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Monday, 21st November 2005 |
16th issue |
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Today's windsurfing community predominantly consists of shortboard sailors of various categories. They are advanced windsurfers with modern high performance equipment. Some are executing radical maneuvers and
high jumps - or racing technical "Formula 1" boards, while others goes flat out at blistering speeds with one goal in mind; breaking their own record. Its spectacular and they all truly enjoy the sport and take it to its very limit. Windsurfing in non-planing conditions is unthinkable, or not windsurfing at all.
Well looking back, I dare to say that people were attracted to windsurfing primarily in a non-planing mode. The initial sensation of being able to cruise around the bay or at the local lake inspired thousands to join the sport. How and why could that be.?
Early in 1979 I was visiting the Rip Curl factory in Torquay, Australia. Interesting place with interesting people, and the following interesting (retrospectively) statement was served to me by Brian Singer. A professional surfer and co-owner of the Rip Curl company;
(I remember his exact words very well)
You "Wind Wankers" are lucky bastards. Look at what happened to the surfing industry. It got too radical when the short boards arrived and we scared the crowds away. Believe the sport is only 10% of what it was. That will never happen to Windsurfing.
I was comfortably agreeing with him. It was too far fetched to imagine a short windsurfer or a sinker at that time. It would not perform, or it could only be used in …..exactly - planing conditions. We all know the rest. With the arrival of the short boards windsurfing limited itself to advanced sailing and windy conditions or windy places. Pushing the limits is a natural attribute in most of us, and the development of new gear and shapes is imminent and healthy, - BUT didn't we forget something.? The entire industry shifted to performance oriented equipment and foolishly neglected the entry level and recreational segment.
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(The surfing industry has rectified its mistake, and the "Malibu's" (longboards) was re-introduced some 10 years ago and surfing has been steadily growing ever since.)
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FLEXIBILITY AND STRETCHING,
Muscles are parts of the body that most of us take completely for granted, but they are of incredible importance, not just for windsurfing.
Muscles are the "engine" that the body use to propel itself. Although muscles do not work exactly as a car engine or an electric motor, muscles do the same thing - they turn energy into motion.
When we jump a fence, click a mouse or run for 100m, all our voluntary movements are based on muscle activity. There are about 650 skeletal muscles in our body, and they represent about 45 percent of our body weight.
Muscles contract and relax according to impulses they get from the brain. Through tendons they are connected to bones. As you see in the picture, when the biceps contracts, the elbow joint flexes. At the same time the triceps at the back of the arm must relax, to make this movement possible. The working muscle is called agonist. The opposite (relaxing) muscle is called antagonist.
Windsurfing, as well as any other sport, influence on our muscles. If we would like to prevent injuries (as back pain, shoulder injuries, cramps,...) we have to stretch our muscles after and before the activity. I will try to explain some methods, which help to keep our muscles elastic and competent.
: read more :
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So... I started photography like so many other people around the world...with my first simple camera. Soon it became a passion and I developed into the "official" photographer of my friends.
For the past 10 years I gained considerable knowledge of taking photos, from some of the best photographers in Portugal. My work was to give them information of new technical equipment, and in exchange they thought me all about light and studio techniques, how to frame ... and most of all different perspectives to view the same scenario. I photographed weddings, all kind of different social events.
I got into sports only four years ago, when I also discovered windsurfing. I always travel a lot - following the wind, but I am not able to sail all the time. Most of the time my equipment is not good enough for certain conditions, but with that, and always with my camera at hand, - I have the privilege to photograph a lot ..
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