"In general give the passionate sailor a range of sails for the right boards surely makes him/her better as long as the whining isn't in the equation"
Not sure; giving someone better gear may just mean that they are sailing the same, but on better gear. Maybe a sailor who is stretched to their limit by (say) handling a Formula board and a 9.5 on a reach in 25 knots, will learn one hell of a lot more about ultimate board handling than someone who is sailing comfortably on a 7 and a slalom board in the same conditions.
Many coaches and trainers try to put people under pressure, to make the training as hard as possible, because they feel that is the way to really enhance and develop skills. Sailing with a smaller range of gear can do that; or so can sailing with the "wrong" gear. Spending time right on the edge of control can really develop your sailing.
It can also mean that the sailor spends less time de-rigging and worrying about gear, and more time out there practising. i think you a right! a good sailor will perform well on pretty much any equipment in any conditions. However, the better and more suited the equipment is to the conditions, than the sailors performance will also improve, ohh and so will there enjoyment!
Dunno again; some people relish the challenge of using fewer bits of gear, and making them stretch across the wider range of conditions. It's a personal thing, maybe, rather than a general rule."To be a good all rounder
I reckon having:
- couple of freestyle (simple ones) moves downpat for light winds
- riding waves equal (or around) to what an average surfer will surf
- ability to get onto plane is light conditions
- ability to stay on plane in gusty conditions
- can get some airtime
- can sail multiple conditions (5-30+ knots), chop, flatwater, etc
- can go like the clappers when flat water blasting
- have a good carve gybe downpat
Only been at it for a few months. This may not be what a good all-rounder is for the general windsurfing public, if not, what differences, I wanna get to this 'good allrounder stage'!"
I'd add;
be able to sail in light winds; be able to sail longboards as well as shortboards well; be able to race; and be able to handle race gear in imperfect conditions (big chop or gusty winds).
Just my two cent's worth.
"I am pretty sure you could get Bjorn Dunkerbeck on a 15 year old board and sail and he would outsail 95% of the average weekend sailor."
That might be closer to 99.9+% of weekenders!
)antoine does basically all watersports to keep fit and one thing that isn't shown bold letters in all these top sailors is again passion and maybe slip in determination..this a pattern of what brick has been saying too..my belief of the all-rounder starts on a hardened sailor with all of the above, then he trains on another discipline since he/she's got all the basics so wired down the rest are easier for them to master...what can you say they're paid to do it
