albers said..

IMO, I believe certain people (myself included), feel threatened by this level of windsurfing skill level as it moves further away from where most recreational windsurfers are at.

Hmm. Curious comment to say that you feel threatened by this level of skill. I guess it can seem a little intimidating.

But I think one of the really great things about this sport, from what I have heard from those with first-hand experience, and from the very few "brushes with fame" that I have had over the years, is that the guys (and gals) at this level aren't untouchable, egotistical RSoles, and are apparently happy to talk to mere mortals at recreational level. I think the stoke is shared equally, irrespective of skill level.

How stoked were you when you first planed out of a gybe, or nailed your first waterstart?

Firstly I get excited about any form of windsurfing and when done as well as Gollito in that video I don't get too jealous as I realise even if I hadn't stopped sailing for over 20 years there's no way I would have had the talent to pull of one tenth of those manoeuvres. Watching the top echelons of our sport in any discipline is thoroughly enjoyable.

KA360 said..

A slalom or GPS sailor wouldn't have a clew of how to get out of a situation where your front hand has let go of the boom or you can't sheet out .
Their only option is let go of the sail and fall in.

That's not quite right - maybe if you give those freestylers a 8+metre slalom sail and see how long they can hold it backhand for. Slalom sailors are incredibly talented too - it's just not evident as everyone thinks it's incredibly easy to go super fast in extreme chop whilst battling it out with 7 other sailors and all the whilst competing to be first at the gybe marks.

sausage said..

KA360 said..

A slalom or GPS sailor wouldn't have a clew of how to get out of a situation where your front hand has let go of the boom or you can't sheet out .
Their only option is let go of the sail and fall in.

That's not quite right - maybe if you give those freestylers a 8+metre slalom sail and see how long they can hold it backhand for. Slalom sailors are incredibly talented too - it's just not evident as everyone thinks it's incredibly easy to go super fast in extreme chop whilst battling it out with 7 other sailors and all the whilst competing to be first at the gybe marks.

You do realise that Sarah Quita is the best female slalom racer by a country mile (I don't think she's ever come second in her heat) and most male slalom racers will never get a top ten result in the PWA like Taty. These freestylers must be holding about the same size sail as the others in the race.

And anyway, you don't need to hold it "backhand" for that long. It's about knowing how to deal with the situation not about strength. Finesse is something all sailors can use more of and the best way to learn it is doing light wind freestyle like Caesar in the vid above.

Haircut said..

qldnacra said..
Tell me YOU didn't get a woody over watching that though. As soon as I saw it I thought about how much you would love it.

i had some myocardial infarctions

For a little while I was addlepated after reading this post