Focus
University Daily Kansan, July 10, 1985
Page 6
Sun surfing ailing
The unimpressed prairie winds of Kansas hinder many sports fanatics. But for people involved in one of the most insistent breezes mean everything.
"The winder, the better," Sharon England, 1905 Tennessee St., one of Lawrence's windsurfers enthusiasts, said Sunday at Clinton Lake.
The wind provides the basis for windsurfing, a mixture of sailing and surfing that started in 1973. The vessel: an 11-foot plastic board carrying a 15-foot sail. Depending from wind direction, indoors doesn't rely on waves — just breezes.
In fact, some of these sailors relish a stiff wind up to 30 mph to send them climbing across the water.
"You manipulate the wind," said Chuck Adams. 1116 Kentucky St., one of about 15 windsurfers at Clinton Lake on Sunday. He hauled up his sail of shimmering lavender and turquoise and set off briskly across the lake, playing for about a hour, he said, and likes it mainly for the thrill of soeed
"The power of a good wind will pull the front of the board up out of the water," Adams said, his gesture suggesting the board of the board up pulls into the air.
Skipping off some larger waves, he said, the board flies free for an instant before it smacks down to the water.
It was not such a graceful show, however, for about half of the wind-surers at Clinton. They were just learning. To master surfing and sailing at the same time is complicated. In contrast, the number of solafes just to get started.
The starting procedure is supposed to go as follows:
The sail, always stretched stiffly open, is laid over flat in the water and submerged a few inches. The sailor stands braced on his board, which is about 18 inches wide, and slowly pulls the sail up with a rope, allowing the water to drain off the sail as it comes up.
Often the sail catches the wind long before it becomes vertical and swings on its single-pole mast like a lopsided weather vane. Most beginners find this an excellent opportunity to get the water and start the procedure over.
"I think I need a lot more practice." Susan Mullstein, Baldwin City, said after spending some time in the water.
She shaded her eyes to see the triangular patches of rainbow-colored sails across the lake.
"Look at those people way over there," she said. "I can't even get out of the cove."
But she, too, has felt the thrill.
"When you get a breeze and you're skipping along the waves, it's a great feeling." Millstein said.
Bram Sheafar, 61 Kentucky St., is certified to teach the sport. He said that although windsurfing looked difficult, most people are capable of carrying on by themselves after two three-hour lessons.
The lessons cost $50. The price of a full windsurising rig starts at about $50 and can be rented for about $8 to $10 an hour or about $4 a day.
Both stores in Lawrence that sell windsurfing rigs offer lessons and rental equipment. The stores also have simulators that teach the basic movements of windsurfing without the complications of wind and water.
George Paley, Baldwin City, who is also a certified teacher, said mastering the sport was not easy because it required learning how to sail while keeping balance on the board. But when people finally catch up they get a big smile on their face like when they learned how to ride a bike."
Sheafar said most of the steering was done with the sail. The main object, he said, is to pull the sail up against the wind. Therefore, the sailor must keep the wind at his back. Tipping the sail forward will sweep water away and downwind. Tipping it backward will twist the nose of the board upwind.
Rather than a force to be reckoned with, Sheafor said, the wind can be used by an accomplished windsurfer.
When the sail is held full by a steady wind, it will hold the rider up as he leans back over the rushing water, Sheafer said. "If you know how to use it, the wind will help you keep your balance," he said.
In this unusual sport camaraderie exists among Lawrence's windsurfers. Only about 50 boards are in the area, according to enthusiasts. Most use the same dock and bring their families along. After a ride it is much cool of wind and wave conditions that make maneuver someone basked masterly.
But, the windsurfers say, there is something special about being out alone on a sailboard.
"It's right there, your arms are right on it," Adams said of the power of the wind.
"It's a natural sport," she said, watching a water cycle roar across the cove. "It's for people who enjoy nature rather than motor power.
England said the sport had several attractions for her.
"I came out one afternoon last week when hardly anyone was here. It was like having the whole lake to swim with and I saw the elements when you're out there."
Before beginning their adventure on the rippling waters of Clinton Lake, the windsurfers first must unload their rigs from their cars and construct them, a process that takes about 15-20 minutes.
Even experienced windsurfers such as Dave Millstein, Baldwin City, occasionally catch a bad wind and take an unexpected plunge.
The sport of windsurfing is both enjoyable and exhausting, windsurfers say, and they wouldn't trade the wind in their sails for any form of motorized transportation. Judy Gering-Paley, Baldwin City, a beginning
windsurfer, spent most of Sunday afternoon close to the safety of the shore. Although beginners often spend most of their time in the water, instructors say that the basics can be mastered in a few lessons.
The steering of a windsurf rig is performed through a combination of sail movements and weight snouts, and balance is a necessity. Beginning windsurfer Jill Mickel, 726 Locust St., had her feet firmly planted on her board, but she still took a few plunges into the lake.
Story by Shawn Aday Photos by John Lechliter
At times the waters of Clinton can become crowded with windsurf rigs and other craft. Windsurfers say that motorized craft can be a problem, especially when the lake is congested. Just as the highways have rules, so do the lakes. When a motor craft meets a sail craft, the sail craft has the right-of-way.