The Peconic Puffin Windsurfing Blog

ABK Windsurfing Clinic Returns to Long Island

With the windy season approaching it's time to get better.   Learn to windsurf, learn to windsurf better, learn to windsurf even better than that* at ABK Boardsports September clinic at Tiana Bay on Long Island, September 25-27.     Andy Brandt and his merry band of instructors will be ready for you!   C'mon you know you want to and you know you ought to.   Sign up now!

* "Mastery of windsurfing is the realization that you can't."   Andy Brandt, quoted on the side of Dana Miller's legendary windsurfing van.   None of us will ever master windsurfing...that's part of the fun and the challenge of it!

Meditations on What is Learned at ABK Clinics

I wasn't able to attend the ABK clinic at Tiana last weekend (various personal obligations) but I stopped by Friday morning to say Hi and to sail the eastern breeze.   Just being near the clinic pushed me to think about my technique, and as I sailed I thought about all the things I was doing in that 90 minute session that I'd either learned or improved in ABK clinics (I've done at least 17 of them over the years, and I ain't done yet.)  On this fine morning the list included:

Carrying the gear to, into and out of the water.

Uphauling, beach starts, waterstarts, clew first waterstarts.

Hooking in, getting into the footstraps, and sailing fast.

Planing through lulls, planing upwind underpowered.

Fast tacks, helitacks, push tacks, nose spin hoss tack (good for clearing weeds from the fin!)

Pivot jibe, step jibe, duck jibe, backwinded jibe.

Carve 360, upwind 360.

Nose spin to fin-first sailing.

The improvised save.

(My morning on a 6.2 and the 109.)

It was great to see OG Puffin Steve, Radar Tom, Buddha Mike, Brendan, Jill, Pete, George, Eric, my new madman friend John from White Plains et set ah rah.  ABK Camraderie...what could be better?

(Hanging on Saturday when the wind died...thanks Buddha Mike for the beer!)

 

Hail Caesar (at the coming ABK clinic...)

Attention freestylee sailors and admirers:   Word is that Caesar mighty Caesar will be on the water (and at the simulator) at next week's ABK clinic at Tiana.   For anyone aspiring to learn flowstyle (or mad freestyle):  FYI!   And regardless...if you're not signed up time is running out.   As ABK's website says, "less than 6 spots remain.)

ABK Windsurfing Clinic Coming Soon

September is getting closer, and that means it's time to get better.   Time to learn to windsurf (or windsurf better.  Or different.)  Time for ABK Boardsports y'all.

Here is a partial list of the people who should take the coming ABK clinic (at Tiana Beach September 19-21):

-people who have never windsurfed,

-people who tried windsurfing a long time ago and found it incredibly hard,

-people who windsurfed a long time ago and want to get back into it,

-people who enjoyed sailing around but never learned to use the harness or footstraps,

-people who managed the harness and footstraps but never got comfortable going fast,

-people who never learned to waterstart easily,

-people who want to sail smaller boards,

-people who want to learn the planing jibe,

-people who want to perfect their jibes and duck jibes,

-people who want to learn to jump (or jump higher),

-people who want to plane in less wind,

-people who want to be able to sail in strong winds,

-people who want to race,

-people who want to learn freestyle,

-people who want to relax,

-people who want to learn cool things to do on a windsurfer in light wind,

-people who want to meet and hang out with other windsurfers.

Fall is often the best time to windsurf on the east coast and ABK Boardsports is the people to hook up with to hone your skills and take it to the next level. Have FUN!

P.S.  Don't wait until the last minute to sign up.  ABK regulars know that the clinics sometimes sell out. The only thing worse than missing a clinic is missing a clinic because you assumed you could show up on clinic day and there'd be no problem.  Sometimes yes, but often NO!

 

May ABK Clinic Cancelled (See ya in September)

ABK's Spring clinic for Long Island (May 16-18) has been cancelled.  Andy Brandt tells the Peconic Puffin "while I love the Long Island windsurfing crowd, and the Hudson River crowd, and everybody else who comes to our Long Island clinics, not enough of you have signed up for me to bring ABK to Long Island in May.   The September clinic is still scheduled...don't forget to sign up early!"

So there it is.  I am bummed.   I will be signing up early for September.

Haas Tack, Not Push Tack Homes!

I met it as the Hoss Tack. A crazy jibey looking thing in Aruba, as performed by Andy Brandt and Jason Voss. A carved question mark. That was 2000.

I was hitting the occasional Hoss (ugly but dry) a few months later, but not long after that I caught the move on a Peter Hart tape, which referred to the move as a Push Tack. Boar-ring! Who wants to do a push tack? Where is the poetry? Hoss tack please! But by and by I kept hearing and reading "push tack" and finally found self saying "'hoss tack', usually called 'push tack'" to cover my ass. There was no joy in Puffinville.

Then just a few days ago I stumbled over this: "The Haas-Tack is a flashy transition that integrates a variety of technical skills such as switch stance riding, backwinding, and clew first sailing. When mastered this move is a flowing and artistic maneuver showing graceful sail and board control. Sometimes called (erroneously) a Push-Tack. Invented by Hass Jahrmarkt of Tangier, Morocco while experimenting with a variation of the Duck-Tack."   You can also find it spelled "Hass"...I suppose only Mr. Jahrmarkt knows for sure.

Did some Googling and found this in several places. Erroneously called a Push-Tack! They might have added "unimaginatively" and "boringly" and "tediously"! Yeah! Haas! Go throw a Haas Tack. If you can't, go learn it. (I know the idea of backwinded clew-first sailing in planing conditions does not immediately sound...attractive or attainable, it is possible and it is fun. I hit my first one on a Seatrend slalom board with a cammed 7.5 sail. That is about as stupid as it gets, and I suck at freestyle, and I still hit it. So you definitely can!)

(In the video at the top, I hit (barely) a Haas Tack in Bonaire while being coached by Pete Dekay in an ABK clinic (2004). The still photo is of Hoss, for whom I thought the tack was named. Now I'm wondering if the dude tacks at all.)

Spring ABK Windsurfing Clinic at Tiana

The info is outfo:  Andy Brandt and Team ABK will make you a better windsurfer (if you do the clinic) May 16-18, at Tiana Bay in Hampton Bays.   The finest windsurfing instruction program on the planet (hey they've managed to get things through MY thick head!)

There's just three things you have to do:

1.  Sign up.

2.  Show up.

3.  Be willing to have three great days sailing!

ABK Boardsports:  Learn to windsurf (windsurf better, windsurf best), make friends, have fun!

(Photo by Jeff Schultz.)

Learn to Freestyle (or Freestyle Better) Opportunity

I have it on excellent authority that there's lots of room in the freestyle group of this week's ABK clinic.

If you did not win the freestyle competition in Cape Cod last week, you should be here.

If you did win, you should be here.

If you didn't go (like me...previous commitments) you should go so you can compete at Joe's Beach in 2014.

If you don't know any freestyle, you should DEFINITELY go!  One of my all-time favorite ABK clinics (and I've done 17) was Freestyle #1.   Had to drive to Delaware to do it.   Now it's at Tiana...shallow, breezy, shark free, easy parking, closer than Napeague Tiana.

Be there!

(Photo of Rich Simons going Vulcan at an ABK Freestyle clinic by Peconic Jeff Schultz)

ABK Windsurfing Clinic Countdown...are you signed up?

If you know anyone who has ever done an ABK windsurfing clinic, you've already had your ear talked off about how great they are.   If you yourself have engaged Andy Brandt and crew in an ABK clinic, you know you should get back there ASAP to work on The Next Steps of your windsurfing.   If you are not in either of the above groups, OR if you are stuck wondering if right now, this is the time for you to ABK it, see if you're on this list (which is only partial) of People Who Should Do The Next ABK Clinic:

-people who have never windsurfed,

-people who tried windsurfing a long time ago and found it incredibly hard,

-people who windsurfed a long time ago and want to get back into it,

-people who enjoyed sailing around but never learned to use the harness or footstraps,

-people who managed the harness and footstraps but never got comfortable going fast,

-people who never learned to waterstart easily,

-people who want to sail smaller boards,

-people who want to learn the planing jibe,

-people who want to perfect their jibes and duck jibes,

-people who want to learn to jump (or jump higher),

-people who want to plane in less wind,

-people who want to be able to sail in strong winds,

-people who want to learn freestyle,

-people who want to learn radical freestyle,

-people who want to learn cool things to do on a windsurfer in light wind,

-people who want to meet and hang out with other windsurfers.

 ABK Windsurfing Clinics come to Long Island on September 20-22, at Tiana!   Shallow water, good for all wind directions, plenty of waterside parking, easy peasy (whatever that means).  Sign up before it fills up.

Sinker Board

The windsurfer in the photo is on a sinker board.  It does not have enough volume to float him.   If he was to sheet in in sufficiently strong wind, the forward motion of the board would bring it to the surface, and he could have a lot of fun.  In this case it looks like the wind does not have enough strength for the sailor to use a sinker.  He should have chosen a larger board, with enough volume to keep his calves dry.

(That's Andy Brandt, who knows darn well how much volume and wind he needs to sail.  And how much you need too.   And how to teach you to need less!  ABK Windsurfing Clinics come to Long Island on September 20-22, at Tiana!)

ABK Clinic @ Tiana...you need to sign up soon!

Andy Brandt and his merry crew of instructors are coming to Tiana next week (May 17-19) for three days of magnificent windsurfing instruction and fun.   It's coming down to crunch time, meaning if you sign up now (and wait until the last minute) you may get shut out.  ABK is strict about the ratio of students to instructors, and at some point in the next few days Andy will put a cap on the overall clinic size.  So sign up ASAP!

Mistakes you don't want to make include:

*Waiting for the wind forecast to decide if you want to go.  I've made this mistake, and regretted it.  It goes wrong three ways:  The forecast is wrong (the clinic gets better conditions than forecast,) the clinic is fantastic even on light wind days (and you have to listen to your friends rave about this, and see them sailing better all summer) and you miss the fun (and have to listen to the same friends go on about it.

*Assume that Andy will let you join at the last minute, even if the clinic is full.  I haven't made this mistake, but I've watched people's faces fall in disappointment as they stood there (Napeague) cash in hand, gear on cars, and be told they can't join.

*Trust the ABK web site when it says there are plenty of spaces available.  I love ABK, but the web site is not always running at the same speed as the clinics.

So sign up for the ABK clinic.  It's going to be a great clinic at Tiana (which doesn't have the name cache of Napeague, but in opinion is better for more wind directions, easier in terms of parking and managing your gear, more convenient for Saturday night dinner, etc etc etc.   As Scott says (or sings):  "Oh, Tiana!"

(Photo:  Don't get stuck inside your boom...ABK will help you prevent this.  Unless you're a freestyler and want to do tricks...ABK will help you do this.  Photo borrowed from ABK Boardsports.

ABK Returns to Tiana (Spring Windsurfing Clinic!)

"Oh, Tiana!" Scott sings, though he's usually waxing lyrical about the ocean launch.   But the user friendly and convenient Tiana Bay launch will be the site of ABK Boardsports windsurfing clinics this year, May 17-19.  Tiana has many advantages for a Long Island windsurfing clinic:

-Lots of shallow water,

-Sailable in every wind direction,

-Loads of parking,

-15 minute drive to the windsurfing shop if you need something,

-40 minutes closer (if you're coming from west) than Napeague.  Napeague was (and is) an excellent spot to windsurf, but I'm excited for ABK's triumphant return to their old Long Island clinic spot.

If you've never windsurfed before, this is the place for you.  Want to learn to sail in the footstraps?  Waterstart?   Plane through a jibe?  Vulcan?  Loop?  Et Set Er Ah?!?!?  This is the place.

So sign up ASAP (don't get shut out...it's happened, as  long time ABKers know).  Here's a link for more info.  ear, May 17-19.  Just make sure you're there.  Andy Brandt and his mighty crew are coming...

(Top:  Andy throws a shuv it.  I need to learn those.  Bottom:  You missed the Bonaire clinics?  No worries...they're bringing their simulators to Tiana.  Work out your technique dry on the beach, test it and get coached on the water.  Photos borrowed from Andy's Facebook page.)

UPDATE: Long Island ABK Windsurfing Clinics

There are changes regarding the scheduled ABK Windsurfing Clinics on Long Island.

1.  The September 21-13 clinic at Napeague has been cancelled, except for those people who have been directly contacted by Andy Brandt (in other words, you know who you are.)

2.  The September 28-30 clinic at Napeague (including the famous Freestyle Group) is going to be moved to Tiana (the bay launch.)   More details will be coming on ABK Boardsports website soon.

Until 2005 Tiana Bay was the regular venue for ABK.  It's a great shallow flatwater spot that works on pretty much all wind directions.   It's where the Town of Southampton holds their youth windsurfing camp every year.   I've done two clinics there myself, and personally prefer it to Napeague (though it does not get the extra 5mph wind on northeasterlies that Napeague does).   There's plenty of parking!  What there isn't is nearby camping.   There are a lot of small motels on the road approaching the Ponquogue Bridge on Lynn Avenue, Foster Ave etc.    To get to Tiana cross the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays, turn right, and drive two miles.  You'll see the enormous beach parking lot (and beach house) for Tiana Beach on the left...you'll want to enter the smaller lot to the right, which is right on the bay.

The Peconic Puffin will have updates as we get them.  

(You can also find Tiana Bay on the Long Island Windsurfing Map.)

 

ABK Long Island Clinic Nearly Sold Out!

ABK windsurfing clinic at Napeague is almost sold out.  Yes ABK's website and Facebook said it was sold out, but a small window of opportunity has opened.  Jump! 

To the poor slobs who miss the chance, we say Sign Up for the September clinics.  To the lucky few who are in, have a great weekend! 

(Andy teaching the basics.  In order to be on top of the water...direction indicated by his thumb...attach a windsurfing board beneath the sail.)

Andy Brandt, ABK Windsurfing Long Island Spring Dates

Who:  Andy Brandt and his merry band of windsurfing instructors.

Where:  Lazy Point @ Napeague, on the water and on the beach

When:  May 18th-20th, 2012.

Any questions?

Of course you have questions, and there's nobody better than Andy, Brendan, Tom and friends to answer them and get you sailing better on the water!   So sign up already!  

Remember last year when a dozen people who planned to come didn't sign up in advance, and ABK cancelled the clinic because they thought they were going to have a poor turnout?  You don't want that. AND you don't want what happened to some people in September of 2010, when a few people who planned to come didn't sign up in advance, arrived at the clinic only to find out that the clinic was FULL and so they couldn't join!   Avoid these disappointments and sign up.  Every day sailing is a great day sailing as it is...every day sailing in an ABK clinic takes it to a whole new level.   You want to be in a photo like the one here, believe me.   And you DON'T want to be like the guy in the top photo, standing on the wrong side of the sail and facing the wrong direction.   ABK can fix that.   Seriously though, if you've never windsurfed before, if you're a competitive freestyler, or if you're anywhere on the windsurfing learning spectrum, if you want to learn more, this is the place.

(photos swiped from Facebook)