In my case I have to pay for everything that breaks, I simply can't use my ensurance for everything. Now my bankaccount shows red numbers soo it is over. Speedsurfing is a sport that doesn't suit young persons, a few times some high ranked guys told me: "Come back when you are at least 30 years old". It is for me no surprise to see older person dominate all rankings, and if the person is younger he (or family) payed the price for it... I wish there is a way to show young speedsurfers can reach top, without large investments.
I have chosen to take a step back with speedsurfing, I concluded it is for me not possible this season to come on top. Every shot I get deeper stuck in financial problems. One month ago I had no boom, a few weeks ago I just had 1 sail left in my car (5.5), now I just have one board (falcon speed) left in the car because the other 2 are broken. My mastfoot/harnasslines are near breaking stadium.
For 2009 I have chosen just to be a testrider for Sonntag fins, no more:
- competition
- dayvictories
- month ranking
- records
For 2009 I will focus more on some testing for speedsurfing (with gear that is left). In May/April 2010 I will make the decision what to do, I will never get a loan for something I will not earn back. And I will not ask for money from my family. It is simple for me, if I am good enough, the windsurfing industry should support me, otherwise I don't see any reason to continue.
I am sorry for those who would have thought me reaching top any moment. But I really have to take a step back. Its hard to have fun windsurfing at this moment for me. I am glad both Gerrit Kater and Joerg Sonntag still support me through this difficult period. My material is really supercompetitive at this moment, I wouldn't change it for the world. Only have to learn what speed is the limit for my materials health.
Cheers,
Erik Loots
7 Responses:
Just relax... Windsurfing is more then just aiming for the biggest record.
Breaking equipment is mostly the case when you go over the limit. For example this saturday was a really choppy day at the grevelingen. After 5 min. I switched down from rs-s 7.8 tot my rs-s 6.7 and put on a select devil fin in my board. My speeds decreased, but the fun increased!
Sometimes it's not worth to take all the risks to wind a day-ranking or 5 more knots on the gps...
Financial:
Yep out sport is really expensive. But you're making it as expensive as you want... 2nd hand material is sometimes really perfect. I bought 2 months ago a (nearly brand new) rs-s 7.8 mk2 for 250€ and a month ago a complete formula-set for 1000€ (with gulftechboom, deboichet fins, nearly new mast and sail...). I sold my older low-wind stuff for 1400€! Select SL7 fins are now begin sold for 50€ nearly brand new! Missiles from 2007 for 300€....
Age: Yep that's true. At the speedevent in Gruissan I'm almost the youngest with my 27 years!
So just find some 2nd hand replacements and just seach back the fun in windsurfing!
(Other solution is to make more money out of your website... ;-) )
Please Herm, learn me how to make more money with this website ;)
Your are right on most points. However secondhand gear is really a short term solution for me. I think you understand my quiver:
http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/?mnu=user&smnu=equipment&uid=870
Each sail or board is used a LOT. Maybe to much??? When using secondhand gear I think it will only break more often.
At this moment I think it is for me possible to break all gear. If you asked me 1 year ago I wouldn't believe I could break all my gear just by using it.
I don't want to make compromizes. Taking it easy this year would not only save money, but would also give more testing opportunities for me. Since I am tester for Sonntag fins, it will give more information and less gear breakage. Actually a win-win situation.
The plan for 2010 is more sails/masts/booms soo less use of each part. Less chance of broken gear. Fins are already perfect, I don't have to change anything. And I believe the Fanatic Falcon speed and 79 will be keepers. Only the Fanatic Falcon 91 has to go, don't know yet what board to replace it.
Do you think this is a good plan???
I think it is a choice, windsurf for fun, or everything for top gps speeds.
For me, I changed to the fun part and sold the to expinsive equpment (formula gear). Don't care about being the fastest. But perfom on each spot better than the session before. Still use my gps but don't need to be no 1.
I als like to change material and change gear to test and experience different models.
That are bad news.
I can really understand your point of view because I am only a few years older than you. The prices for good stuff are really a problem, within two years I got much and really good second hand stuff, but if something would break I had of course a problem to replace it within a few days!
In any case the news are bad. The times I met you at the spot it was always nice. In any situation some friendly words, maybe a hint.
Greetz
Hi Patrick/Niels,
Thanks for the comments, there is something I realised. Maybe this is a hidden message. One thing is for sure, the top 10 at this moment USM or gps-speedsurfing overall are really good speedsurfers. The level is sooo high, it is quite unreachable.
Now I had got the feeling I am (at my best) only 1% away from the best in terms of speed. When I did my best I even saw a few records falling. But the effort is really high. Now on one side I wish to continue the path I was going. In other words give 100%. I really felt like the only way to improve for me was breaking records.
But I have chosen another path (recommended by my best friend). Focus on improving and testing a lot. This way I don't get any records, but I can surf on safe spots with low-risk. I hope to get even a better "basis-speed" than with some money to invest in April-2010 I will try again the "old path".
The last few 0.1kmh average are sooooo hard. There is no easy way to climb up the ranking.
Niels, going fast IS fun, it always has been to me! Again the last few 0.1kmh are sooo hard (I am a bit dissapointed not to overcome this last 1% speed easily). The progress from 50kmh till 75kmh was for me really fun doing it! I recommend everybody to try with gps and learn/experience highspeed.
Back to plan: The best thing that could happen is to jump up bigtime in the ranking again from April 2010. The worst thing that could happen is me falling out of shape.
I got a few phone calls of friends, I will participate USM or "magical Brace days" at least. However I will give only 90%, and try different things I always wanted to try, but never did. Maybe I find the holy grail of speedsurfing, at least comming months I have enough time looking for the holy grail.
Cheers,
Erik
I Erik,
You are not alone in this case... Perhaps you have to choice between to remain a "good customer" or to become again a "fun sailor".
Perhaps, if you do not take distance, you finish to be definitively desappointed
It's arrived at some of my friends. After having broken them gear, and to have been wounded, he lost its passion
dm.fr
Thats a pitty Erik,
does this mean, we'll see you less often cruising @ the Amstelmeer?
gr. Bert
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