EDITORIAL
“Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.” Denis Diderot.
W
indsurfing highs are what we look at this issue and foiling
is part of the conversation. Wind foiling has continued to
develop, mature and reinvent what our sport can be. But it’s
a difficult conversation. Will it be part of the Olympics? Is
it for me? Why are we talking about it? People have strong opinions one way
or another, I’ll offer mine.
Not windsurfing, that would be easy, but not very rewarding, unless you’re
talking money wise of course. It’s rare time on the water doesn’t leave you
feeling better for it afterwards. That has to be worth something more than the
pound. There’s more to it than just the physical act and the effect has always
felt at its greatest for me when I’m learning or failing, which often go hand in
hand. Foiling has heightened that experience, pardon the pun. It’s so differ-
ent, so fun ...and scary, so satisfying when it goes right. It’s a rush of feelings,
a taming of fears and for those that have forgotten the feeling, it’s windsurf-
ing! “Which are the experiences you tell stories about? The nice, comfortable
easy ones or the difficult, uncomfortable ones?”, says Hannah Cockle, RYA
OnBoard Operations Officer, as the RYA explains this month why windsurf-
ing helps develop positive character traits and its benefits for kids.
You see our sport was never designed to be comfortable; exciting, yes. It
was never designed to be instant pleasure either, you had to earn it, but it
would be a wait paid back with a rich interest. And of all the foil disciplines
we’re lucky that wind foiling is so accessible. Foils add range to the low end
of conditions in any surf sport. So for wind powered sports it adds to light
wind conditions and for wave powered sports it optimizes small surf. Kite
foiling is a great game changer for our kite brethren, but it’s tricky to keep
the kite in the sky or relaunch in light winds and for prone or sup surf foiling
you need to find uncrowded surf to keep it a safe practice. In wind foiling
the power source is easily controlled via the rig and the only limiting factor
is enough water depth to not snag the foil; add some flat water, a reasonable
breeze and off you go. But it’s that rush of a fresh experience, something that
sends you home with an excited patter and spring in your step that is the real
forte of wind foiling. And it has infected designers too as their minds race
over the new board, sail and foil requirements. Most changes in windsurfing
design are incremental, but wind foiling is inspiring seismic design changes.
12 JULY 2019
ELEVATE
Board, sail, sand and water – the
simple but effective ingredients for
elevating our mind, body and soul.And that fresh thinking is healthy. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to
refresh our mindset and foiling doesn’t necessarily have to be the catalyst. So
much emphasis is placed on success, and it’s human nature to celebrate those
that achieve it. We’re guilty ourselves this month as we look at two sailors
at the top of their game - PWA slalom top gun, Pierre Mortefon, and the
world’s most innovative freestyle wind foiler, Balz Müller. But celebrating our
own smaller wins is just as important. From every sail I try and think about
what positives I can take from the session and it can range from the benefits
of just being outside in the elements, to sticking a bunch of jumps or a few
hundred metres on the foil with my bits intact! My mind has a very selective
memory on what went wrong and the moves I missed, but it’s self defence to
having a ‘bad sail’.
We look deeper into the subject in a more formal manner as our resi-
dent coaches delve into rebooting our minds and deeds towards elevating
our standard. Jem breaks down the common physical and mental barriers to
improvement; whilst Harty turns the spotlight on, “The gentle art of being
coached”. Harty wisely notes that effective coaching is as much about the
student’s attitude as it is the coach’s ability and advocates keeping an open
mind for most benefit when learning.
Mind altering experiences are the subject of another article this issue as
Kevin Pritchard reports on the ‘Burning Man’ festival in the desert of north-
west Nevada and its unconventional connection with windsurfing. Whilst
still in the desert, Fredrik Plantin reflects on a meaningful journey to waves at
the edge of the West Australian outback, finding he, “can’t go home without
giving it all I’ve got.”
Remote travel always elevates the windsurfing experience and few have
ventured further then Jono Dunnett. He updates us this month from the
Black Sea as he continues his round Europe voyage and observations from a
continent under increasing environmental and political pressure. Finally, we
look at some further windsurfing enlightenment from a higher plane, spe-
cifically the high altitude lakes of Bavaria in southeastern Germany as Andy
Lachauer and Michael Krumm give us a guide to some of the area’s best spots.
Temperatures are rising as summer blows its warming airs onto our beaches.
We can’t guarantee the wind speeds will rise with it, but if they hopefully do,
rest assured with a board and sail you have all you need to accentuate the
natural high. The simple pleasures of windsurfing are a truly great elevation
for our souls.Words & Photo Finn Mullen“GREAT PASSIONS CAN ELEVATE
THE SOUL TO GREAT THINGS.”