Basic windsurfing safety tips.

Windsurfing is not as hard as it may seem. All you need to do is get the basics right and follow some safety steps. After you are done shopping for your windsurfing equipments and the Must-Have accessories, it's time to glance at the safety tips.

'Better safe than sorry' applies almost everywhere, windsurfing included. The basic safety measures prior to windsurfing, is all it takes to ensure your adventure to be fun-filled and worth remembering.



Safety Tips Before Windsurfing:
Checking the equipment: Conduct a thorough check of your surfboard and sail for any damages, cracks, tear etc. that might pose to be a danger while sailing. If there is any problem with the equipment, get it fixed as soon as possible.
Local knowledge: Survey the area where you want to windsurf. Do some research by exploring around or talking to windsurfers, who have been surfing for a while in that area. Also, you should know:

The water conditions like tides, currents etc. and water temperature
A nearby windsurf repair shop
Whom to contact in case of an emergency.
Sail with a friend: If you are a beginner, it is best to sail with someone and not risk sailing alone. Sailing in numbers will not only help during an emergency situation, but you can also observe others performing a trick or two. Also let someone know your whereabouts and the approximate time of return.

Rules and regulations: Do check the rules of the area and follow it to stay out of trouble. Never try to flout the rules. They are for your own safety as well as that of others.

Dehydration: Drink plenty of water before you start windsurfing. Know the fact that dehydration rate is higher while near seas or oceans. Consume an ample amount of water to keep you well hydrated, and to prevent nausea.



Safety Tips During Windsurfing:
Sail slow: To avoid colliding with other sailors, sail slowly near the shores. Do not rush as it may cause an injury to you as well as others.
Help signals: In worst cases when you need help in deep waters, you must know the accepted and the most common distress signal. Waving both your hands outstretched above your head is by far the best way to send an SOS. Also remember that your windsurfing board provides you with the maximum buoyancy. So stay on it in case you take a tumble.

Hypothermia: Leave the waters as soon as you discover the first symptoms of hypothermia. Shivering, numbing and muscles unable to respond are the few signs which signal the onset of that hypothermia.

An alert mind: While sailing always keep an eye open for any kind of danger. Stay calm but react quickly. Keeping these windsurfing safety tips handy, I am sure you are going to set sailing safely. Remember, safety has no option or exception.

Source: http://www.basicwindsurfing.com/windsurfing-safety-tips.html

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog: Rich Simons Lands a Vulcan

The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog: Rich Simons Lands a Vulcan: "Rich Simons Lands a Vulcan

6a00d8341c890753ef0133f4e859d3970b-500wi He's done it. Chachi posted in the Long Island Windsurfing Group that Rich scored his first vulcan at Heckscher recently, which 'took me almost 3 years and well over a thousand attempts.' Rich was looking good and close last fall at the ABK freestyle clinic (photo by ABK instructor Brendon, above) so it should come as no surprise. I'll be he hits his next one before ABK arrives in late May. Congratulations, Rich!"

New Speed Fin Releases

Today I heard about 3 speed fins going into production. This got to be a new achievement, a milestone for speedsurfing. Again prove speedsurfing is alive and back.

The Sonntag Fins GPS_4 is the speedfin with conventional outline, the main thing we tested for was a good performance and safety/grip. The GPS_4 can be tweaked both in rake and lay-up from a flat water water powerhouse up to a chaotic off-/onshore grippy and safe fin. The Sonntag Fins GPS_5 is a new widebase design, made to make windsurfing possible in extreme shallow flat water. The GPS_5 has a wide range of working angle of attack, in other words its not needed to be the best most fit windsurfer in the world to handle this widebase. Read More about Sonntag Fins

The 3th new speedfin release is a complet new concept. From Black Project Fins. The Type X. Widebase AND asymmetrical, this is new.
But there is more, you don't order a type X in lenght! No you can order for the speed you aim for. A fin for 40kn, 45kn or 50kn. Both for starboard and port tack. Read More about the Black Project Type X

View the original article here

Guy Cribb opposes Poole harbour marina

Guy Cribb, the British windsurfing champion, is fighting against the construction of a proposed harbour marina, in Hamworthy Park, Poole, UK.

The 950 berth marina will affect the environment and finish all windsurfing and kitesurfing activities nearby. Cribb believes the project is "preposterous".

"It will totally stop all windsurfing and kitesurfing from Hamworthy Park and Poole Yacht Club, the very place that I honed my skills to ultimately represent the British Team in countless world and European championships, firstly as a racer then as the national coach", he told This is Dorset.

Guy Cribb is 14-time British national windsurfing champion and 5-time world champion. The waterman sailed dinghies in the harbour as a child and started competing from Poole Yacht Club in 1984. Cribb is now supporting an online petition to halt the harbour marina plans.

"An assertion that windsurfers would be able to sail in the ‘lagoon area’ created by the breakwater was clearly made by a non-windsurfer. I am currently the world’s leading windsurfing coach and multi-times UK champion. I am rather better placed to make any judgement on what is good for windsurfing in the area", says Cribb.

The online petition is available, here. Stop this £25 million offshore harbour.

View the original article here

Belgium lives the need for speed

When the weather is rainy and windy, only the true sports enthusiasts are out in the water. The Fanatic Belgian Speed Week 2011 has kicked off and nobody cares about the harsh weather. There's a need for speed in this European country.

Fifty one windsurfers are racing for the fastest times. In the first race, the wind strength was good, but the direction was not right and there was a swell of two-meter waves. The race officer decided that it was impossible to guarantee the safety of the riders, so he cancelled the race for that day.

Tuesday, the wind was not very strong, only around 14 knots, so the wind riders planned a slalom race. Fourteen windsurfers were ready to join the fun race, but when the course was all set up the wind dropped to eight knots and it had to be cancelled.

On Wednesday, the wind wasn’t that strong and the course was opened. If the speed was high enough it would be official. The wind gods were with Fanatic Belgian Speed Week 2011 and riders had a counting round.

David Garrel is leading the races, followed by Thorsten Mallon, Wilfried Vanherweghe, Patrick Van Hoof and Alain Degendt. In the Women's division, Nicky Van Hoof is in first place, followed by Birgit Höfer and Imke De Bruyn.

The Fanatic Belgian Speed Week 2011 will be concluded in the Easter weekend.

View the original article here

Finn Mullen windsurfs "Jaws" after injury

Finn Mullen, the Irish windsurfing champion, is stoked. After claiming several titles, the crazy windsurfer has taken an infamous wave called "Jaws". Yes, that one.

"Jaws" is known for being extremely difficult for windsurfers. The wave is fast, powerful and deep, making bottom turns very hard for wind riders with a sail.

Finn Mullen is not worried, even after suffering an injury in the last Belmullet Wavesailing final. So, there's not much time to full recovery. It's time to pack the board, mast and sail and hit one of the gnarliest waves in the world.

Finn Mullen has already conquered the Irish Wave Windsurfing titles. In the last months, Mullen has windsurfed giants waves off the coast of Ireland. Whether it's sunny or cloudy, the Irish wave emperor is always ready for the big challenges.

Despite his low-profile, Mullen is one of the best wave windsurfers in the world. Nobody knows Northern Ireland's windsurf spots better than Finn Mullen.

View the original article here

Curacao crowns IFCA Slalom world champions

Jean Patrick van der Wolde and Delano Moreno are the first windsurfers in the history of Curacao to conquer the IFCA Slalom World Championships.

Despite the lack of consistent winds, the windsurfers managed to sail one elimination round, so the official world champions could be crowned. van der Wolde and Moreno took the Under 17 and Under 13 divisions.

"I am very proud. I don’t feel special but I did win", says Jean Patrick. "The means a step up. Now I have to prepare for the Youth class next year, which is much harder."

The Surf Town was perfect and thousands of spectators followed the event during the five days. The final heat of the Masters could not be sailed on the final day, so this meant that by official IFCA rules there are six world champions in the class.

The wind conditions were far from great, which is unusual on Curacao this time of year, but the the goal is to promote local windsurfing and to put the spotlight on Curacao as a perfect choice for future international windsurfing events.

"Event-wise it was fantastic: great organization, great food, great people but very unlucky with the wind", says Bruno de Wannemaeker, president of the IFCA.

Final Results of the 2011 Curacao Challenge:

Masters
1. Sergio Mehl (Argentina)
1. Monique Meijer (Bonaire)
1. Constantino Saragoza (Bonaire)
1. Joris Bosman (the Netherlands)
1. Nikaj Droop (the Netherlands)
1. Diego Domenianni (USA)

Youth – U20
1. Gutek Kurczewski (Poland)
2. Jocelyn de Souza (France)
3. Jordy Vonk (the Netherlands)

Junior – U17 (+U15)
1. Jean Patrick van der Wolde (Curacao)
2. Justin Denel (France)
3. Amado Vrieswijk (Bonaire)

Junior – U13
1. Delano Moreno (Curacao)
2. Alex Halank (Australia)
3. Jean Paul da Silva de Goes (Curacao)

Sports Class
1. Ben van der Steen (the Netherlands)
2. Behrend Veenhuizen (Curacao)
3. Remo Osnabrugge (Curacao)

View the original article here

Young Danish windsurfers train in Hvide Sande

The 40 places available for the Danish Young Gun Camp Summer Edition, held between 26th June and 2nd July, sold out in one week confirming the success and potential of young windsurfers. As a result of the huge interest, Neil Pryde will organizing an extra edition, in the following week.

This is the first year of the Young Gun Camp Summer Edition. The basic concept is the same as the famous JP Young Gun Classic, in Klitmøller, however at the Summer Edition there will be four NeilPryde/JP team riders connected as full time instructors and parents are not allowed at this camp.

The Summer Edition Camp takes place in Hvide Sande, in a unique location, with the North Sea on one side and a protected Fjord on the other side. This means the 40 young people, aged 12-18, can basically get all conditions for windsurfing and SUP within walking distance. Also, unlike the Klitmøller Camp, the young people and their instructors will sleep in tents on the beach.

"Many participants from the annual JP Young Gun Classic in Klitmøller (October) have asked us to organize a summer edition in a warmer period. So we knew about the demand, but I must say that I did not expect the summer camp to be sold out already within a week", says co-organizer Torben Kornum.

"It is my guess that from 2012 we can run 4-5 weeks of camps in the school holidays and still not cover the need for such events."

View the original article here

Windsurfing Maui Race Series 2011

It’s still wave season here on Maui so much of the focus on windsurfing on Maui lately has of course been on wave sailing. But, that’s not to say the slalom and racers aren’t busy. The 2011 Maui Race Series dates were recently finalized.

June 4 – Starboard SlalomJune 18 – DaKine ClassicJuly 2 – Maui Fin Company OpenJuly 16 – Quiksilver CupJuly 30 – Neil Pryde Hawaii State Championships

There’s a lot of pro windsurfing racers on Maui right now tuning up for the PWA tour. Even in the high winds we’ve been getting, these guys are out training hard. Check out Finian Maynard and Peter Volwater blasting around a couple of days ago at Kanaha in 30 knot winds.

View the original article here

Windsurfing Maui April Update

Things have calmed down on Maui the last several days – both wind and waves, at least on the north shore. The week started out on Sunday with both wind and surf. Kind of brutal but fun at Uppers on Sunday. Super maxed out on 5.0 outside the break. Barely any wind at all inside the break due to easterly wind component. Pretty gnarly outside but some fun logo high wind swell from the NE breaking, making for some fun rides.

Sailed Sprecks on Tuesday. Just about the whole Neil Pryde team was there doing photo shoots. Pretty gnarly early on with blasting, gusty east winds, but when the clouds cleared later in the day the conditions mellowed a bit. Very well powered on 4.5.

Back to Kanaha on Wednesday for a nice fun session despite being slightly underpowered on 4.5 – good in the gusts but the holes made it a bit of work to get and stay up wind in the head high surf. Lots of photo shoot action at Kanaha with Peter Biel and Antoine Albeau out blasting around on big 2012 Neil Pryde race sails for the helicopter and team North/Fanatic also in the break at Uppers with their own chopper.

Russ Faurot posted a nice little update with some nice photos of the action up the coast at Kuau and Hookipa the last few days. Check it out.

Neil Pryde continues to post their Neil Pryde photoshoot video series. If you’re hoping to catch a peak at the 2012 Neil Pryde sails there though, you’re going to be disappointed. You’ll have to find that elsewhere.

Epic Sessions continues to test and gear up for the Oxbow Ride the Sky event. Check out this update from Casey Hauser and Jake Miller.

We probably won’t see conditions suitable for the event for a few days. Looks like the best hope for return of wind and waves is Tuesday at the earliest.

View the original article here