No Gurls
For some reason, windsurfing in these parts is considered a "guy" thing. It really shouldn't be. Of course, when you look on the water at Lanier or a local spot, it's largely men who are windsurfing but that's really more about us than the sport.
We are tempted to blame part of this misperception on that notion that only men would be silly enough to jump into Lake Lanier in the winter time. But, someone in our household did the Polar Bear Plunge into Lake Lanier a few years back with her girlfriends so it can't be that. It just may be that women who are starting out windsurfing or considering it don't see many role models.
Well, thanks to the glory of Youtube, here are some good role models in videos posted recently. They aren't doing anything super crazy, just riding and enjoying things. We hope it encourages more women (and men) to get on the water.
The incomparable Sarah Hebert.
Just before I left the shores of Great Britain, there was an influx of ladies to our windsurfing club which was great. We had one or two female members come and go over the years, however, the recent increase seems to have been a direct result of the enhanced changing facilities (and flushable toilets). I can appreciate that the idea of going down to your local freezing cold mud hole (sorry, lake) and getting changed next to your car isn't very appealing in the winter months.
However, we're blessed with lovely hot summer days in Georgia, so i'd have thought that wouldn't be so much of an issue over here. Not sure what facilities there are (if any) at Lake Lanier? It definately needs to be encouraged to keep the sport vibrant.
I've been teaching my girlfriend to windsurf this winter and this has made me painfully aware of how we think of women in this sport. In most videos for example the women are part of the decor like the swaying palm trees and the nice sunset. Most of the time the only part of the woman you see is the backside in a nice bikini. My gf and I laugh about it now, but I can't imagine many women seeing these videos and finding the sport inviting.
Teleclimber,
I hope your girlfriend finds videos like these inspirational. If there are ones she likes, let us know.
Hot summer days = zero wind summer days. Almost all windy days around here come in the colder months
Big gear lessens that pain. Doesn't eliminate it but does lessen it.
It's not everyone's cup of tea but has certainly changed the way I regard June through September.