The father of a friend of mine was the caricature of an old codger. He was like the Major out of Fawlty Towers. His typical greeting was: "Come in old boy - sorry, can't get up... got a gammy leg.". However, I later discovered he was only thirty-eight at the time (when you're 7, everyone over 20 seems ancient). Thirty-eight! He was a puppy. These days people win Olympic gold medals at 38 - yet he was wilfully assuming the role of a geriatric. It turned out that he didn't even have a gammy leg. It was an affectation perhaps to make him look like a hardened war veteran, which he was - but in the catering corps.
He wasn't entirely to blame. Society at the time encouraged certain behaviors, which was to act your age. There was nothing less dignified than an old person trying to be young and compete with the kids ("When I became a man, I put away childish things" advised the Bible).
My friend's dad took his daily dose of Phyllosan, which promised to: 'fortify the over 40s' - the inference being that by 40 we're already heading for the departure lounge.
It turns out he was exactly half the age of the subject of this piece.
This month's technique feature concerns the business of ageing, what is likely to happen to our minds and bodies at what stage; what we can do about it; and how that may impact what we can achieve on the water.
This story is from the Issue 430 - January February 2024 edition of Windsurf.
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This story is from the Issue 430 - January February 2024 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
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Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
