Taking the Turfdog out for a run

Here is a video from my first session using a Turfdog terrain board to windsurf on land. I'm on a 4.7m sail in 5-10 knots of wind. Yes, the lack of wind lately has made me desperate.


Turfdog windsurfing on land from Canadian Guy on Vimeo.

Upwind 360s worked surprisingly well, gybes not so much. In this video you can see me get going nicely and then fail on my heli tack attempt. Apparently people have found this board helpful for learning vulcans. We'll see about that. My only gripe about the board would be the footstraps. They are a bit twisty and uncomfortable. However, they do simulate the fear that I had years ago on water when it was hard to get that back foot into the straps.

The ground was not very smooth or level. Next time I want to find a flatter surface! Unfortunately all the grassy playing fields near me are in valleys surrounded by trees. Yes, I'm wearing protective gear.

In the background of this photo, you can see Mont Sainte-Victoire, which was one of Cezanne's favourite subjects in the south of France.

The Turfdog

Here's what the Turfdog board looks like from the side. When you are going, the front wheel caster is facing toward the back, like on a shopping cart. Steering feel is quite realistic, sail forward and back to turn up or downwind. Your back foot also steers like a skateboard, or like using the rail on a windsurfer to carve.

Nice scenery in France! (That is a coal fired plant)

Stay away from the warships

I almost got skunked after my first drive to Le Ciotat, but just kept driving till I found the wind that had been predicted. I didn't really know where I was going, as the Kite and Windsurf Guide didn't have any launches listed near La Seyne-sur-Mer. I was just driving along the coast road until I saw a bunch of guys unloading gear from their vans.

I stopped, and started chatting (in my limited French) with Michel and a few of the other local sailors. They said it was a good spot, no rocks, no booties required, and nice in this easterly wind direction. There were palm trees and mansions on the other side of the road. Everyone seemed to be rigging 108 litre boards and 6m sails. I did too.

But then they all sat and waited for the wind to build. It looked like there was just enough to get going, so I was the wind dummy. In fact, a 5.4 might have been enough, but I was short for time and didn't feel like re-rigging. I sailed upwind of the old fort and checked out the full view of Toulon harbour.

WAY COOL! There were 10 warships, and an aircraft carrier. There were also ferry boats, yachts, sail catamarans and freighters. This massive harbour was then backdropped by mountains. Later, Michel told me that it is important to stay away from the warships. I figured that out when an additional warship came into the harbour. I quickly turned around when I could clearly see the machine guns mounted on the escort boats that were honking for traffic to stay away.

Better earth image to come soon...

I'm nailing my downwind carve 360s and duck gybes, but vulcan attempts 109-114 were useless. I'll blame that on the big fin I chose.

Friendly group at the launch!

Water was 12c, wind 16c. The guys on the beach were all very friendly. Merci Michel et les mecs sur la plage pour votre hospitalitie. A good start to the season.

Stop taking pictures and get home!

The kids weren't even too mad when I picked them up a bit late from school!

I signed up for the Defi Wind 40 km French Windsurfing Race

Apparently they already have 550 of 1,111 possible entries. If you want to do it, sign up soon!  I wonder if Robby Naish will be #1111?

The best part of signing up, is that you need a doctor's certificate saying that you are fit enough to compete. My doctor here got me my certificate in around 5 minutes, and then we chatted about his windsurfing and sailing past.

1,000 racers in 2010, I'm planning on being one of 1,111 racers this year!

Does anyone want to come and join me?  Check out the site at: www.defiwind.com.

Snowboarding

One of Dad's better jumps
Landed it too.

Ok, so I didn't get to windsurf in February. It has been two months now since my last session, and I'm starting to get all the magazines, newsletters etc. indicating a new season is around the corner. I'm excited.

We went to the Alps a number of times, and my boys and I are snowboarding together, and my wife and daughter are skiing. The French Alps have great snow, wonderful food, and mostly sunny skies.  Some of the slopes are only 90km from the Mediterranean. I guess it would be possible to ski and windsurf in the same day!

I did a few experiments with the Shadowbox on the snowboard. It is neat, but definitely more suited to windsurfing (or at least I'm better at windsurfing so the data from that sport is more interesting.)

I've reconfigured www.baston.fr to start emailing me wind reports. My board is back from the repair shop. I'm looking forward to my next session.

Family fun

Wow, 8 person chair lifts

Shadowbox recording of my snowboarding session,
overlaid on Google earth summer image.