2009 SUP or Sail Thursdays

Starting this week, I'd like to invite folks out on Thursday nights after work to participate in either some Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP) or Sailing.

From left to right, Michael Tita, Chris Davis (current AWC President) and Kimo SUPing it around the buoys in light wind (actually zero wind) at the Lake Travis Invitational:

With the lake low, the sandy peninsula at Windy Point has become a popular destination. The lake now seems to be attracting kiters, windsurfers, board boats, SUPr's and beach goers of all shapes and sizes.

For the past 10 years, on Thursday nights, one of our clubs most generous benefactors has brought his own personal gear out and allowed people to sail it for free. That individual, Mike Schultz has spent countless hours and thousands of dollars to promote windsurfing in Austin. Now, with the availability of good hybrid vehicles, the state of our environment and the fact that windsurfing is now back and back with a vengeance (here in Austin), Mike will no longer be towing his trailer out to the point (his new hybrid is not capable of towing a trailer). In keeping with his style, Mike has offered to donate his trailer to the club. Mike, on behalf of the club, thank you for your generous donation and tireless efforts to promote windsurfing here in Austin!

I propose, for the new Thursday night program that we come out and either sail or Stand Up Paddle on our own gear. People will see us, they will ask questions and we can answer those questions. Many of the questions will be answered with, "Yes, we have some of the best conditions in the world here in Texas! Learning to windsurf has never been as easy as it is today. Our next Learn to Windsurf clinic is ...... Additionally, you could drive down to Corpus and visit www.worldwinds.net which will set you on a path you will never forget."

In some cases, the conditions might be appropriate for giving a lesson. In those cases, if you're out riding one of your durable and floaty boards with a smaller sail, it might make sense to provide a lesson. If former clinic participants turn up, it might be nice to let them take a turn on the gear you have on hand (if its appropriate for such use). Finally, as good deals become available on craigslist.org or when people donate gear to the club, we might try to refurbish it, create a complete set and give it away to interested sailors on Thursday nights. We might even have a timed race around the buoys on the gear we've refurbished to determine who gets to take the gear home.