Mistral WindGlider is a "Winner"
Keith Meder
I received my WindGlider on Friday evening via UPS and my 7 year old
daughter and I rigged it up in the front yard immediately. The rig is
very light and the boom can be adjusted low enough for her to be very
comfortable.
We were able to do some dry land practice and then went inside to watch
the instructional video that comes with it.
Saturday morning we were up early and went to the lake. It was really a
little too windy, but I was able to sail around with her sitting on the
front.
On Sunday we went out again, it wasn't quite as windy, so I lowered the
boom for her and I sailed kneeling down instead of standing, which
worked quite well. In the kneeling position I was able to have her
stand between me and the boom. I had her hold on to the mast with her
front hand and the boom with her back hand. The wind was still a little
strong, so I had one arm around her waist to steady her and I was
holding the mast with my other hand. We were able to make several runs
like this until the wind got too strong for her, but it was enough for
her to get good feel for how much fun it is to windsurf.
My wife was sitting on the beach watching us and after one run in to
shore, my daughter ran up to her and was yelling, "mommie, mommie did
you see me? I was sailing!".
So if you want an easy way to teach your kids, spouse or friends how to
windsurf, just get a WindGlider.
Many thanks to Ken Winner and Mistral for bringing us the WindGlider!
Happy Dad!
Keith Meder
Xracerx25x
The windglider is inflatable. It has at least 2 separate chambers for safety.
The advantage is that is easily transportable for someone without racks and can
be stored in a small space. As for durability, the construction is like a
high quality inflatable boat (Avon, Zodiak), these designs are proven to be
light, durable and safe.
Keith Meder
John Olander wrote:
>
> Could you describe the qualtiy of the construction. My understanding is
> that this is an inflatable. Is the hull completely inflatable? There are
> fins that attach underneath? How long will this stand up to usage? The
> Windglider all folds up into a bag?
> Thanks,
> John Olander
>
> Keith Meder wrote in message
> <6BD92BB9B417915B.6E16AF5A...@library-proxy.airnews.ne
> t>...
John, the construction looks very good. The vinyl seems to be pretty
thick and should be very durable. It has two fins that attach to the
bottom.
Keith
John Olander
sailquik (Roger Jackson)
On Tue, 26 May 1998 09:49:04 -0500, Keith Meder <med...@airmail.net> wrote:
>Many thanks to Ken Winner and Mistral for bringing us the WindGlider!
I'll second that comment.
I've somehow been "coaxed" into teaching at the last couple of demo's I've
participated in, and the Windglider is really a superb instructional tool.
At Dewey Beach DE a couple weeks ago the guys from the local shop asked me
to give an introductory lesson to the wife or girlfriend of some of their
"good" customers, and in both cases I was able to sail on the Windglider
with the student for about 15 min. (standing behind them with my hands
lightly on top of theirs until they got the hang of the basic technique and
then they just sailed away on their own. One gal sailed for almost 2 hours
and came in raving as she hadn't gotten wet above her knees.
(This was a totally "new" side of Windsurfing for her).
Did the same with a gal from MA yesterday at the Ninigret Demo (she'd never
been on a board of any kind ever before), and the entire Ningret beach
gourp gave her a big round of applause when she came in dry from the waist
up, sailing on her own, on her first lesson. She too sailed the Windglider
for about 2 more hours, in very changeable and gusty winds, on her own, and
left Ninigret with a huge smile on her face.
A couple of suggestions tho!
We had alot of trouble getting the Windglider mast apart as it was left in
the shallows, and grit/silt got into the mast joints and made them hard to
take apart. A wrap of vinyl electical tape on the joints will solve this
poblem. Also don't leave the Windglider with the sail in the water in the
shallows as the grit also made the boom a little hard to get off.
Great product Ken!! And North Sports/Mistral are to be commended for
getting it into production.
later
Roger
sailquik (Roger Jackson) US 3704 (301)872-9459 (In MD)
F2/North/Sailworks/Tectonics/True Ames (919)995-3204 (In Hatteras)
Lvl 1 WS Instructor
Email: sail...@mail.ameritel.net (In MD)
sail...@interpath.com (In Avon N.C.)