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. . . You will quickly make a discovery—not about windsurfing, but about
people who windsurf. The majority are courteous, considerate, and congenial.
They do not have neon signs on their foreheads, blinking on and off, Ego > Ego >
Ego. The reason for this is simple:
everyone has experienced the same windsurfing initiation process—and
persevered. The initiation can be humbling: getting on the board, uphauling,
falling off the board, getting on, uphauling, falling off. . . .
For those who have never windsurfed, the initiation is about to
begin. Those who have sailed for a short time may still be going through it.
Be assured that the process is a short one, and the end result is worth every raspberry on
your shin. So, stick to it. The ones who don’t, have egos that won’t
allow them to look a little silly, for a little while. They return to water sports
they are good at, like washing the windows or watering the lawn.
Teaching yourself
Is this book meant to replace an introductory lesson given by a
certified windsurfing instructor? Absolutely not! Here’s why:
- A certified school will have the correct equipment for teaching
beginner lessons.
- An instructor will demonstrate and have you practice the correct
techniques on land using a sailboard simulator.
- You will receive instant and accurate instructions by radio or voice
while sailing.
So, if there’s a windsurfing school in your area, it behooves
you to give them a call. When you do, ask the following questions:
- Are you certified?
- Do you use a sailboard simulator?
- Do you teach the crossover or the mast-hold technique for
setting-sail?
The correct answers are: yes, yes, and mast-hold. But,
the correct answers don’t guarantee the school is a good one, or the instructor is a
good teacher. They will, however, provide an indication.
If there are no schools in your area, and you’re just starting,
then you and I are on our own. No problem! It will just take us a little
longer.
How long will it take? Well, compare it to something
you’re familiar with—like the bicycle. Learning to ride a bike is easy;
you sit on it, push the pedals, and move the handle bars. Windsurfing is just as
easy; you stand on it, hold the boom, and move the sail. It’s really not
complicated.
Actually, learning to ride a windsurfer is as easy
as learning to ride a bike. It’s also less painful: water being softer than
pavement. It’s safer too: windsurfers are rarely bumped off their boards by
cars. What all this means is: if you have enough balance, coordination, and courage
to ride a bicycle, then you can also ride a windsurfer. That is, if you exactly
follow the next piece of advice.
End of Excerpt |
Table
of Contents Book 3 |
| Teaching Yourself |
| Steps to Follow |
| Basic Rigging |
| Carrying your gear |
| Getting onboard |
| Uphauling |
| Turning |
| Tacking |
| Gybing |
| Setting-sail |
| Mast-hold Technique |
| Step 1 |
| Step 2 |
| Step 3 |
| Mistakes Step 1 |
| Mistakes Step 2 |
| Mistakes Step 3 |
| Crossover Technique |
| What's next? |
|
