Midwest windsurf lessons ???
Eric Shelton
Do you guys have a recommendation on a good school in the Midwest(within
4-8 hours of STL) that offers formal windsurfing lessons.
It's something I want to get into, and I plan to buy a rig and board,
but first I want to take lessons.
What are some good beginner setups you recommend. I read that bicsport
has some good beginner setups that can take you well into the
intermediate stage( I love versatility). Anyone have experience in that
regard? Is there a specific type that is better suited to this area?
Thanks All.
-Eric
Tim
Hi. There is a good kiteboarding school in Kansas City, called Kiteforce Academy. A lot of them used to be big-time windsurfers, so they might be able to help you.
You could get a used setup pretty cheap (under $200 complete) and teach yourself at Creve Ceour lake or Lakeside 370. Plenty of windsurfers here who could help you.
I got my setup from Chris, and it is great for cruising around creve ceour lake. When I get back into STL (am in WA until October) you are welcome to borrow it, but I won't be much help in teaching since I've only got a couple hours of experience.
Craigslist and this club member's are a good source to find good used equipment.
Tim
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- Moderator.
Stemle, Larry
Welcome to the sport! How did you get the bug?
St. Louis has a small hard-core windsurf/kitesurf group that usually
goes to lake Carlyle or Rend when it blows 20+, and a growing community
of around 20-30 beginner/intermediate sailors who sail at Creve Coeur.
Summer's light breezes are good for learning, and Fall/Spring brings
stronger winds and more challenge.
We occasionally have an informal "learn to windsurf" day at Creve Coeur
lake and are overdue for another one. After a simple lesson you should
know enough to start sailing on your own a bit and the locals will give
you tips along the way. Any thoughts on a date Chris?
If you really want formal lessons, the only one I know of in the MW is a
shop in Kenosha, WI which is 6 hours. http://www.southport-rigging.com.
Also Kansas City has a much larger windsurfing community than STL, and
they have a loaner rig and regularly teach beginners at Pomona lake near
KC. If you are willing to travel, KC and a bit further West has a LOT
more wind than here. You can sign up for their website at
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/kansaswindsurf/
If you can swing a trip to the ocean, you could learn and advance your
skills in 2 weeks to a level that would take 6 months to a year in STL!!
Spots like Corpus/ South Padre, Outer Banks NC, or Hood River, OR offer
steadier more consistent winds and shallow water (4-5 ft dp) which makes
getting back up after a fall very easy and less tiring.
As far as equipment you should be able to find a used setup locally for
a few hundred bucks. You will outgrow beginner equipment in 6 months if
you sail a lot so I would not spend a lot....just be sure not to get
junky heavy stuff as that would make learning frustrating. If you
aren't worried about the price, the newer short/wide boards are good for
learning and will take you into the intermediate skill levels. Ted do
you have anything for sale that Eric could learn on?
I'm still on the DL until Spring or I'd offer to help. Good luck and I
hope to see you on the water!
Larry
Hi All,
Thanks All.
-Eric
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Eric Shelton
Thanks for the info. I am curious if you know of anyone that currently
has a modern beginner setup for sale. I am an avid snowboarder(not that
that will help, but I love board sports) and I generally get a little
guidance in combination with a lot of practice when I self learn things.
I think buying a cheap setup would be the way to go if someone could
help steer me in the right direction. On Craigslist I would not really
know what to look for.
So...... if anyone has anything for sale, let me know. Perhaps I should
make a separate post for this request?
-Eric
Tim
You are more than welcome to try out my setup (which is literally 20+ years old !) when I get back to STL in October.
Tim
Bob Mechtly
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airca...@yahoo.com
most of my stuff from -
http://www.isthmussailboards.com
I would stick with something a bit on the wide and floaty side to
learn on then it can be used for light air and friends/family in the
future. As mentioned before, people here will help you learn including
myself.
Tony
On Aug 17, 10:50 pm, Bob Mechtly <bmech...@charter.net> wrote:
> www.stlouissailandpaddle.comhas windsurfing setups for sale not sure of the cost. The windsurfer is available to demo I think.
> On Aug 17, 2011, at 10:43 PM, Tim wrote:
>
>
>
> > Eric I'd love to help you but don't know of any windsurfing setups for sale right now.
>
> > You are more than welcome to try out my setup (which is literally 20+ years old !) when I get back to STL in October.
>
> > Tim
>
> > Hey Tim,
>
> > Thanks for the info. I am curious if you know of anyone that currently has a modern beginner setup for sale. I am an avid snowboarder(not that that will help, but I love board sports) and I generally get a little guidance in combination with a lot of practice when I self learn things. I think buying a cheap setup would be the way to go if someone could help steer me in the right direction. On Craigslist I would not really know what to look for.
>
> > So...... if anyone has anything for sale, let me know. Perhaps I should make a separate post for this request?
>
> > -Eric
>
> > On 8/2/2011 9:57 AM, Tim wrote:
> > Eric,
>
> > Hi. There is a good kiteboarding school in Kansas City, called Kiteforce Academy. A lot of them used to be big-time windsurfers, so they might be able to help you.
>
> > You could get a used setup pretty cheap (under $200 complete) and teach yourself at Creve Ceour lake or Lakeside 370. Plenty of windsurfers here who could help you.
>
> > I got my setup from Chris, and it is great for cruising around creve ceour lake. When I get back into STL (am in WA until October) you are welcome to borrow it, but I won't be much help in teaching since I've only got a couple hours of experience.
>
> > Craigslist and this club member's are a good source to find good used equipment.
>
> > Tim
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Wind Fun St. Louis" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to windf...@googlegroups.com
Chris Mihill
FYI,
If you're looking for Chinook products for the local area, please contact me.
You will not be disappointed in price. They carry masts, booms, sails, bases, etc. Happy sailing,
Chris Mihill
|
Tim
Doesn't seem to be any used windsurf gear locally right now so I'll send a note to my kiteboarding buddies in KC, a bunch of them used to windsurf and might have older equipment you can have or for cheap.
It is a 4 hour drive but much better wind, plus you can watch the kiteboarders and go "hey, that looks fun ! ".
:o)
ebswv8
Thanks to all the help from this group, someone from the KC group
contacted me and I now have a beginner setup to learn on. It's an
older Mistral Competition longboard(12'), with a retractable center
board and fixed Fin. He also gave me like 6 different sails, and I
think the boom is even a clamp on style. If none of the sails I have
are suitable for learning, then I could always get a modern rig. I
have asked a few people and it appears that some modern rigs will be
compatible with the mast extension that came with the mistral.
Now I just need to find a time when some others from this group may be
at CC or 370. Maybe I could throw you a few bucks in exchange for some
rigging and sailing tips.
Anyway, thanks again for the help. I think it may be getting too cold
for this year, but next spring I will definitely be looking to get out
and learn.
-Eric
On Aug 18, 11:23 am, Tim <tim.hossf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Eric,
>
> Doesn't seem to be any used windsurf gear locally right now so I'll send a
> note to my kiteboarding buddies in KC, a bunch of them used to windsurf and
> might have older equipment you can have or for cheap.
>
> It is a 4 hour drive but much better wind, plus you can watch the
> kiteboarders and go "hey, that looks fun ! ".
>
> :o)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 7:54 AM, Chris Mihill <cmih...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > FYI,
>
> > If you're looking for Chinook products for the local area, please contact
> > me.
> > You will not be disappointed in price. They carry masts, booms, sails,
> > bases, etc.
>
> > Happy sailing,
>
> > Chris Mihill
>
> > www.*chinooksailing*.com <http://www.chinooksailing.com/>
>
> > --- On *Thu, 8/18/11, aircav1...@yahoo.com <aircav1...@yahoo.com>* wrote:
> > From: aircav1...@yahoo.com <aircav1...@yahoo.com>
> > Subject: Re: Midwest windsurf lessons ???
> > To: "Wind Fun St. Louis" <windf...@googlegroups.com>
> > Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011, 5:45 AM
>
> > Hello Eric, Due to the lack of windsurfing shops in this area I buy
> > most of my stuff from -
>
> >http://www.isthmussailboards.com
>
> > I would stick with something a bit on the wide and floaty side to
> > learn on then it can be used for light air and friends/family in the
> > future. As mentioned before, people here will help you learn including
> > myself.
>
> > Tony
>
> > wrote:
> > >www.stlouissailandpaddle.comhaswindsurfing setups for sale not sure of
>
> > > On Aug 17, 2011, at 10:43 PM, Tim wrote:
>
> > > > Eric I'd love to help you but don't know of any windsurfing setups for
> > sale right now.
>
> > > > You are more than welcome to try out my setup (which is literally 20+
> > years old !) when I get back to STL in October.
>
> > > > Tim
>
>
> > > > --
> > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Wind Fun
> > St. Louis" group.
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Wind Fun St.
> > Louis" group.
Tim
winter is the best, no people around gawking, tons of wind, it rocks.
Glad the KC guys could help you out, they are all totally cool.
Tim