Reading articles about Defi Wind in France with participation this year of 1,000 windsurfers, I ask myself why not Miami? With renovated Windsurfers Beach due to re-open fully somewhere in the end of Aug - beg. Sept, we have a perfect venue to host an event with 100+ participants that could generate much needed publicity to our sport. For the last few years Alex 'Movie Star' organized many event around Miami but participation is under 40-50 and participants are mainly dedicated racers that are minority in the sport.
My question is:
What would it take for the regular Joe/Jane windsurfer to say "This is the coolest event ever and no way I'm missing it, I'm in!"
Here are some topics with my opinions in ():
1. Fee? Free,$25,$50,$75,$100 ($20- register in advance, or $30 on the day of the event, free for kids under 16)
2. Duration: half a day, full day, 2-3 days? (1 day)
3. Scheduling?
(schedule in advance with few weekends as an option, stand by for good forecast, announce race via email 2-3 days prior to the event)
4. Wind minimum: 10,12,15 kn? (12 kn)
5. Prizes?(first man, first woman and maybe finisher 64th gets brand new sail?, prizes maybe coupons to windsurfing shops with value >$100,
maybe title King/Queen of the beach?)
6. T-shorts? (maybe)
7. Food, drinks, party? (all of the above)
8. Course? (Simple course with start/finish from the beach and 1 buoy to jibe/tack on the reach)
Soliciting your ideas, suggestions, etc...
Karma works in mysterious ways, typicaly windsurfers are known to be honest, gracious, respectable people. Yesterday afternoon I received a text from Ahmed, "Congratulations.... Lost but not forgotten" I was like "Do you know something I dont?", I received another text "Falcon board for u $40". I was like woah, I can believe this is true. I was like a kid waiting to go to ToyRus after dad promised him a toy. Little to be hold it was true, I headed to the bay to pick up the board. Our fellow windsufer "Pedro" was kind enough to buy the board from an unamed mariner individual and brought the board to the bay. The board had a small crack near the nose of the board, the brass nut that holds the mast foot to the board had split in two pieces in the mast track. I took a picture of the culprit that could have taken my life. I owe it to the gentlemen that recoverd the board and the great winsurfer friends. Many thanks to everyone!
