I sold The Millenium Puffin yesterday. She's a Bic Techno 283, purchased in 2000 on the advice of Andy Brandt. I've raced it, free rode it, freestyled both planing and not on it everywhere from the Cape Cod-Cape Hatteras corridor to Arkansas. Just a few weeks ago it helped me win Third Place in the East Coast Windsurfing Festival races. And for years it's been a brilliant board for nonplaning freestyle in Davis Creek. I never planned to sell TMP. How could I?
About a week ago a guy named Jack asked for help putting together a full used equipment package for himself, and a Techno was perfect. Still, I wasn't selling mine. So I went to my neighbor Remy (contributing photographer to the Peconic Puffin and more recently The Southampton Press)...she's been talking about trading in her Techno for a SUP board. Unfortunately SUP boards cost 2X+ what she could expect for her Techno, so she passed. Then I had the brainstorm: Sell my board, borrow Remy's for races!
So I did (sell the board.) Haven't asked Remy about racing yet, but there's plenty of time to lend her my SUP board in the interim.
Meanwhile, "The Millenium Puffin"? I learned to windsurf with a crowd that named their boards. Still in the van: Candy 77 and Calamity Too. The freestyle wave board belongs to my wife, who has yet to name it. The old Superlight (now the longest owned board in the fleet) is Mister Al.
(Photo: The Millenium Puffin in action racing at West Neck, 2009.)
The end of an era! I can't believe you sold it, you always looked so happy spinning your Bic http://flic.kr/p/5oq1QZ
Posted by: Jeff, aka PeconicJeff | July 14, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Don't wait too long replace it. (Funds can expire sooner than you think) Mistake I've made too many times & why I am without a mid-size board (5.5 to 6.5) right now.
PS I regretted selling my JP Freestyle 103 liter board, but most of the others had to go when they did (fanatic Ultra Shark; Mistral Screamer; Mistral New Malibu, etc. wait a minute, the new mal might be a good SUP these days! )
Posted by: Phil | July 18, 2011 at 09:13 PM