Nothing sinks in better than lots of pics, I know that. No one with a camera shows as often as often as one would hope, in FL venues. My last weekend included three days of onshore then side on winds that were good then perfect. Never did the wind exceed the need for anything smaller than a 7.5 though. Waves were as large as nearly mast high , yet crumbling and easy to get past.

My only frustration is no one will join me! Everyone in my area is stuck in the planing out mindset, no matter how many times I show how viable long board wave sailing is. Any ideas on how to get people to try this? I can't even get 'em to try....

To them planing and short boards = macho and being like the dudes on the magazines. I don't think you'll succeed in converting them, nor should you care. It's not about windsurfing at that level...

However it's an opportunity to bring in a new crowd. Teach newbies, make it a social event or family gathering. Etc.

http://forums.iwindsurf.com/viewtopic.php?p=89082#89082

Here's someone that caught the bug over in CA. Great pic, jordon!

Rightly or wrongly marketing is a powerful thing. There has been 20+ years of the marketers telling us that to be cool you should not be sailing a longboard. This is going to take a long time to unravel. Notwithstanding, there will always be some people whop do not want to be recognise the benefit of longboards as part of your board quiver.

To my way of thinking it is not about us or them. Our strength (as long boarders) comes through acceptance of all forms of windsurfing and letting the criticism that may be thrown at us wash away. We need to take the intellectual high ground as the “chilled out”, perhaps a bit retro fun lovin and accepting side of windsurfing. A side of the sport that accepts all comers no matter the gear, its age or its length. The more we get on with sailing and racing our longboards and accepting all comers the more power that we have.

Since my two partners in crime and I hatched the idea for this website we have learned that there are lots of longboard windsurfers out there in the world of windsurfing. Importantly also, the industry is starting to recognise that longboard windsurfing is a valuable part of the sport and a way to grow the sport.

When you look back on the short time that this website has been around, just over a year, there has been a huge change to the small industry that is windsurfing. There can be no doubt that longboards are back. LBWS can not lay claim to being responsible for this alone but in part there can be no doubt that LBWS and its many members have shown the industry that they need to get behind the irrefutable logic of longboard windsurfing.

So, John I, what I am getting at is that while they may not be joining you in droves don’t let that phase you too much. When you least expect it some one will turn up and join you as there can be no doubt that there is a lot of logic to what you are doing. Stay with it, keep the faith - LBWS and its members are behind you.

Cheers
Pat.
AUS456

Thanks for the encouragement. Just had another surprise session in nearly perfect conditions at my home break near Titusville, FL yesterday. Swells were head high to slightly more. Wind was side shore SE at 9-14 mph. I used the Kona 11'5 and 7.5 sail.

Had to share the break with about 40-50 surfers. We all had a great time. My wave count was off the chart. Cheers.

Patrick Air Force Base, Cocoa Beach, FL Nov 3 2008. I'll remember that date at least til the next swell. 4 or more feet overhead surf. 7-12 mph side shore wind. Up to a 1/3 of a mile ride to be had front side. Yup, I was the solo windsurfer again on my Kona 11'5. Another truly epic sesh with only one windsurfer getting the fun....

John I,

I find your posts inspirational. Keep up the feedback.

My background includes substantial dinghy/skiff course racing AND significant surfing and shortboard wavesailing. Although these days I am focused on raceboard windsurfing, I believe that the most satisfying and inspirational form of windsurfing is wavesailing. Nothing beats a great day's wavesailing.

I wish I'd had the chance to take up longboard wavesailing a few years ago.