carter or like John Stockton.  Vince of course, because John "the
ageless wonder" is a big dork.

and I'm not saying all of you older guy sailors are dorks, I swear!
well.. actually, i don't know about that...  HA!  no, but seriously I
think the Levi Sivers and the Francisco Goyas and even the Robby
Naishes (old guy, but best ever) should be the ones getting the
exposure.  Not Cort Lardhead or Dasher or any of those other guys.
and i got back to the magazines somehow.

but yeah, what i said before.  Kids don't want to be like their
parents.  So all you parents out there who are sailors, QUIT
WINDSURFING and then your kids will pick it up.  HA!  just kidding of
course.  another great theory of mine....

that's all i got for now

cris

Oh if i didn't make this clear, I'm talking about promoting the sport
for KIDS.  Like 20 and under or something.  and my dad got me into it
of course at 10.  But I remember back in the day before I sailed and
my dad got Windrider.  Yeah, same bad magazine that is out now, but I
remember all the Naish, Angulo, Kalama, and even Dunkerbeck pictures.
And they used to show windsuring on ESPN, like the Aloha Classic and
the Cape Town event and those were what pumped me up.  So my dad
provided me with the initial gear and stuff, but I strived and still
do to be like the greats.  Oh, and I must add that there have been the
guys at the lake who have always been able to sail really well.  They
motivated me too, because they were trying to pull loops and do the
drag racing and what not.....

And this all sure sounds good.  hope something happens...

and yeah the whole Berkeley engineering thing I got going on with no
car and all the gear at home in Colorado....  makes it tough to sail
and what not.  Yeah i could go down to the Cal Sailing Club and have
to start on a 13-footer again and scrub the deck or whatever.  and i'm
not too motivated to that either right now.  but we'll see what i'll
do.....

cris