You know that time when it was your birthday and the best gift EVER was suddenly yours?
I know, it rarely happens. But when it is a “turning point” birthday, the gift better be SPOT ON! And yes, this year it WAS!
This year “Elder SUP” truly became “elder-ly.” I turned 70 while feeling like 30. No joke. A combination of good luck, good genes and a passion for ever being curious and full of wonder about the water world around me helps the kid stay alive. In honor of the kid that is me, I decided to return to windsurfing after a 30 year hiatus. Yup! Why not.
And lucky for me, the equipment available has progressed – as my personal abilities have not. I was beyond excited to learn about the inflatable Windsurfing/SUP line from Starboard (read more here). (and more here). And YES be sure to watch the video links –
So on my 6th day out with my Inflatable SUP Windsurfing Zen Kit from Starboard I made so much improvement. After watching many of the videos online I went to Quirky Wind Elk Lake in Oregon and sailed so much better. It was exhilarating good fun!
Then today I did a sweet 5 mile up-current / down-current paddle on the Deschutes River near my hone. The same board that flies me over the water on Elk Lake (and soon on the Columbia River) gave me an amazing good training paddle.
So, my next experiment is to take the great rocker of the Zen inflatable 12’6″ board to the Viento to Hood River downwind run. My guess is that I am going to have an amazing run. So now I am 70. I did not go to a spa, I did not get new shoes or a dinner out. I got a new sport and amazing fun wrapped in innovation from Starboard Windsurfing.
If you are going to be at the Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge – message me. I will be doing the downwind run on this board. While I may not be the fastest thing on the course, I have no doubt I will be having a lot of fun. And after the down wind I can add my compact sail and fly all over the place.
Do yourself a favor and explore this incredible opportunity to have one board that opens three or more watersports doors for you. I will love to hear your comments.
A few weeks before, Ed and I had flown to Hopetown (Abaco Bahamas) revisiting the site of our honeymoon 49 years ago. The Hopetown marina was a challenging place to return to Windsurfing after about 35 years’ hiatus. Dodging moored boats, lots of ferries and floating moorings was a lot like a Frogger game. I was not stellar in skills but WAS 100% STOKED with the way the Compact 4.5 sail setup worked on the board. Flying with both the board and sailing rig was easy-peasey.
Elder SUP 