I'm a legit windsurf coach!

I've enjoyed teaching people to windsurf for decades. I’m going to guess I’ve taught dozens, and will have to compile a complete list of students someday… So,

I thought it was time to get an official credential and so I signed up for the Sail Canada windsurf instructor program. I have my Pleasure Craft Operator Card, first aid, CanSail sailing fundamentals, and coach boat safety credentials.

The May 24 weekend was the date selected for the Ontario Sailing Windsurf Coaching course. I was the oldest student by far, the other 8 trainees were in their early 20s and looking to teach windsurfing to kids at local clubs.

David Zeni and Max Robinson were the course instructors. I’ve known both for years and they are great windsurfers and ambassadors of the sport. And they are great coaches. Over a Friday zoom call and 3 days of on and off the water teaching, we all learned a lot.

Toronto Windsurfing Club fully stocked with beginner gear

Big storm coming…

Quite the system going through

Some coaching drills on Saturday morning

From Max’s social media

Fun way to teach self rescue!

A bit colder Sunday for drills…

On the holiday Monday, we had an opportunity to demonstrate what we had learned with some volunteer students. My poker buddies Michael and Mike had come down with their kids. Michael was my student, while Mike took photos on shore of us and the kids in their first windsurfing experiences. 

Getting the students ready for their sessions

Mike showing good form on the simulator

It was perfect weather with a light 3-5 knot breeze blowing onshore. The water was cold but clear, ideal for a first time experience at Cherry Beach. Mike did great staying upwind consistently so I could head out on my Kona and Idol 5.6 and sail around with him.

At the end of the session we had a good debrief with our instructors. I’d learned a lot that I will incorporate into my teaching at the www.launchpadwindsurfacademy.ca . Things like hands, knees, feet to centreline, twist to get going, self rescue instruction on water, hold the boom when falling, sail with your student etc.

Simcoe for 1st day of 2022 in Ontario

After our trip to Hatteras I’ve been off the water for a few weeks with some other nice overdue travel. I’m back and have all the gear down in Toronto getting ready for my windsurfing instructors course though.

After chatting with few friends on a windless Wednesday race night at TWC the consensus was to head to Lake Simcoe for the great SW day predicted for the Friday before the May long weekend. I made sure my afternoon was clear and kept an eye on the Spot of the Day Ontario facebook group.

Sure enough the wind was filling in as I scored the last parking spot at Clarendon Park. I’d never been there but it was easy to find and also a great launch spot. Max, John, Jeff and other friendly faces were there rigging on the nice grass. There were already a lot of wingers out on the water.

I took the 6m Echo on the 99cm foil and had a great wing session. I was dry for 20 minutes getting the majority of my wing jibes generally with just a light touchdown.

Fun wingfoil session

As the wind kept picking up from 15-20 knots I decided it was time to right the 5.6 Idol and try the Skate 108. That was a pretty sweet setup and I did 21 kms. Not much jibe success on the outside, but got a few nice ones in by shore. I did need to come in and put on a weed fin, as there were some reeds floating out in the middle that I could mostly avoid but still managed to snag one on most runs.

Longer windsurf session

After an hour I decided to try wind foiling, and rigged the 4.8. I definitely like cruising on the foil the most with the windsurfing sail, but my jibes are not as consistent as with the wing. With the wing being overhead, you just have more stability when turning. I managed one carving 360 on the windfoil, not foiling the whole way round, but at least I completed my 2nd one in 5 years.

Short windfoil session

Spot of the day member Daryl heading with his helmet cam

Three sports in 3 hours. It was a great day and I made it back just in time for the introductions on the zoom call for the first lesson of the windsurfing instruction course I’ll be doing all weekend.

A quick last surf and bumping into Andy Brandt

Thursday was the first day out of 11 where there wasn’t any wind at all. So after a quiet morning Jen and I headed to the Ferry terminal to see about going to Okracoke. But there was a 3 hour wait. So we headed back and stopped to check out the waves in Frisco.

Yes, that is Andy Brandt!

I had packed the surfboards and wetsuits and got myself ready to go surfing. There in the parking lot was super inspiring windsurf instructor Andy Brandt of ABK Boardsports! We chatted about kids and life and I shared my excitement for Jen getting foiling.

Catching a wave

Thanks Jen for the photos

I surfed the small and inconsistent waves for around 30 minutes and caught only 2 waves. But Jen managed to get photos!

We headed to Pop’s seafood for another yummy meal and $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Good food

Cheap beer

Pop’s Raw Bar

Later I helped Christophe surf at the pier.

The pier is closed now

Christophe caught a wave and I got a photo of it! 

A quick hot tub and it was off to Pangea for a great dinner.

Pangea with the sharks on the ceiling and a map of the world

Friday we awoke to a glassy sound. Jen and I went for a run. 

No wind this day

Our run/walk

Our evening beach walk

I cleaned up the trailer and put more stickers on it. I kept the foil and one sail rigged till 7pm and finally conceded that the wind was gone. 

When leftovers are this good, just call it dinner!

Everyone headed to bed early anticipating the long drive home in the morning. A great end to two great weeks in two huge houses with two wonderful groups of people.

Last morning session in Hatteras?

Fun to have a visit from our HIHO friend Bob in Cape Hatteras!

As predicted, the wind was dropping off. I had a yummy apple pastry and coffee and did a quick stretch. I put on my 4/3 wetsuit which was nice and dry as the 5/4 and 3/2 were still wet from yesterday. It was sunny and cold and I wasn't prepared for how chilly the water had become.

I put the 5.6 Idol on the Stingray 140 with the 99cm wing. I managed to windfoil for a full hour only falling in to my waist once. Even so, my fingers were freezing. I got one duck jibe on the foil which was rewarding. Certainly easier on the Idol which is flat when depowered than on a sail with cams like my old V6.

A satisfying GPS trail in the gusty and cold north wind.

A lot of good windfoil jibes in that session!

I went in and offered the Stingray 140 and 99cm foil to Kurt who found it much easier to use while learning to wing. I went in and pumped up my 6.0 Echo wing and put on some gloves.

My first few wing runs and jibe attempts were a disaster. I certainly got wet. So different from last evening. Eventually I got my rhythm and started completing jibes and doing some toe-side riding. The wind was shifting more to the NE and dropping with just the occaisional gust. 

Not many jibes completed in the first 1/3 of the wingfoil session

It was time to hit the hot tub and check my phone. HIHO buddy Bob was on route to our place with a truck full of gear but was fully aware that the wind was dropping. We had fun chatting and catching up and we wound up going for a nice seafood lunch.

Dinner was a scrumptious steamed seafood medley.

No wind expected tomorrow. Maybe Friday?

Jen riding high on the foil!

Jen’s first sustained windfoiling run!

We woke up to a sunny windy morning with the house buzzing with windsurfers and kiters getting their gear ready.

I went out for an hour long session on the 4.8 Idol and Freewave 116. After a huge long run that put me downwind a fair bit, I added some downhaul and got more dialed in and made upwind ground again. I was quite comfortable despite the much colder temperatures, this day wearing my 5/4 wetsuit which is my 2nd thickest.

That first run was a bit far downwind

Each run was around 2.5 km long.

Jen got into her 2 mil wetsuit and I rigged the 4.7 on the 140 Stingray with the 99cm foil and 24 inch mast. While it was clearly cold for her, she did several runs. She got up half a dozen times for extended flying runs on the foil! I was videoing and cheering - so cool to see how much control she has doing this completely new sport. I put a little video together!

Jennifer Spiess on Vimeo

Happy she got it?

Jen showing the housemates how she was foiling!

I took the gear Jen had been on and had a decent windfoil session myself. Andree from TWC / Solosports came by the house and went out on her wing. We checked out the waves upwind and south of the house. I had some fun doing duck tacks and downwind 360s during lulls. My carve 360 attempts were laughable. After I was done, Christophe had a great session on the 140 Stingray and 99cm foil. It is definitely a good combination for learning to foil.

My windfoil session had a few good jibes

After a few good scheduled charity, family and friend zoom calls / emails I headed out again. This was session #3 and I was on the 6m Echo wing and the Stingray 140 with the 99cm foil. It was an awesome sunset hour. I was linking more turns than I ever have. I did a lot of switchstance riding. And the best was that I did a duck? jibe. I’d told Steve that I was doing them, but I think I remember just doing it in the winter. I tried a few and figured it was impossible, until I got one! 

 Linking jibes and drawing "SSS"s is fun!

55 km covering 3 different wind toys

Wingfoiling for the win of my 3 sports today. But the real winner was Jen! Seriously, later in the evening we watched the videos of her foiling on the big screen while waiting for dinner. There was huge respect for her skill and determination taking on a new and challenging sport.

There might be a bit of wind left in the morning, let’s see.