Predictwind.com

[Windydoug]

The guys on Windsurfcanada.com are talking about this one.
Another alternative to Iwind/kite.
Free membership until January. I signed up. Who knows...it may prove fruitful....and it is better than the guys on RNews.

Check it out.

predictwind.com

We'll see how it compares to whats out there.
WD

UPDATE:
Not visually stimulating enough for me.....and it appears that it has a local 1km forecast, when signing up but apparently not...or I am doing something wrong.
Will probably just continue to have hopes raised by Iwind or go back to what Rick describes as the only method that works...looking out the window.

[windkid]

Doug,

I checked it out and it looks interesting. Let's see if it matches iwindsurf and if it dooesn't which won works best. Both look like Thursday might be a Hamburg day....

WK

[windkid]

Nice spelling windy and it's not even beer o'clock!

[mikeyz]

I am trying out this predict wind thing right now and it isn't working too well. Hmm maybe I too am making some mistake.

One thing about iwindsurf that you can't beat is that it gives information about the sailing sites close to the wind gauge. This is becoming very important for me because I will probably be graduating before next spring and will therefore be leaving the area. I am pretty sad about this cause you guys have been really friendly and cool. Anyways, I need to move someplace where I will get a good job and get some good wind. And if it were close (half days drive) to my parents home that would be nice too. Has anyone sailed at Kalmus Beach on Cape Cod? Iwindsurf claims it 'is the windiest known location from Georgia on up threw Toronto Canada.' I sort of doubt that (hellllooooOOoo OBX.)

God this is terrifying. I am able to pay all my bills living off my graduate stipend (< $20,000/yr). I like eating ramen, sleeping on an air mattress, and skipping school two days in a row to go windsurfing. Friday morning at 1030am some important scientist from ITT VIS is going to call me and ask about my career goals and a job. I don't want career goals! I just want to go windsurfing, hangout with my friends, eat ramen, and do cool science during my free time (nowind-weekdays 10am - 6pm). I can't lie to this guy. What the heck am I supposed to tell him?!? Iwindsurf has a job posting section and I read that I could teach windsurfing at a resort in Hawaii or Aruba. I would probably get to hangout with bikini clad spring breakers all day and get paid my comfortable $20,000/yr. I turn 26 in two weeks which means I am on my way to 30! I can't relax right now I need to go windsurfing. When and where are we getting wind ... Predictwind.com is still not loading the forcast map. What is iwindsurf doing ... if it is going off on friday at 1030am I am going to be very upset. Ok thursday at Hamburg is a possibility. Nothing is going on at Kalmus ...

- mike

[windkid]

Mikeyz,

Unfortunately the modern world is a bad fit for a lot of us, including myself. You trade your soul for the security of the herd. It sucks, ..bad. Even more these days. Windsurfing seems to engage us at a deeper more fundamental level than the tedium inherent in the contemporary workplace. I believe it's called freedom. It's at the same time demanding, humbling and yet liberating to a degree not communicable to outsiders. Real jobs have all the glamour of working in the fields which is fine unless you have a hunter's spirit....aka attention deficit disorder! Ha F-U....anyhow to paraphrase Bob Dylan "If you're not busy getting born, you're busy dieing." For some reason windsurfing makes me feel like I'm being born.


wd

[mikeyz]

I agree. Windsurfing, kite boarding, kayaking, mountain biking, etc; these sports allow us to feel freedom in its purest form and they allow us to connect with our long lost friend - momma nature. It is hard to describe the joy we get from our sports because it is so different from everyday life. Basically, we all do it because it feels great, and it feels great because we are free do what we want. I have been asked why I loved this sport so much, and I responded, "because it is so relaxing". People think that is crazy. But it IS relaxing! You never think about anything but windsurfing when you are on the water. All your worries about your graduate degree or whatever it is you worry about are gone and you can just relax and do what you want.

Well Guys, I think I have plan. I am going to try and find 'real person' jobs on Maui (there are some good jobs there for imaging science people like me), Portland (not too many good jobs, but maybe I'll get lucky), and Boston (pretty much the best jobs i'll ever find and close to home + cape cod). In addition to this I am going to try and find a job teaching basic windsurfing someplace. I don't think it would hurt me career-wise to take a 6-12 month break and teach windsurfing someplace nice. Any suggestions? We'll see what employers have to say.

[waterauthorityrick]

Z,

I have a suggestion for teaching windsurfing, what about in Jonesy back yard?

Sorry Ken I couldn't resist, truly you are a trooper I know what struggles I had in my days on Lake Ontario and considering the age bracket we are both in and seeing you out there on E-Bay trying it with everyone else congratulations go out to you for sure. I still haven't tried that board of yours and the season is almost over.

W-Kid,

I like your deep thoughts on life and lay down jibes, yes windsurfing is unexplainable to other non sailors. I'll tell you what is the worst; having finished a great day on the water and going off to a gathering with no other windsurfers in sight to talk or share with. Years ago my wife hit the nail on the head when she asked; why is it on the day prior to windsurfing you call all your friends and talk about the upcoming wind. you then windsurf with your friends. Get home from windsurfing, then call your friends about the windsurfing. My only answer was Windsurfing!


H2O Rick

[Mike Phelps]

To my good friend Rick, I hope to try the new board out before the season is over, too! So far I know it works well as a life raft.

M.P.

[Windydoug]

All of the discussion so far is right ont he head, but so far the most enjoyable bit to me has been Bill hitting the nail right on the head, or peeling the cap off a cold one......."hunters spirit a.k.a. A.D.D.". THIS IS ME!

I took meds for it as a kid, because my square peg didn't fit into the circle hole. I look at it like "I don't want to go into the hole....I want to hang around out here and see whats going on". So much to see, feel, and do. I have to explore, then share what I find, and change the world. I've got to live!

My aspirations aren't to buy a bigger car, and make more money, and have a house with too many rooms, and no firepalce (can you believe they build houses without a woodburning fireplace!?) and a lawn that is mowed once a week by somebody I pay to do it 'cuase I'm stuck in the office, and judge my success by how often I get out on a golf course and swing the club around my ever increasing waist line. My body and mind needs to be stimulated......everybodies body does! No wonder we have so many people who are unhappy or depressed....they have had the adventurer (hunter) spirit snuffed out and don't know how to get back in touch with it. No balance...but they don't even know that they are supposed to have balance.
I don't want to scream like a mad man when I'm on the water flying around with all you guys, I HAVE to scream out because my body and mind are so happy. But you all know this.

Sorry, got off topic, or overly passionate.
I'm stuck at work today...which isn't that bad...I teach kids P.E. which is pretty much a way for me to teach them to be just like us. I"ll be at Long Pond later if the wind holds.
Keep the faith,
Windydoug