The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

Jibing and the Well-Set Rail

Knees bent, hips in, head outside the turn, carving rail engaged...Dasher would be proud (Andy B too).  My last session (before the current hiatus to heal a torn tendon) featured some lit-to-overpowered jibing on the flat waters of Noyack Bay, and a camera to play to.  I like that the top of the fin is visible.  At the session before this (in the even flatter waters of the New Suffolk jibatorium) I was not getting my knees sufficiently into the turn, and had the water not been so flat I would have been bouncing out and off the plane.

If only I could do this all the time!

Photo by Karin Dauch.

ABK Clinics are nearly full

To the windsurfer who would be a better windsurfer:

If you're assuming that you're going to take one of the upcoming ABK Boardsports windsurfing clinics at Napeague 9/23-25 and 9/30-10/2, you'd best be registered already, as they're currently showing only 3 slots left in the first clinic and 5 in the second.   There are even ABK veterans who believe that if they show up on clinic day with cash on hand that they'll be able to participate, but I'm here to tell you I've seen Andy Brandt turn people away on several occasions.

Here's the good news:   When ABK gets a bunch of people registering a week before a clinic, they bring in extra instructors and add a bunch of new slots.  

Earlier this year the spring ABK clinic was cancelled due to lack of registrations.  Afterwards it turned out there were plenty of Long Islanders who had been planning on taking the clinic but just hadn't gotten around to signing up.  There were disappointed people then, and there could be disappointed people in the coming weeks if they don't sign up.

So sign up!!!  You know you want to.   The first clinic will include a group just for people who want to focus on racing (look for notice here about upcoming Long Island fall windsurfing races) and the second will include a similar freestyle group.

 

May ABK Clinic Cancelled!

ABK's May windsurfing clinic at Napeague has been cancelled due to weak pre-registration numbers.  Once the cancellation was announced, ABK masterblaster Andy Brandt says he heard from lots of people saying "Hey wait...I was planning on coming...if my friends and I sign up now will you have the clinic?"   I asked Andy this myself, knowing several people who had planned to attend but hadn't yet registered.

"I know from experience that a certain number of people sign up in the last week or so before a clinic, but if I don't have a sufficiently large pre-registration it doesn't make sense for me to make all the reservations necessary to come to Long Island."

Here's a thought for those of us who will want to attend the fall clinics:  Last year's September clinics sold out in advance...Andy had to turn people away.   But preregistration plays a role here as well.  "If I have enough people signed up weeks and months in advance, I can arrange to bring extra instructors so we still have a good ratio of teachers to students in a larger clinic," Andy told the Peconic Puffin.

So if you want to be a better windsurfer, if you want to learn how to windsurf, if you want to have a fantastic time with other windsurfers and learn new skills, sign up for ABK Boardsports' windsurfing clinics at Napeague 9/23-25 and 9/30-10/2. If you can jibe and are interested in racing, the 9/23 clinic will feature a special racing group. The 9/30 clinic will have a special freestyle group.

Andy Brandt Old School Trickery

T'was ten years ago in Aruba when I was out snapping photos of my wife windsurfing when Andy Brandt sailed by.  Even back before freestyle windsurfing  became the cool new thing, Andy simply could not sail in a straightforward manner on his own time.   Here he is carving an inside-the-boom, back-to-sail planing tack, on a Bic Techno.    These days when teaching freestyle Andy focuses on Vulcans and Spocks and Flakas and double Leapard loops and all things aerial, but if you ask nice he'll work with you on carving moves too.  As well as jibing and tacking and waterstarting and everything else.   Andy Brandt and ABK Boardsports come to Long Island for their Spring clinic on May 20-22.

Andy Brandt Reveals Spring Windsurfing Clinic Dates for Napeague

"Reveals"...sounds like we took a course in marketeering.  Okay how about Andy Brandt just "told" the editors when he was planning to stop by with his merry crew of ABK windsurfing instructors, whip out the fairy dust and make us all better windsurfers?   'Cause that's what he's gonna do May 21-23 at the beautiful Lazy Point launch at Napeague.   What better way is there to prepare for the summer 2010 windsurfing season?   And for the advanced windsurfers out there, how else should you get ready for June's 2010 East Coast Windsurfing Festival?   

Mark your calendars.

(Make new windsurfing friends and see your old ones at ABK.  Photo by Peconic Jeff.)

Be A Better Windsurfer. ABK Clinics Come to Napeague in September…

If you don’t windsurf but would like to learn how, this is the place to be.

If you used to windsurf, stopped, and would like to join the resurgence of windsurfing on Long Island, this is the place to do it.

If you currently windsurf but would like to sail better, this is the fastest way to get there.

If you like how you windsurf just fine, but would like to work on racing skills or some of the newfangled freestyle thingamabobs, you’d best get your ass (in harness) to Napeague!

Andy Brandt and his merry band of ABK Boardsports all-stars return for two clinics.  Both will feature extensive comprehensive and inoffensive instruction for every level of windsurfer from never-before-windsurfed to advanced.   Additionally there will be two special programs available for windsurfing gods (or those people with a solid jibe):

In the Friday Sept 25-Sunday Sept 27th clinic, ABK brings its legendary freestyle windsurfing clinic.  

And in the Friday Sept. 18-Sunday Sept 20th clinic, Andy's offering a brand new ABK special: a racing clinic.  Come learn everything you need to know to beat George Marr, Pete Roesch, and most of the rest of Long Island's racers (ya ain't gonna beat Jimi Sobeck, sorry) at the East Coast Windsurfing Fall Regatta October 10th -11th.

What else can we say?   One thing:  If you've never been to an ABK windsurfing clinic, they are a lot of fun, and you'll make new friends.  So be there!  Sign up for the 9/18-20 clinic and/or the 9/25-27 clinic by clicking on the links.

(Photo:  Andy Brandt demonstrates a shove it thingamabob.)

Mad Skill Factory (and fun too!) ABK @ Napeague

At my first ABK clinic I was wrestling with tacking and jibing.    A few clinics later (if sixteen is a few) I’m now pulling off clew first fin first piledrivers, anklebiters, and the whatchamacallit jibe.   But I still remember when a planing duck jibe seemed the unattainable fantasy.

Nobody learns windsurfing slower than I.    I am no longer (well, rarely) the worst windsurfer in the world, but one thing I’ve figured out is that lesson help, great lessons help a lot, and ABK clinics are the best thing going out there. (I am not sponsored by ABK, though yesterday they let me have a second sandwich with lunch.)

This past weekend’s windsurfing clinic at Napeague was a blast to watch, much less be in. From the adults and kids (we hate the kids…they learn so frickin’ fast) working on the basics all the way up to the freestylers, there was a whole lot of learnin’ going on. Friday (and Saturday AM) had the good wind, but as the photos show we were all working on the water Sunday as well.
The worst things that happened were a broken down car and a stubbed toe, but these were more than offset by all the tacking, jibing, chacho anklebiting etc.

I can’t wait to do it all again.  ABK returns to Long Island in May 2009, but more drastic measures may need to be taken.

(Photos by Jeff…

Top: Happy Campers.

Second: The Mighty Larry Hoff goes Gecko.

Third: Una. Una learning to windsurf spells nothing but trouble. It’s bad enough that her mom aspires to be the fastest windsurfer on the island, but the little one has world domination on the brain. When she gets into the footstraps I’m taking up golf.

Fourth: Alex (can’t go home) Hering, The Mighty Larry Hoff, and a windsurfer to be knicknamed later sharing too little water during Sunday’s expression session.

Fifth:  The editor is a grinning idiot.

Check out more clinic photos by Jeff on his Flickr page.)

Andy Brandt Rocking Anklebiters On da Simulator (the video)

ABK's Andy Brandt (practitioner and teacher of mad freestyle windsurfing) likes to throw sails around on simulators when the local wind and water aren't prime.  Practice practice practice!

Anyhow below is a clip of him working on anklebiters, matrixes, and the odd bit of sail-chi.   He says it's his current favorite video of himself.  The music drives me nuts, but I like watching him throw the sail!

Pete DeKay to Save The Day For ABK (Napeague Clinic to Accept New Students)

If you love a good windsurfing clinic, the news is just too good.

ABK Boardsports was no longer accepting new students for the May 16-18 clinic at Napeague, as the camp was "full" and ABK maintains limits on how many students they'll take for each instructor.   But here in the hotbed of Northeast windsurfing, where ABK already runs three count-em three clinics per year (come back in September for more!) there were too many wanna-learns banging on the closed doors.   What was ABK to do?

Enter Windsport editor Pete DeKay, former right hand man to instructionmeister Andy Brandt.   Pete is going to stop the presses for three days and come on down for some LI windsurfing instructional action!

So if you're not currently registered for the May clinic but would like to be in there for some world-class instruction (featuring the rare chance to work with Pete Dekay) go to ABK's web site on Tuesday and sign up.   Andy says "if the website still says "closed" just wait a couple of hours and try again."

Jumpstart Your Windsurfing Season: ABK Clinic Comes To Napeague

You want to be a better windsurfer. Everybody wants to be better. Some of us want to be a LOT better. The best trick I know to improve is ABK.

If you've ever done an ABK Windsurfing instructional clinic, then all you need to know is that the next one on Long Island is May 16-18th.

If you've never done an ABK clinic and you're in range of Long Island, then come join one of the most enthusiastic and friendly windsurfing crowds around and learn a whole heck of a lot in the shallow, forgiving waters of Napeague Bay. From people who have never windsurfed in their life all the way up to beginning freestyle (and everything in between) this is the place to learn how to do stuff (and have fun doing it.)

In an exclusive interview with the Peconic Puffin, ABK-meister Andy Brandt spake thus:

"Long Island is one of my favorite stops on tour. I love it because of the people...the group is friendly, fun and loves windsurfing as much as me, and challenges me to be on my game."

(I forced that out of him. Normally he's much more amusing.)

Come join lots of great people at the clinic. Gear rental is available for beginners. Register at ABK's website.

Caesar Wants To Teach You How To Freestyle Like He Does

Hail Caesar...the magician of light wind freestyle.      You've seen his jaw-dropping sail play (if you haven't, take a look above) and now he's wondering if you'd like to learn from him. Specifically, Caesar sent the following comment to the Peconic Puffin:

What do you guys think if i put a lightwind clinic teaching my tricks...would you join? Let me know... my email is cfinies@gmail.com.

This man is incredibly talented. I've never seen him teach freestyle, but I've seen him assist windsurfers on the beach at Bonaire, and he was quite friendly and personable. This could be quite the opportunity if you want to learn some mad windsurfing tricks!

Dissecting Caesar's Basic Anklebiter (video)

(Click on the image to play.)

How does he do it?   You've seen the insanely brilliant sail trickery that Caesar pulls off.  I've spent some time trying to learn how to get the sail to fly around me and come back up to my hands...I've even pulled a few of these off (on dry land.)  Here's the sequence as I see it:

Front foot immediately in front of mast, back foot behind the mast.
Board pointed slightly upwind.
Back hand well back on boom.
Shove rig forward with back hand (in video Caesar brings it forward from the tail.)
Step over mast with front foot, then back foot, while otherwise standing still.
Wait for sail to magically return to you.

(Andy Brandt's ABK teaches this move at their freestyle .)

Alfred Is Crazier Than I Am

The current issue (March) of New England Windsurfing Journal features an article by Alfred Stukuls titled "Basement Boarding". Alfred was not content with his rate of improvement as a progressing windsurfer (I am SO with you, Alfred!) He determined that balancing himself on the board was a skill he needed to improve. So he built a micro-pool in his basement, twelve feet long, three feet wide, and one foot deep. He filled it with water, put in his Mistral Escape, hung a few safety ropes to make sure he didn't crack his head open in a fall, and now he can practice moving about a floating board anytime he can get to the cellar!

Does it help? Alfred says in the article that a recent trip to Aruba proved his creation's value.

Wait until he figures out how to rig a fan down there...

Freestyle Video: Back In Black...Caesar, Part Two

During a trip to Bonaire in late November I was able to tape several practice sessions of the brilliant Caesar Finies.    A video of his first session was shown here back in December.  Now we present a second video, taped on a day when the wind was a little lighter, and during which he showed us at least one new way to throw a sail around.    If you're not familiar with the windsurfing of this incredible nonplaning freestyle genius, buckle your seatbelt and click on the video!

More magic from the crucible of freestyle windsurfing in Bonaire...

First Session in January: Dermatone Works, My Jibes...Not So Much

These days my favorite board/sail combination is my 77 liter Fanatic with a 5.0 (Naish Amp). And that's what I got to sail for my first 2008 session, in NW wind at Meschutt on the Great Peconic. It was cold enough (high 20's) that Jon Ford was heard to say "it's cold" so I proffered some Dermatone, which was the best bit of keep-warm technology I found last year (cover the exposed skin on your face with it...it works better and is more comfortable than a facemask.)

Dermatoned and ready to rock, I joined Jon and the Wolf on the water. Champing at the bit to begin pursuit of my 2008 windsurfing ambitions I discovered that I could not jibe. (Technically speaking I was keeping my weight back and failing to drive the board with my front foot and mast pressure, but if you were watching you saw a doofus carve to a roaring halt, then fall.) Just a few months ago I was teaching others to jibe, but on this day I was apparently in need of such tips as "bend your knees." Deep did I drink from the cup of humiliation.

I still had fun, though. Redemption hopefully awaits at the next session.