Forums
slalomguy
was a few years (actually many years) ago.
This seems to apply to some of the other manufacturers forums too.
Where has everyone gone,or has the novelty worn off??
Bob T
Christi, where it was huge, we've seen are ranks dwindle to a small
but fiercely loyal group. The recent meeting of the Corpus Christi
Windsurfing Association was only attended by one officer, the
Commodore. Really active venues like Cole Park which used to draw 50
or 60 windsurfers at a time may only get 5 or 6 windsurfers on a good
day. Most moved on to non-water sport activities like "cruising
motorcycles" (Harley's) or fishing. Some went to kiting, and some just
dropped out. There are still fairly active groups and Grassy Point
and at Bird Island Basin. Bob T.
Michael
are discussing windsurfing online than ever, between online forums
(iWIndsurf in the U.S., Boards in the UK, Seabreeze in Oz and many
others) manufacturers forums, and the dozens of windsurfing blogs out
there.
Where I sail on Long Island windsurfing appears to be "up" compared to
ten years ago. COmpared to the 80's it's still down.
The Dog
> I've got a different perspective. First of all I'd say more people
> are discussing windsurfing online than ever, between online forums
> (iWIndsurf in the U.S., Boards in the UK, Seabreeze in Oz and many
> others) manufacturers forums, and the dozens of windsurfing blogs out
> there.
There was a time when I'd debate the value of one forum versus many.
No longer worth the effort.
> Where I sail on Long Island windsurfing appears to be "up" compared to
> ten years ago. COmpared to the 80's it's still down.
Fireant seems to be busier in the last couple of years, but also down
from the 80's. I know I'm sailing less. That four-letter word keeps
getting in the way.
Dog
Dan Weiss
Beer?
Bob T
dwindled to a few core sailors. This strong core group took it upon
themselves to keep windsurfing active. They not only saved it in the
Kansas City area, they rebuilt it to be nearly as strong as ever.
The key to building the group was using strong social alliances with
frequent communication being the glue that keeps things happening.
One of the members started a Yahoo Group: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/kansaswindsurf/
and this has been the vehicle to keep communications open and active.
It means you are more likely to be joined by a sailing buddy when you
post your plans to head for the lake. I was told the group was able to
lease a piece of land on the shore of one of the lakes from the Corps
of Engineers and this became their launch as well as a campground for
their RV's and tents. Well done Kansas City guys and gals! Keep the
stoke alive!
Michael
Regional forums make a lot of sense...they're able to focus, most
everybody knows each other, and interpersonal nonsense is kept to a
minimum (as everyone ends up meeting face to face.)
The Dog
Dan Weiss
Too bad, Dog!
gwandsh
I think the actual headcounts are probably pretty high, but now
greatly dispersed among the various forums and communication modes.
Whereas rec.Dot used to be the only forum I knew of (say 15 years
ago), there are now dozens of venues to exchange information. There
are three fairly active Yahoo groups overlapping the same general
region of the NW US. While it is lots of fun to exchange stoke with
folks in an international forum, having similar sailing sites and
weather patterns usually makes for more relevant details.
As for actual sailing, I guess if some counts are down from other US
venues, they must be congregating in the Columbia gorge during
summers. This summer was extremely crowded at the "hot" spots between
June and September. Usually parked out in early mornings before the
wind even started to blow.
I can't speak to the 80's but I would say in the past ten years or so
there has been a steady increase in sailing headcount in this region.
The Dog
>
> > Work.
>
> Too bad, Dog!
Not really. It's a good job. Possibly my last if things go well in
the next few years.
clyde
public (non members) to read the posts of the members. Come out of
your closet and let the inquisitive see what the heck we find so
interesting like this Florida group: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecfw/
Why not allow the " i will never join a group" people the chance to be
a part of the group. Be inclusive, not exclusive.
A visible point of access in every community is essential to encourage
growth and development of the sport for it's participants. I keep
hoping something, someone somewhere will lead the new national
awakening of windsurfing for the U.S.
This is a good and important discussion.
Florian /FFF/
Lots of on the Yahoo Long Island Windsurfing group is irrelevant to
others (sailing venue for the day, post session banter, etc.). Also, I
prefer to share certain with people whom I've actually seen wearing a
wetsuit. There are too many lurkers on there as it is.
Nothing precludes one from also having a presence on another forum -
like the Usenet or iWindsurf (which seem to be own at the moment). I
admit there is a good argument for consolidating these places for
convenience and to take them out of the commercial domain, but the web-
based discussion fora have superseeded the usenet in the popular use -
not in the least because of outdated interfaces and news stream
accessibility issues, but also spam control, inline media/images etc.
Since Google in effect has taken over the public usenet and now
provides a competitive interface, I expected a bit more of a comeback,
but traffic on here seems to have dropped off further. I don't see how
opening up private groups to anonymous access will bring people back
here (or any single public place).
Michael
Long Island group is limited to local sailors goes a long way to
eliminate the nonsense. By comparison to what rec.windsurfing was in
its heyday (and what I think the iWindsurf forum is becoming) its
respectful and free of personal attacks. There are no trolls. No
blowhards. No off-topic nonsense. No legends in their own minds.
Note that I say "by comparison"...I think some of the gang would say
there's almost all of the above, but it's all done with the civility
and sanity of people who know each other and are face-to-face often.
It's a real group of people that in fact includes some otherwise "I
will never join a group people", and a great tool for the existing
windsurfing community and new Long Island windsurfers. I'd encourage
more sailing communities, whatever their size, to set up such a
group. The "where are you planning to sail" and on-site reports alone
encourage more people to sail more often, with old friends and new.
As far as "inclusive" and "exclusive" there are no less than five Long
Island windsurfing blogs...it's very easy to find out what's going on
here and join discussions.
On Jan 3, 10:05 am, clyde <clydepe...@hotmail.com> wrote:
John I
Clyde and Mike are really good about flushing the shiite off our ecfw
yahoo group. After a short time of active policing, the crap never
seems to resurface much. Lots of casual readers glance at ecfw, and
never post. I put up a guess as to where to go, and some show. I put
up where I went, and some learn and make the journey the next time I
guess where to go.
As to numbers participating in our sport, they are hugely off. Seems
like kiters are waning too. Spouse and kid syndrome, economic stress,
plateauing skills leading to lack of interest, skin cancer, nintendo,
and pay to learn have all lead to the sport's demise. Long boards
made our sport very accessible to tons of newbies, some stuck with it
for a while. No ease of entry, no replacements. Pretty simple really.
Jeff
groups on there. Plus you get to expose your photos to non windsurfer
friends.
After so many years of sailing and talking about it, it's the photos
and video that interest me the most. The windsurf news is all out
there in blogs and sites like beach telegraph so they kind of cover
that end. Doesn't seem to leave much for this once mighty rec. club.
I still look in once in a while but usually just check
Telegraph,Boardseeker and Boards besides our west coast PDX
wavesailing group.
Jeff
slalomguy
Remember mike and warlord ?
Anyways I think most have found a new drug, so to speak.
Me, I'm out whenever its good but only when its good.
After doing it for 30 years the stoke level drops off somewhat but the epic
days are just as much fun as they were 30 years ago,even if the recovery
period is a lot longer.
"gwandsh" <gwa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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