windsurfing

So far this year, I've tried three new sports. I've taken a lesson on rock climbing; I've joined a softball team and played catcher and pitched (last Saturday - I pitched 6 innings of slow pitch). And yesterday, I met up with some girlfriends and we took windsurfing lessons in Norwalk.

The lesson started with basic instructions, on land, with diagrams about wind -- with terms like upwind, downwind, leeward, beamward. There's a neutral position that you get onto the board in, and then there's 5 steps for turning with the sail....anyway, by this point, my head was swimming and I wondered how on earth I'd remember all of this. Well, after trying it out, I can safely say that it helps do practice the moves on dry land, and then to repeat a lot on water so that you develop a muscle memory. Most of this is really about the mental aspect - knowing the wind, where your body is at, keeping your feet in the center, etc. I don't know if I'd try it again, but it was interesting. The instructor was great, and he said that it usually takes a few lessons to do well.

(Edited to add: Spaderboy practically accused me of posting a stock photo up there, but it really is me! Click on the photo to get the larger version.)