Select to expand quoteChris 249 said..I've been talking with guys like Patrice belbeoch (world cup wave champ and head of Exocet - the lt is their top selling board and he cannot get enough) and the Italian shortboard freestyle champ about it and they have no complaints.
I suspect the LT is globally the top selling windsurfer of 2019.
Select to expand quotePaducah said..windsufering said..
Suck on that !
If that's your benchmark...
No and your point is ?
Select to expand quotewindsufering, responding to Paducah, said...
No and your point is ?
My bad for being unclear. I should have added "Suck that" under the pic like I"ve seen other people do but it didn't seem proper. I'll endeavor to do better next time.
Select to expand quoteThePhil said..Jethrow said..
Pretty much any brand that is made in the Cobra Factory can have the LT re-badged to their brand...
Well that's fantastic, a far cry from the ending court cases of Hoyle Schweitzer's life.
Anymore details on how that works?
Minimum order of 35 boards. I don't think you even have to be a Cobra customer. Critically, there is no discount for larger orders so no one can buy 2000 at a bulk discount, undercut the market and gain control.
Select to expand quotePaducah said..windsufering, responding to Paducah, said...
No and your point is ?
My bad for being unclear. I should have added "Suck that" under the pic like I"ve seen other people do but it didn't seem proper. I'll endeavor to do better next time.
Mate I think your in the wrong forum !
This thread has been going so long that it needs to change its title to " The old windsuferers Wally review, re-visited....again" lol
Surly something has come out better by now that's a progression ?
Nope - if you like things like being part of a big group who share the love of the same board, who love sailing in fleets of over 100 where no one can buy an advantage, if you like being able to sail from 3 knots to 30 with one set of gear, if you love simplicity and being in the fastest growing class, there is nothing better.
Its not what the thumbs seem to say, not me, just the thumbers. I guess the big group of sheep may follow the herd, but a good shepherd is needed to lead the way.
Surly the 2020 gear has some major upgrades ??? From the 70's style reunion.
Who cares about thumbs? A few years ago lots of people were saying that no one would ever build longboards again. Now a longboard is the world's top selling board. PWA wavesailing champions are sailing them. Naish, Starboard, Exocet and others are in the class. That shows how wrong many people are when it comes to this stuff - wrong then, wrong now.
It's stupid, by the way, to imply that the sailors who stuck by the longboards when the vast majority sailed shortboards (which many of us also sail and love) are the ones following the herd.
The 2020 gear is very different in
some ways from the older versions. It doesn't suit everyone- we never said it does. That doesn't mean that people have to sling **** at it.
Ok, cool, If PWA crew are riding them they must be better, sorry to get you upset, yes people were wrong then and are still wrong now, sorry again, carry on.
Now the official Naish video with additional footage of the man who rides a white board, wears shorts of quiksilver, they call him Robby and he is a star among all stars. It is worth another posting.
www.facebook.com/NaishWindsurfing/videos/2082886568682647/
Although the king of all stars couldn't make it to Torbole for the Windsurfer Class World Championships, he did take his Naish Windsurfer setup down to the beach in Hawaii for some classic rail riding. Great legendary sailors of the PWA, Patrice Belbeoch (Exocet) and Cesare Cantagalli (i-99-NoveNove international ) inventor of the "cheese roll", were in Torbole competing on the LT for their brands.
www.facebook.com/windsurferclass/videos/390931225114355/
5 days, 5 disciplines, more than 170 competitors, 50% competion 50% fun and a totally renewed Windsurfer Spirit back to Torbole, Garda Trentino! This is the 2019 Windsurfer World Championships Aftermovie!
www.windsurferclassaus.com/news/aussies-on-top-of-the-world
AUSSIES ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Seventeen Aussies traveled to Torbole on Lake Garda, Italy for the 2019 Windsurfer World Championships.
With 180 competitors from 18 countries it was a massive affirmation that the Windsurfer Class is back!
Incredibly tough racing across Course, Marathon and Slalom was held in 4 weight divisions for men plus the Female division. With 18-22 knot breezes it was fast and tight competition in spectacular scenery.
The Australian contingent performed incredibly well in a fleet featuring multiple Olympians, past World Champions and young guns.
Heavyweight Nick Bez from Melbourne sailed a very consistent regatta and won the Men's Overall - being named the World Champion for 2019.
Hamish Swain from Queensland is the World Youth Champion.
Mel Webb from Sydney is the Women's World Freestyle Champion.
Heaps of other Aussie podiums.
Full results - www.circolosurftorbole.com/en/events/events-2019/windsurfer-world-championships/
A range of pictures and videos showcasing the event - www.facebook.com/circolosurftorbole/
Pictures from the Australian team - windsurferclass.smugmug.com/
Next Worlds are coming to Perth in Dec 2020 /Jan 2021.
---
There are more than 350 LT's in Australia after just 12 months of availability.
It's going to be a massive season with fleets now racing in every state.
2020 Nationals in South Australia - Jan 23-26.
www.windsurferclassaus.com
Who's that ring in Finn !!!!! You think she would hide her flag in her shirt or something.
Select to expand quotelotofwind said..
Its not what the thumbs seem to say, not me, just the thumbers. I guess the big group of sheep may follow the herd, but a good shepherd is needed to lead the way.
Surly the 2020 gear has some major upgrades ??? From the 70's style reunion.
I'm quite new here, but I find the angst about people sailing something that's not 'cutting edge' is a little ... weird. I've sailed short boards (heaps), wave boards, dinghy's (when I was a kid) and cats (extensive racing)... and I'm just loving the LT for all the reasons Chris mentions. Cheap, simple, whatever conditions, muck about with the kids, race, all one board. I don't get to sail all that often, so when I'm going to near water I just take my board. Can always get some sort of sail. Yeah it's slow compared to most things I've sailed and raced, but fast on the LT still feels fast (to me). It's all relative.
Anyway, people (sheep) are voting with their feet and having their kind of fun. What's not to like?
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Select to expand quotedelmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Windsurfer LT Worlds Dec. 2020 in Perth on the Swan River....get on board and enjoy.
Select to expand quoteAUS 814 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Sure. I owned one for about a month and sold it again. Wasn't man enough! But it's not my point is it? In fact, you make my point to some degree: you can point out flaws with them all day (including fact they're uncomfortable), but they are simple, easy to get on the water, racing available all over the place. Work on fitness and tactics rather than having latest iteration of gear.
Floats heaps of people's boats (so to speak).
Select to expand quotedelmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Well said. Like you I've sailed fast stuff (Taipan, Slalom, Raceboards, fast pushbikes, etc) and slower and more simple stuff (Lasers, LTs and single speed bikes) and love them equally.
Speed is comparative; something that's fairly slow can feel just as fast and just as much fun as the quicker stuff. And if speed and being the latest design were what counted, we'd all be sailing kitefoilers, not windsurfers of any type.
Select to expand quoteChris249 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Well said. Like you I've sailed fast stuff (Taipan, Slalom, Raceboards, fast pushbikes, etc) and slower and more simple stuff (Lasers, LTs and single speed bikes) and love them equally.
Speed is comparative; something that's fairly slow can feel just as fast and just as much fun as the quicker stuff. And if speed and being the latest design were what counted, we'd all be sailing kitefoilers, not windsurfers of any type.
or this....
That Open 60 is a good example, because the speed difference between an LT and a Formula board or foiling windsurfer is (in a breeze) about the same as the speed difference between the Open 60 monohull and an older ORMA 60 trimaran or a 100 foot supermaxi mono. Despite the fact that both of them are pretty slow when compared to the fastest things around, lots of people get excited about the Open 60 and dismiss the LT.
Just like the way that we love windsurfing despite the fact that kites are often quicker, it just shows how subjective our feeling on speed are. The strange thing is the way some people ignore that fact (and the fact that longboards are actually often faster than shortboards) in their desire to put down longboards.
I would add I sailed Lasers for two years then sold the Laser to get an original Windsurfer in 1982, which was heaps more fun and faster. Now today the improved new Windsurfer LT is a great and cheap form of sailing that has the capacity to attract many sailors young and old particularly those who wish to compete in racing around a course every week at a yacht club. It is clear it is growing faster in Australia than any other windsurfing class. At Mounts Bay Sailing Club it appears it is the fastest growing class. That is a good thing.
Select to expand quoteAUS 814 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Lol thanks for that info I think your humour would be more appreciated in the foil forums !
your hate seems to grow as the Wally class gets bigger , quite sad actually!
Select to expand quotewindsufering said..AUS 814 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Lol thanks for that info I think your humour would be more appreciated in the foil forums !
your hate seems to grow as the Wally class gets bigger , quite sad actually!
Was this directed towards me ?
Select to expand quotewindsufering said..AUS 814 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Lol thanks for that info I think your humour would be more appreciated in the foil forums !
your hate seems to grow as the Wally class gets bigger , quite sad actually!
Has 814 ever attacked the LT?
Windsuffering, plenty of people respect your passion and plenty of us are also willing to defend the class against attacks - but please don't go over the top with your own attacks.
Select to expand quoteChris 249 said..windsufering said..AUS 814 said..delmar71 said..
Actually further comment, just reflecting that's there's a heap of parallels. Lasers are still huge while being simple and low tech, h16's are still (!) one of the biggest off beach cat fleets (the biggest?). I raced H16's for quite a while. They're fun but, lets face it, basically a dog to sail. So many quirks and, except on a reach, not comparatively fast, but they are thrilling and the racing was cut-throat. Lots of comradeship and fun off the water as well. Sure, you glanced with envy at the tornado/taipan going wild downwind, as they steered with two fingers going deeper much faster than you, but then you got back to trying not to nose-dive as you tried to win bragging rights over your mates. I've done both, and the hobie was as much fun.
I've also spent lots of time in mountain bike racing, and single speed/rigid is a significant movement within that, as a rejection of complexity. I suspect there's lots of other parallels that bear out the point (not a motor sport guy but HQ racing used to big, I wonder what the more recent equivalent is).
Anyway, again, it just doesn't seem such a hard thing to understand, that plenty of folk aren't fussed with cutting edge and being current, but instead affordability, simplicity, etc.
Lasers might be simple and low tech but are not very comfortable to sail
Lol thanks for that info I think your humour would be more appreciated in the foil forums !
your hate seems to grow as the Wally class gets bigger , quite sad actually!
Has 814 ever attacked the LT?
Windsuffering, plenty of people respect your passion and plenty of us are also willing to defend the class against attacks - but please don't go over the top with your own attacks.
My apologies I stuffed up
Just to point out I do own a LT, but are fortunate to also sail raceboard and foil. I like the LT but don't think it should be our Olympic class
