Pictured above is the Italian RS:X Windsurfer racer Alessandra Sensini, the overall women's winner of the 2008 World Championships held in Takapuna, New Zealand. Getting air in an Olympic class in such mellow conditions is one of the things that makes Olympic Windsurfing the most dynamic of the Olympic sailing classes.
I will try to make the most of the opportunity in the next 24 hours to explain windsurfing to the masses and to make the case for certain political changes within the sport that are necessary for it to grow in the United States.
35 comments:
Just to let you know I'm here.
Can't watch the video and blog at the same time. (old PC)
New to sailing...newer to windsurfing.
Any "education" will be much appreciated.
...Back to the races (if I haven't missed all of it -- trouble signing in)
Thanks.
Just to let you know I'm here.
Can't watch the video and blog at the same time. (old PC)
New to sailing...newer to windsurfing.
Any "education" will be much appreciated.
...Back to the races (if I haven't missed all of it -- trouble signing in)
Thanks.
Thank you for your descriptions on the Women's Windsurfer race. It was exciting to watch, which was a first for me. Those women are tough, with such stamina. Congratulations to China, Italy, and Great Britan for their medal winning efforts.
Is there going to be more sailing?
The data feed thing is really worthless.
The data feed is a work in progress. It crashed twice right after the start but it is way better than nothing which was what we had before.
Who is in contention in RSX Men?
thanks for the help, hoping Shahar Zubari can get Israeli's first medal of the games!
Why such a long wait to start racing?
hi! thanks for commentary. it's the middle of the night here in dc, but i can't miss israel's first chance for a medal in the olympics -- how well do you think the top men will do in the light conditions?
Hey -- I'm a Brit (but not a sailor) in Austin, TX. Enjoying the live coverage and your commentary, thanks, and, of course the British success at this regatta.
Oh, and here's a quote from Bryony Shaw on winning the bronze ('nicked' from the BBC Live thread):
0658: "I am just so happy. It was such a hard race and I had such a hard week. It's the best thing in the world.
"I love my mum and dad so much, they are so supportive. And my boyfriend Greg. My coach Tom is such a legend. I am so ****ing (unacceptable word for morning television) happy.
"I just wanted to sail as fast as I could. Well done to the Chinese and Italian girls, they have raced so well this week. I am so happy to be among the medals. It's unreal, I am just so happy."
A happy Bryony Shaw, GB windsurfing bronze medallist
Lisa...
Let's Go Israel!!!. Come on Shahar!!!!
What is the hold up? wasn't it suppose to start an hour and a half ago?
I got into the habit of this nbc online feed because i dont have to hear the constant barrage of human interest stories and inane america-centric pablum commentary - but here and, for example in the team archery competition - the online commentary has been insightful and very well done - and imparts a sense of a real appreciation and respect of the sport. Still - my favorite part is that the feed is raw - just the sound of the people and the waves - i LOVE that. Great job on all the sailing so far and thanks.
I hope no chinese is in contention..........that might take forever!
jacob and michael l - go israel! glad to know i have some fellow mots watchin this late night style!
Does port and starboard apply to wind surfing?
So The wind was light somewhere in the 8knots range. This helps Shahar. He does better in low wind conditions. We can only hope he does his best!!!
Come on Nick Dempsey! (Someone's got to stand up for the Brit on this thread!)
Just watching the late night NBC coverage of the track and field events. Why can't American broadcasters catch up with the rest of the world and start using metric distances for the field events (the coverage of which has been absolutely awful, by the way)?
I mean, it's not as though most viewers know what distance a good throw or jump is anyway.
Anyway, grip mode off.
Come on Nick!
shahar looking good -- and chan from hk (my hometown) also is doing well - cool! chan may not be a medal hope, but perhaps we'll have a hk - israel one-two :)
!!!!!!!!!! you said dempsey got bronze but it was zubari yea!!!!!!!!
gal won bronze in atlanta i thought!!! that was their first medal!
YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHAHAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gal won Gold in Athen's it was Israel's first gold medal ever.
ELEH ELEH YISRAEL!!!!
OUR FIRST MEDAL OF THE GAMES!!!!
COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(and way to go for Hong Kong coming first in the medal race! chan will be BACK in london!)
am yisrael chai!!! i never was so into sailing until i watched every race with an israeli or 2 in it!! woohoo!!
thanks platt and thank gary too! i learned a lot!
Fridman won a bronze medal in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics. (that is from wikipedia :) !)
Thanks, again for your commentary. This style of racing brings to mind the lyrics of The Little River Band's hit, "Cool Change."
"It's kind of a special feeling,
When you're out on the sea alone,
Sailing on the cool and bright clear waters."
Congratulations to New Zealand, France, and Israel.
When is the medal ceremony?
Well done on the commentary tonight. I don't know if you caught this during the Men's race, but just before the finish; Brazil caught a big puff of wind and blew past the Great Britain boat and into 6th for the race. Not knowing how the tiebreakers work (because ISR and GBR would've tied), did that cost Dempsey the Bronze?
Windsurfers follow the same racing rules as sailing with a few small changes that are in an appendix to the Racing Rules of Sailing.
Notable exceptions are that you can hit marks although as we saw tonight with FRA hit the weather mark you can catch your fin and fall. That may have cos him the Gold although NZL was pretty far ahead at that time. FRA looks like he should have covered on the windward leg but I will leave that analysis to those on the course.
GBR was big loser in that RS:X mens final race.
Still Percy can bring us home another GOLD in the Star tomorrow.
dude...i just switched to formula after 10 years using slalom/freeride...AWESOME..BESTEST of them ALL...!?
WAw very nice .i like this .
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