Old timers

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 5:08 pm

As we hung out at the launch yesterday, we realized that everyone was over 40 yrs old..cept Pete (39) and Dave z (36?). Crazy, here we're sailing some of the biggest wind in a year and we're all old timers.

Where's our youth?

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 6:15 pm

34!!!!. Can you tell I'm starting to get sensitive about my age. I broke out the Advil last night

Had a great time sailing with everyone yesterday...my 3.5 had been dry all year.

BSMITH · Post by **BSMITH** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:29 pm

Mike and I are still "pups" at 35 & 36 I guess!

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:05 am

oops my bad. Sorry guys.

Next time I expect more respect. Didn't your mom ever tell you to respect your elders?

Kevinousdigian · Post by **Kevinousdigian** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 5:44 am

I hope I can sail like you elderly folks when I'm an over the hill too.
KO

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:36 am

Maybe all the young folks were off sailing in cleaner lakes

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:56 pm

Just shows that everything gets better with age, maybe youth just has no soul.
I think the biggest problem is our sport does not provide instant gratification, you've got to work at it a little, you have to be willing to be humbled a little, you have to develop the passion.
Maybe thats why boardheads always seem to get along, souls who recognise the best things in life take a little work, a little effort, a little OBSESSION!.
It does make you think about the advertising in the media in our sport, maybe geratol and grecian 2000 should be pitching in the windsurf/kite mags. Theres no doubt in my mind that advil is a boardheads ( well this boardheads ) best friend.

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:36 pm

I wonder if maybe it's not the lack of instant gratification...seeing as similarly complex and humbling sports such as skateboarding and soccer have exploded among the "soul-less" youth in this country...but instead, perhaps it is the prohibitive cost, the lack of public launches (in many areas, not MN), the shear volume of gear required as well as the necessity of means to transport it, and the complete lack of marketing focus on US youth...not to mention all of the scary old guys...just kidding...age combined with hard work many times results in disposable income which often facilitates the aforementioned "boardheads" to flourish.

just a different perspective, I agree, wednesday was sick.
m.

dave t · Post by **dave t** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 8:16 pm

I won't hit my windsurfing prime for 3 more years either 'cause I'm 37 but with all the times I've hurt myself this year, I really feel past my prime.

Anyway, I think it is all in how young you feel when you aren't thinking about how many years you have been alive.
For me, it was quite cool to enter the Buck Hill downhill mt. bike race series this summer against a bunch of tattooed and pierced 18 - 25 year old guys and just spank all of them.

steve tuohy · Post by **steve tuohy** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 12:32 am

I'm not sure when your windsurfing "prime" hits. On Wednesday I had one of those rare experiences at Cannon when everything came together to the point where you're sailing by "feel" while your mind is elsewhere. I looked over at the far shore and noticed an elderly gentelman sitting there watching all of us ripping it up. I was wondering what he must be thinking as he watched all us "young-uns" do our thing. Only thing was that we were all 40+ (with noted exceptions) and bound to feel our oats later on. Was he amazed at our ability to harness the wind and waves? Or was he appauled at our stupidity of going out in THAT water during small craft warning conditions? It reminded me of how Hood River was 15 years ago wondering what the Barge pilots ahd truck drivers thought. Either way I came back ashore feeling good about the day and mentioned to Tighe that it wasn't all bad for a bunch of Geezers.

Dennis Wyszynski · Post by **Dennis Wyszynski** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 12:06 pm

Your killing me, being in you 40's is not old. If you refer to sailors in the 40's as old timers and Geezers how do you refer to sailors in their 50's, 60's or 70's?

I am in my 50's and my hero is a retired oregon rancher in his 70's who I see once or twice a year in Texas and he sails better then I do.

dave t · Post by **dave t** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:17 pm

Age really doesn't matter until you allow it to.

I hope someday to sail as well as Doug Boll. If I manage to get to Maui sometime, I would like to sail with him to learn a thing or two about waves.

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 7:35 pm

My view is that it doesn't matter how old you are. What counts is how young riding makes you feel. Personally, I feel pretty young... Wait a minute, I'm not that old either.

Denis

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 9:22 pm

How did this turn into a "oh how old we are" dialog? I didn't mean it like that. I'm pretty damn impressed with all of us out there riding whatever age we are. Also it's pretty cool how people of all ages can get together and share such an experience.

sorry for the oversights on of some of you in our observation of the 40+ crowd.

ride on

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 10:01 pm

Attitude is everything. Run what you brung. It's all about the stoke

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 8:18 am

I have not been out on any lakes here in Minnesota as of yet, I suppose it's a few things that keep me off the lakes here as a kind of young guy 36. One reason is that I always dred the fack of falling and getting dragged all the way acros the the lake, two is that I don't read to many positive things about the lakes around here which kindof concerns me. More than likely it's just me not making the time to get out, I really should, I have all the gear I have taken the lessons, and the last time I was on the water out a Cape Hatteras about three or four weeks ago I felt very comfortable riding.
Maybe it's the time, I have to work till 4:00 every day and normally by the time I do get out to a lake it's 4:30 or 5:00 and the wind usually is dying down by then. I think maybe one other factor is that I don't know to many people and I really hate to kind of depend on anyone else to cut into thier kite time to help me if I run into some trouble. What I really need is a big push to get out more. I suppose I'm just complaining and I need to just get out on the lakes.

Eric S · Post by **Eric S** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 8:29 am

Scott, I'm perty sure anyone kiting around here will help you out at the launch judging from the quality of folks I've seen kiting. If you've been doing OK in hatteras, you'll be OK here.

Here's what I'd do to get over the 'feer' of getting dragged down wind. Show up at place the next kiters get together and get there early. have your stuff rigged. The first kiter that comes (or 2 or three) tell them you are a little sketchy about launching and kiting on lakes and let them know you might be doing a downwinder (if conditions have some side in them). They can even keep an eye on you and let others know that you've hit the beach downwind and might be able to come pick you up. I'll even to pickup kiters downwind since I figure it's kind of like adding money to the karmic bank for WHEN (no if) I have a problem out there.

You'll probably supprise yourself and stay up wind, knowing that you have a backup plan. You will be one stoked mutha

You could also wait and do more snowkiting, you will then feel invincable when the water opens back up again, but just remember, you're not

Have fun, see you on the SNOW! (my water kiting season is probably over - I look for nice gently warm south breeze on mille lacs or ottertail --- I'm also invincable, as long as I'm alive...hums song...da da da)

later,

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 8:44 am

Scott R:

BIG PUSH

get out now! It is going to get colder and colder from here on. The fall winds are some of the steadiest winds we have in Minnesota. The water usually is warmer than the air, though you'll need a drysuit pretty soon.

Make time. If not ride when you can. There have been many great evening sessions. Sunset sessions are some of my favorites.

Don't worry about knowing people. We're a clan, everyone is pretty stoked to meet and ride with new faces. If you're doing a downwinder, I or I'm sure many others would most likely help you drop a car. Walking the shoreline at Waconia is common for most of us. It's mainly sand.

The lakes rock. We just piss and whine cause we can. I had a better day on Waconia than I have ever had, including Hatteras and S. Padre. It's extremely beautiful this time of year. The air is getting crisp, the leaves will start changing colors, the lakes are pretty much empty of boaters. I know Waconia is a haul for you, though if you can try and get there it by far is the best kiting lake around ( with the exception of Mille lacs of course). WBL is a great second option. There are a few more obstacles though if you talk to the other kiters and launch into side shore winds you should be fine.

Final attempt to get you out: You have some of the best equipment out there Scott. Having it sit in your garage is a waste of the equipment's potential. If you're not going to use it, give it to someone who will.....(just joking obviously, trying one last motivator)

Feel free to call me if you want to hook up and ride, or if you want a lakeside update on the wind. 651......4..2..8....41...21 (an attempt to hide the number from the auto scanners)

Come out and play Scott.

SCOTT RIDOUT · Post by **SCOTT RIDOUT** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 8:54 am

Your totally right Tighe, I think I need to wake up!!! I'll be watching the website to check out where everyone will be, and I'll be there. Thanks for the words of support, I would like to become part of the clan for the summer and winter, as long as there is no crazy initiation, just kidding. I have met some of the guys thoughout the year and a half and everyone has always been awsome, so the next time you guys are going out I'll do my best to be there!! Looking forward to some kiting!!!!

MK · Post by MK » Mon Sep 23, 2013 10:12 am

I've wanted to ressurect some of the history for some time. It's interesting to see the conversations from years past. This is from 10 years ago:) I recognize some of the names but wasn't part of the game until a year later, and even then not daring to post, just observe the conversation. The selection was purely based on a quick search for September 22, with intentions of stating "on this day" to bring the thread to the forefront (however yesterday blew like stink and I got yanked and pulled into a joyous frenzy all day long with 11 others).

Enjoy.

LAKAWA

Old timers

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