American
Windsurfer Magazine Article - There is an article by
yours truly in the new issue of American Windsurfer magazine.
It's the one with the 2001 equipment tests. I know very
few of you have a subscription, but if you're interested,
it's also on line at
American Windsurfer Magazine. under the title "Saved
by Windsurfing". (I also have a letter to the editor in
there titled "Vis/anima".) The actual magazine article (on
paper) has 2 more photos that show our Clark Hill (Thurmond)
Lake clearly identified by the dam in the background. That's
national exposure for the local scene. I know this is a
very wierd, over-the-top-philisophically-speaking article
and letter, but remember, it's written for entertainment
value, a little toungue-in-cheek.
Fins
- Fins -
get your close-out fins right here! First
quality Rainbow Fin Company product at near half price.
$60 to $70 for fins that always sell for $100 to $130. You
know I can't stock all the various bases and sizes but I
can get 'em quick, that is, till they stock out. Most are
in less than 13" lengths, but WEED FINS are included up
to 14" for $70!
Wind Report Hurray!
The weather pattern in the Pacific
Ocean is now in a near normal state! I KNOW you don't sail
there, but why are you happy about that? It means the southern
US should return to it's normal late winter/early Spring
weather conditions -- really warm days followed by really
cool days with lots of air moving. It is now the end of
the 3-year El Nino--La Nina weather situation in the Pacific
that typically washes out the weater extremes in the southeastern
US. This winter HAS officially been the coldest EVER recorded
which the National Weather Service says is the planet's
attempt to balance out the several years of mild winters
we've had. The jet stream's southward trough is back. We
windsurfers like the extremes -- it requires moving air.
Looks like we're set up for a normal -- which means excellent
-- March to May season. I'll make sure all the wind comes
on weekends and during Master's week.
To
you Beginner's out there... wha'cha
waitin' fer? Life is short. If you are attracted to this
sport, now is not "as good as", it's a BETTER time, than
any to get on with it. Rejoice! The Revolution is over!
We're now enjoying the Rennaissance (not in my spellchecker)
and the Enlightenment of the "widestyle" revolution. You
can now buy equipment that: 1) you can learn on from your
first lesson and NEVER outgrow 2) will allow you to learn
in days and weeks what took months and years before 3) is
so "rangey" that you will need less gear than ever before,
even as an expert 4) looks and feels much more like the
short boards of your more advanced friends 5) is easier
by far to rig and handle out of the water, and 6) most importantly,
permit you to sail successfully (plane) in less wind than
ever so you can have FUN on the day you're off from work.
It's a wonderful time in the development of equipment. Advanced/expert
sailors are racing the same boards that people learn on!
The board that won the Canadian National Windsurfing Race
Championships is also the world's #1 selling board for beginners
and teaching schools, the StarBoard GO. ALL the sails made
today are very, very good. Today's economical sails are
as good as anything at any price produced just a few years
ago. It's an easy time to make the commitment to the equipment.
And if it doesn't work out for some reason, avenues for
reselling used gear are convenient and effective. To see
more of what I'm talking about in detail, go to Beginner's
Gear.
Windtalker
at Lake Thurmond You think YOU are tired of hearing
that this thing is a couple weeks away from being turned
on...and it not happening? Well, last month was the one-year
anniversary of my first letter to the Corps on this thing.
But, it really is installed -- really. You can see the detection
devices as you drive across the dam on the front edge the
SC side 2-story concrete structure that raises above the
highway level. I swear, there is just one little software
glitch to fix and then setting up the web pages. The National
Weather Service guy who handles this is one of 3 who man
an office that recently required 7 people until recent budget
cutbacks. He's got too much on his plate. (Now you know
why that prediction is so accurate.) It will happen; there
are offficial documents and public money involved that I
can beat them over the head with if neccessary. The NWS
guy can't make it his top priority but, trust me, THIS THING
IS JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM BEING TURNED ON!
Hatteras
Trip wind, shallow water, a
beautiful setting, and stoked friends to share it with
-- that's a windsurfing Outer Banks trip. There are a few
spaces left to join us April 7th to 14th. Lodging cost
will be about $150 for the week if we fill the house. This
is the week BEFORE Windfest which is very good because
it never blows and always rains during the Windfest. We
have a prime windsurfer's sound-side house in Avon that
has everything -- board and rigged sail storage, front
yard water access, hot tub, hot outside shower, etc. (You
can see it at www.hatterasrealty.com It's house #203HC,
called Le Spot.) This is a Whitecap sponsored trip. We'd
love to have you join us!
Web-site
Updates e-Swap Meet,
Beginner's Gear
pages lead web site enhancements I think you've all heard
about the "e-Swap Meet" on the website . It has easy-to-read
categorized charts of regional used gear and quick links
to the seller. Trade among people you know -- or almost
know-- and avoid expensive, risky long distance shipping,
and blah, blah, blah.... People ask me, "Chuck, why are
you dong this -- what's in it for you?" Well, it's totally
selfish motivations: I want you people to leave me alone
about where to buy used stuff. I figured I'd just list it
and then stay out of the transaction. Also, I wanted to
make it easier for some of you reluctant ones to get appropriate
cheap used stuff so you will get out there and get ADDICTED.
Then you'll HAVE to buy new stuff someday -- maybe from
me, that is if you're a considerate, prudent individual
concerned about justice, fairness, and the American Way.
Other website enhancements include a great page on new Beginners
Gear. (Yes, it has prices.) Also, many better links to area
weather sites, windtalkers and web cams at popular coastal
destinations, area clubs, and all the best manufacturers'
web sites.
New
Whitecap Trailer Summer clinics or events anyone? Anybody
out there want to help sponsor* a Beginner's Clinic at your
favorite place. Whitecap will soon have a new enclosed trailer
to make it practical to come and set up at places like Lake
Murray, Lake Greenwood, Tybee, St Simon's Island, J I Y
C in Charleston, Lanier, etc. Call me, call me NOW! I'm
keeping the Thrillwagon Road Yacht to pull the trailer.
My first job is still DAD. (*Just provide a location, and
a few interested potential students.)
www.wunderground.com/US/Region/Southeast/pxWindSpeed.html
This is pretty darn amazing wind information page for our
area. Wind only current conditions, forecast, and historical
data. Click on >animate< and you'll go, "'Wow". The historical
wind data is really neat. Enter any day, any year and see
if what you remember as the "good 'ole days" really was.
Thanks, Jeff Asselin, for bringing it to our attention.
B.E.A.C.H.
Bill passes -- this concerns you! Do you get in the
water at the beach? In 1999, over 6,100 beach closings and
advisors were posted on US beaches due to the presence of
bacteria and viruses from polluted stormwater and runoff,
overburdened sewage treatment faciities, and malfunctioning
septic systems. People get sick. It can and does happen
at your favorite beach --you just may not know it because
no one is required to monitor the water quality in our states
and you attributed that gastroenteritis, hepatitis, ear
or throat infection to some other cause. But, as usual here
in America, we let things get bad...and then do something
about it. HR 999, the Beaches Environmental Assessment and
Coastal Health Act (get that acronym?) of 2000 was signed
last Octobr by President Clinton. It amends the Clean Water
Act to require ocean and bay states to (1) adopt specified
minimum, health-based criteria for water quality, (2) comprehensively
test recreational beach waters for pathogens, and (3) notify
the public when the water is unsafe for swimming and WNDSURFING.
It authorizes $30 million of your tax dolars for states
to set up the monioring and notification programs. "Surfers
have become the indicator species and this is a personal
achievement that our members and beach users in general
will benefit from," says Christopher Evans, executive director
of Surfrider's Foundaton. The Foundation's 10-year old grassroots
volunteer testing program inspired the whole thing and Foundation
members helped write the actual bill.
American
Windsurfer magazine's next issue will have an article
and a letter by yours truly, according to the editor/publisher.
He also asked for pictures which I sent him. Maybe our lake
or Station 29 might show up. Cool, huh? I've produced a
magazine myself, so I know anything can happen, but you
might want to check it out. (OK, I'm tooting my own horn
-- so sue me.)
