I Was A Windsurfer, But No More :-)
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 21:02
Greetings,
I'm just learning the sport with the help of Jay over at Air Support. In the late 80's and early 90s I was a windsurfer, then I finished college and moved out to Minneapolis, got married, had a son and forgot how much I loved to be out on the water.
I moved back to MA in 2006, took up snowboarding in 2007 with by son (now 9). Our daughter was born in 2008 and decided to start learning the sport this year.
I do not miss the equipment setup of windsurfing and driving around with so much gear, this is so much better.
The good thing now is that my parents live in Mashpee and have rental property in Chatham, so I can get out to the Cape easily.
Looking forward to meeting more people. I met a few on this forum last weekend. I have some rough video of a few of you I will post up later.
I was on the Cape last weekend doing a second round of lessons.
We also have a house on Lake Michigan which is another great place to kite, particularly in the fall. Here is some video and pictures for those not familiar with the Great Lakes:
The nice thing here is there is no public beach, no crowds, so much space. 
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 22:55
#1
Yard sale....
gr8 to see ur post.yeah, i slowly was phasing out my wsurf gear and then this spring after dragging all the shit to hatteras, i sold it all fast and never looked back.
i may hop on one on vaca sometime since it's new and all rigged but then again probably not!lol
I've been trending twrds kiting surf style and have been digging it as do most ex-windsurfers. Give it a whirl!
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:49
#2
Hey Scott,
I briefly talked
Hey Scott,
I briefly talked with you near the West Dennis pond last weekend. I'm glad you decided to check out Masskiting! Welcome to the forum!
I still windsurf once in a while because my dad does it. I like kiteboarding much better though. I'm just starting to learn how to jump and it's really exciting.
See you around
-Eugene M.
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 14:23
#3
Hey Scott!
We talked at Chapin on Friday and at WD on Saturday. I've got the black Triple Eight Vodka kite. Welcome to the site! I saw you do some body-dragging... getting up on the board is next!! You're so close!!
See ya on the beach soon!
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 22:02
#5
I was a old windsurfer too.
I
I was a old windsurfer too.
I still get out about once a year when my 8m kite is too big and I pull out my old Ezzy 3.7m Wave and my 7'10" Fox HC wave board for some big chop fun.
Windsurfing is such hard work compared to kiting!
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 08:19
#6
Welcome!
Good to see someone else with a Michigan connection out here riding. As a family we used to vacation on the Lake Michigan shore just south of Elberta / Frankfort. I went to graduate school at U of M and ended up married to a Michigander.
I really miss that lakeshore but don't miss the drive form Massachusetts to get out there.
I am just finishing up my first summer of riding ( I was where you are now at the end of last summer) and have found this community has greatly enhanced the experience.
It has helped with advice, setting up people to ride with and the purchase of gear.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 12:44
#7
I lived in Michigan during
I lived in Michigan during the late seventies when windsurfing became all the rage in Europe. I brought it home and people thought I was strange to begin with, but I tried to urge my friends to come out to the lake to windsurf, they considered me a lost cause... The Community wasn't there and I found myself unable to build one. I too am grateful for the one we have found here in the Boston area. Hope all you kiters are free on Saturday!!!!!
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 13:42
#8
da gorge
1st time I saw kitesurfing was at The Gorge, windsurfing at The Hatchery. We were like WOW ! that looks friggin DANGEROUS ! pretty sure it was Cory Roesler circa 1997. I was when I was working at a windsurfing shop in San Fran while looking for a "real job" in the Bay Area, but that job never happened.
Does that make me an OG ?
then we saw Trip and Nuzzo at Kalmus in 1998 with 2 line kites back when Trip worked for North, waaay before Real and all that OBX kite mania.
windsurfing is like skiing, I spent so much time doing it it's hard not to wanna get back on a 9' wave board and a 4.2 in nukin wind~ just like sliding on snow on 2 planks with poles, I just prefer alpine snowboarding and kiting by a long shot.
vs
Thanks for the warm welcome to the community. Eugene did direct me to the site. Jermy...you're right next step is getting going on a board..probably would have done that Saturday if I stayed longer, but needed to get back home.
I'll be back, not sure if I'll get a chance to do more kiting on water this year, but I will be in Chatham over Christmas this year.
I have a Hydra 350 Power Kite that I've been playing around with with Alex (in lighter wind)..that has been fun, although once he gets the kite flying he doesn't want to give it up. I should have no problem getting him into the sport when he gets bigger...he's too light right now.
I do actually have one set of windsurfing equipment in my basement(A 4.7M North Zeta Wave Sail and a 275CM HiFly board)..don't know what I'll do with that stuff.
When I drove out to MI this year I almost brought it along, but decided I didn't want to deal with lugging that around. I also thought the wind would not be great..typically isn't all that windy in August out there..but as it turns out it was 20-30 on 4 or 5 days. Unfortunately while I was out there I was unable to line up any kite lessons, but I'm OK with my progress now considering I have never done any wake boarding. I only tried surfing once in 1991 at Huntington Beach in CA.
I've got some video from WD of various people that I'll post up when I get a chance to edit.
-Scott