Saturday

[DavidKnight]

Steve- to restate the obvious using correct tense... the Tiga 260 IS a great board- mine still cranks. I started in '87 on an all-poly Wayler Chipper- the thing is so big it has a bow. Matter of fact, I'm taking some newbies out on it over the weekend. Maybe I'll also resurrect it as a paddle board.

[steveb]

Dave...still got duct tape holding the nose on?

[DavidKnight]

Good memory Steve... nope, the duct tape was on my first Tiga 260. Back in '94 or so, Mark Horton was practicing some lay down jibes at Ramsey using me as a buoy, he spun out and smacked into my 260 full bore. Tiga's will take some road rash, but they're no match for a pointer fin at 30 mph. For a while, the duct tape sealed off the 3" long gash that had been cut all the way through. I liked that board so much I had to replace it and I haven't found anything else nearly as fun to sail. But it's amazing there's not more fin-related injuries in the sport.

I think this thread is straying a little off topic. I'm eyeing up Worthington if I can get away- 40 mph on Saturday and 30 Sunday .

[Geo]

Geez. apparently it hasn't been windy this week. I bet you guys even forgot to look at the forecasts!

My first board: a Ten-Cate bought from Comb Warehouse. Last ride: Lake Calhoun, probably 30-35 mph. My sail 7.5 L (which meant nothing to me, since it was my Only sail). No harness, of course: just hold on until my forearms puffed up and popped, or ran into the opposite shore (which never happened since it was blowing so hard.) Fell off our wooden rook rack after the wood broke (that's 55 mph + 40 mph = 95 mph wind) coming home from Calhoun, stuck into the guardrail and cantilevered there. I was so relieved that it didn't take out a motorcyclist or something, the loss was no big deal. Didn't sail again for probably 15 years.

[Dean Rizer]

Wow! The Rose Gardens. That's where I started. I saw someone with a board on Harriet and I bought my first board from a Guy named Hoyle Sweitzer in Marina Del Ray Calif. Peter Cardozo, then Mike Fox, and then Larry Freeman were the initial city Windsurfer dealers. I remember Larry trying to ride a Windsurfer Rocket, one of Mistrals 1st short boards. Picture a monkey trying to stand on a football. My 1st harness, with the hook up ,right under my chin. Wooden booms and a thick free flying uphaul that would get caught in the harness hook! I think Ingo and Bavarian generated new interest in larger sails and short boards and about that time we moved to Calhoun.An 8.4 sail seemed enormous. Steve & Nancy were Calhoun and Wac. regulars. My absolute favorite board is the Mistral Screamer CGS. Thanks to Bryce for selling it back to me. Tighe tried to warn me when I sold it. That board is fast, has huge range and turns like butter. When I ride the Screamer in waves I always feel that I am one with the waves rather than out of control on top of the waves. Tighe, anyone, you are welcome to ride my Screamer anytime. Be careful, the Screamer is the door back to the "other" side.

[scottchapman]

Believe in or not I saw my exact first windsurfer at Waconia last week...It was a Hyfly 300. A big white barge with a tie on parallel boom that you pulled down perpendicular to tighten...I picked up the board in like 1988 from a friend on my soccer team for $300...So how much is that in today's denaro???

It is amazing how the world revolves. I felt like I had come full circle that day...

My first lesson was on Lake Harriet on the south side by a waitress from Anthony's Wharf at St. Anthony Main. I went out and back and was a wind addict from then on. Talking about full circle...one of my clients is the brother of the former owner of Anthony's Wharf and he called me on Thursday...

What next my wind addicted friends...

I am stuck at my sisters in Wi near the Dells. Sunny hear but no wind...

[windthrash]

Thanx for the words of hope Jerry! I got my sash and also did not miss out on the wind I guess... So I will be out at Belaire tomorrow (Sun) sailing with a sprained ankle... This will be fun