Hi,
I'm from Belgium and windsurfing a lot on the Belgian North Sea but currently I'm staying in Rochester for 4 weeks .
I didn't realize that there was a possibility for windsurfing in Minnesota as you don't have a sea, but as it was rather windy today I search on the web and found this forum.
If I understood correctly there will be wind tomorrow and monday too but unfortunately I don't have any equipment here.
Is there a possibility to rent decent material somewhere + wetsuit and harnass ?
Could someone help me out?
If yes, which lake should I go to for good wind conditions? (hopefully not too far from Rochester)
Regards,
rik
Windsurf equipment for rent Tomorrow and Monday ?
Moderator: MK
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Belgian Windsurfer
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 6:04 pm
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Belgian Windsurfer
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 6:04 pm
Twin Cities is certainly close enough.
I'm 1,78 meter (=5,8 feet) and 75kg.
Is it correct we expect approx 20 miles/hour (18knots) ?
I don't really know the conditions at your lakes but for 18 knots a 5,5m sail with 85-90 liter board should do.
That's only a suggestion, of course any other stuff that I could rip with in those conditions should be ok.
I'm 1,78 meter (=5,8 feet) and 75kg.
Is it correct we expect approx 20 miles/hour (18knots) ?
I don't really know the conditions at your lakes but for 18 knots a 5,5m sail with 85-90 liter board should do.
That's only a suggestion, of course any other stuff that I could rip with in those conditions should be ok.
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stevegoertz
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 12:16 pm
- Location: lakeville
Hi -
There will be a number of us at Fairibault (cannon) today - check the lakes section for directions - I drive a white toyota P/U = I have an extra board and a 6.4 - between all the sailors there you'll get on the water with about any type of gear you want - just come on up and enjoy the day!
I'll be there by 11am 612-578-4569 is my cell
steve
There will be a number of us at Fairibault (cannon) today - check the lakes section for directions - I drive a white toyota P/U = I have an extra board and a 6.4 - between all the sailors there you'll get on the water with about any type of gear you want - just come on up and enjoy the day!
I'll be there by 11am 612-578-4569 is my cell
steve
Gear for today
I have extra booms, and a buddy has an extra 5.0 and 4.6.
I'm sure we can get you out on the water
I'm sure we can get you out on the water
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Belgian Windsurfer
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 6:04 pm
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Belgian Windsurfer
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 6:04 pm
Today was fantastic !! I honoustly didn't expect a lot when I originally posted my message yesterday evening but what finally happened is almost to good to be true. Over 90 °F, approx 25 knots and above all having a whole bunch of locals willing to loan their windsurf material to a complete stranger at Cannon lake.
Thanks a lot Dave, Dixon, Greg and the rest of the gang (sorry guys I'm really bad in remembering names) for this great experience.
This website has proven it's functionality. The system works !
For those who can read dutch we've got a similar website in Belgium :
http://www.surfforum.be/
If there's enough wind tomorrow, I'll be heading again to Cannon Lake. Hope to see you all !
Greetz
-rik-
Note: hopefully somebody will have a lycra for me tomorrow as I'm burned red 'to the bone'.
Thanks a lot Dave, Dixon, Greg and the rest of the gang (sorry guys I'm really bad in remembering names) for this great experience.
This website has proven it's functionality. The system works !
For those who can read dutch we've got a similar website in Belgium :
http://www.surfforum.be/
If there's enough wind tomorrow, I'll be heading again to Cannon Lake. Hope to see you all !
Greetz
-rik-
Note: hopefully somebody will have a lycra for me tomorrow as I'm burned red 'to the bone'.
wow I was just going through all my emails and found a similiar request from Rik and I felt so bad I didn't know of any place that rented. He seemed stoked and I knew the feeling. Then to read all the overflowing amount of generousity that all of you offered him. You all are the reason we have wind this weekend.
Rik I'm so glad you were able to get out. Welcome to Minnesota.
Rik I'm so glad you were able to get out. Welcome to Minnesota.
Tighe
Hey Rik
I moved from MN to Belgium about a month ago. And I have been looking for sites near by Brussels where I could get some time on the water. Last weekend I went to Veerse Meer, Netherlands. There were probably more than 100 windsurfers out there! I have never seen anything like that! Had a blast! But it would be good to have a spot a bit closer which I could go during the week after work. (I now realize how spoiled I was in MN... 15 min drive to White Bear Lake... from stressed in the office to having a great ride on the water in just 1/2 hour!)
I would appreciate if you could give me some tips of where to go, where to check for wind forecast, meet people to share a ride, etc...
I really miss having a website like Lakawa. It's the best I've gotten to know (unfortunately I can't read Dutch...)
Hope to hear from you soon,
Luiz
I moved from MN to Belgium about a month ago. And I have been looking for sites near by Brussels where I could get some time on the water. Last weekend I went to Veerse Meer, Netherlands. There were probably more than 100 windsurfers out there! I have never seen anything like that! Had a blast! But it would be good to have a spot a bit closer which I could go during the week after work. (I now realize how spoiled I was in MN... 15 min drive to White Bear Lake... from stressed in the office to having a great ride on the water in just 1/2 hour!)
I would appreciate if you could give me some tips of where to go, where to check for wind forecast, meet people to share a ride, etc...
I really miss having a website like Lakawa. It's the best I've gotten to know (unfortunately I can't read Dutch...)
Hope to hear from you soon,
Luiz
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Belgian Windsurfer
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 6:04 pm
Hi Luiz,
sorry for the late reply, I didn't check this topic anymore.
I have to disappoint you, there are no good spots near Brussels. Probably some lakes but you won't get a lot of wind there. The closest for you must be the Belgian North Sea e.g. Oostende (about 1h10) from Brussel. But in Belgium at sea there's generally a strong current. So I often go to Brouwersdam in the Netherlands which is even more to the north then Veerse Meer (2 hours drive from Aalst where I live). In case of South wind direction there's also a good spot in France 'Wissant' in case you like big waves. So yeah, 'after work' windsurfing is not really possible if you're living in the environment of Brussels.
As I memtioned earlier we also have a website http://www.surfforum.be . In the section 'Wie, wat, waar & wanneer' we always get a pretty good wind forecast from a dutch windsurf weather specialist (see the updates from Hans Kleingeld and maybe ask a dutch speaking friend of yours to translate). Otherwise you can use Windguru or Windfinder websites to check the wind forecast. As you probably noticed most of the belgian population knows to speak english, so don't hesitate to start a topic in the 'Wie, wat, waar &wanneer' and explain your situation in english. I'm sure lot's of people will respond in english.
Anyway, once I'm back in belgian we can go windsurfing together if you're interested.
sorry for the late reply, I didn't check this topic anymore.
I have to disappoint you, there are no good spots near Brussels. Probably some lakes but you won't get a lot of wind there. The closest for you must be the Belgian North Sea e.g. Oostende (about 1h10) from Brussel. But in Belgium at sea there's generally a strong current. So I often go to Brouwersdam in the Netherlands which is even more to the north then Veerse Meer (2 hours drive from Aalst where I live). In case of South wind direction there's also a good spot in France 'Wissant' in case you like big waves. So yeah, 'after work' windsurfing is not really possible if you're living in the environment of Brussels.
As I memtioned earlier we also have a website http://www.surfforum.be . In the section 'Wie, wat, waar & wanneer' we always get a pretty good wind forecast from a dutch windsurf weather specialist (see the updates from Hans Kleingeld and maybe ask a dutch speaking friend of yours to translate). Otherwise you can use Windguru or Windfinder websites to check the wind forecast. As you probably noticed most of the belgian population knows to speak english, so don't hesitate to start a topic in the 'Wie, wat, waar &wanneer' and explain your situation in english. I'm sure lot's of people will respond in english.
Anyway, once I'm back in belgian we can go windsurfing together if you're interested.
Hey Rik,
I spent the last weekend in MN and had some good rides Sunday PM @ Waconia. What a great weather. Too bad we didn't get to meet each other.
Anyway, thanks for the good info re. sites and forecast in Belgium. I am back in Brussels now. Send me an email when you're around and up for a session. Hope you don't mind the fact I'm a very bad rider...
luizclaudiocastro@yahoo.com.br
Luiz
I spent the last weekend in MN and had some good rides Sunday PM @ Waconia. What a great weather. Too bad we didn't get to meet each other.
Anyway, thanks for the good info re. sites and forecast in Belgium. I am back in Brussels now. Send me an email when you're around and up for a session. Hope you don't mind the fact I'm a very bad rider...
luizclaudiocastro@yahoo.com.br
Luiz