I fell in love with the North-East Trade Winds in 1991. It was when I discovered the beauty of high winds as a windsurfer.
Mads, Per Christian and I are driving an Opel Corsa jalopy heading North on Gran Canaria on afternoon in August in 1991.
We take off the high way to the left where the sign reads “Pozo Izquierdo” and drive towards the small town. As we pass through the tomato plantations on both sides, our eyes are fixed on the hammering high winds. The wind mills spin like wheels of fortune. The sea is foaming on this pebble beach that in a few years will receive the same attention for windsurfers as Ho’okipa did in the 1980s.
A windsurfer is leaving the building
In a high school class room in the capital of Norway hundreds of drawings of windsurfers jumping or doing bottom turns were left behind. They were drawn in Maths, Geography and History classes while I was either not watching the trees outside blowing in the wind or made sure to get the key content of the class to get my grades. Or sleeping after night shifts to save money to get to the right place. A place with lots of wind.
Mads and Per Christian were 17 and I had just got my driving license and was the driver. On the roof of the car we had our wave boards and a couple of wave sails, 3.7, 4.2 and 4.7. We were students at Colegio Noruego in Arguineguin.
Our food packs were made of ham and cheese sandwiches and an all too sweet Spanish yoghurt. After school we threw ourselves into the car and headed towards Playa Aguila to get our equipment. Windsurfer family Dunkerbeck had a school there and we rented a storage place.
From Playa Aguila we used to look out in the ocean to see if the trade wind was out there. It hits the circular island of Gran Canaria on the North Eastern side almost every day between March and September leaving the Southern tourist parts calm (and dull). Sometimes it reaches Playa Aguila but moves out in the ocean by sun set.
Windsurfer in Oslo works, but only to a certain degree
If you live in Kenya, your chances to become a good skier are small. It’s a bit like if you want to be a good windsurfer living in Oslo, Norway. You may become a decent windsurfer in breeze conditions but a real good windsurfer? Nope.
Les også: Back in the day
I remember one week in September. One of my goals in Gran Canaria was to learn forward loop. Maybe I am a slow learner, but I like to do things step by step. On Monday I decided that by the end of the week I should make it. On Thursday I managed to hold on to the boom and got that first spin. This is the key mental barrier when you learn forward loop. And on Friday I made it with my feet in the straps. Huge moment. A joyful scream.
Actually similar to the feeling two days before I write this post, 29 years later in Hvaler, South of Norway.
High winds in Hvaler
In 1991 forward loop, or killer loop as it was called back then was a thing for windsurfers. Today, this is nothing compared to what the young guys are doing. Tricks I have no clue how to do or what they are called. I still enjoy doing it and it makes me feel good. In addition, it is only real trick I know how to do.
I take a look at Windfinder and see yellow and orange first weekend of July.
My wife, our three children and I leave Oslo one Sunday afternoon. It is mid July. The car is full of vacation stuff. The windsurfing equipment is already stored in the summer cabin at Hvaler. The forecast says high winds 35-40 knots. If there is one benefit for a windsurfer in Norway, it is the light. It doesn’t get dark before 11 pm. I get to the beach at 8. The wind is howling and the trees bend all the way down. Looks good but I am never certain until I feel the heavy gusts in my 4.1 square meter sail.
Spoiled windsurfer
In Pozo we used to take a break or leave if the wind dropped to 35 knots. 4.7 was too big, we gathered. It is true. 4.1 is more fun unless you have good waves. As a matter of fact 3.7 would have been better today. Doesn’t matter. 3-4 meter waves and over power 4.1 reminds me of Pozo this July evening that resembles the North-East Trade Wind in Gran Canaria.
It’s Monday July 6th. The wind has been howling the whole day. The wind gusts make the windows at the summer cabin bend. In 1994 I spent 6 weeks with some friends training in Pozo. High winds day and night. It is actually possible for windsurfers to get tired of wind. But one night with strong wind in Hvaler is just medicine for the soul.
Eight o’clock, beautiful sun and excellent wind. Around 18 meters per second from South East. I think about security. But then the guy on my shoulder says: “Hey, coward! Get out there!” I get out on the water, on the ocean. The sail fits perfect in the strong wind. My body memory overcomes the doubts and my thoughts and the forwards loops are smooth. Can’t remember last time I did that with a 4 square meter.
This day more or less made my windsurfing summer.
09/07/2020
