Light Air Wavesailing, Is it the New Thing?!
No Footstraps Required!
I have been a strong supporter of Light Air Wavesailing since my initial experiences with the AHD SeaLion during late summer 2010 and all of 2011. Blending an aggressive light air board design with a medium sized windsurfing sail has offered many more days of enjoyable time in the ocean, as compared to years past when I only had "regular" wave gear available. As a father of two, a full time job, and busy life schedule, my windsurfing time has taken a hit even while living in one of windsurfing's world meccas. However, with the SeaLion and Light Air Wavesailing, many more opportunities are available to catch FUN surf and enjoy water time even with the scheduled needs of everyday life.
Seems more and more people are discovering the FUN and ease of Light Air Wavesailing and it is great to see this new windsurfing discipline take shape. The US East Coast is perfect for Light Air Wavesailing from FL to Cape Cod and with the busy lives and limited water time we have, when you do make it out to the beach, why not have an option for when winds are side offshore at 10 knts and waves are breaking outside crumbly and fun!
As with standard SUP and kitesurfing, perhaps Light Air Wavesailing may find greater niche as it blends "ease" of a stable windsurfing platform with the ability to get into the ocean on calm easy days with surf ranging knee high to as big as you want to try!
I would really enjoy seeing more people out on Light Air Wavesailing days. Beauty too is that if you are here on the OBX, from Corolla to Hatteras, anywhere it can be good if there is a nice outside sand bar and a side to side-off breeze. Anywhere there is a good sandbar can be a "popular" spot! If you are in Nags Head, come out and join me when I hit a sesh, as I often do during the summer months! Stay tuned to the OBX Beach Life forum for reports where to go as we usually post when we are about to hit the water!
No Footstraps Required!
Labels: light air wavesailing, sup
2 Comments:
Definitely seems like the ticket for the Northern OBX where the wind quality and angle on the ocean are more challenging for sinky shortboards than at the usual sites further South. The SeaLion can plane, too, right?
Sure, the SeaLion can plane, but when it does, the wind may be "too strong." Ideally, the SeaLion only planes on the incoming swell or wave itself.
Yea, northern sites are opened by Light Air specifically due to inconsistent wind inside caused by all the buildings along the oceanfront from Nags Head, north. Though even south side, we often find afternoon summer thermals ranging just below "regular" wave sailing strength; however, ideal for light air options.
All in all, for summer time refreshment in easy surf conditions, the Light Air route is quite good/ideal in Hatteras!
Hope to see more folks out there this summer, or at least see/read online about adventures Light Air in the Surf from other locations along the east coast?!
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