Plunked down on our quiet North Beach spot, we eyed the couple unload their paddle boards, paddles and other items. They slowly dragged them down to the water’s edge. Seemed to take them forever. The guy had no wetsuit, the woman just wearing the surfing leggings. Fifty degree water and moderate waves. They either had good skills for the conditions, or a bit foolish. As we continued to casually watch, it became the latter. Two steps into the surf, they turned around and began hauling everything back up to their van. Forty minutes of loading and unloading. Not the worst way to spend beach time. But a curious waste of effort.
Later, we shifted over to the Grand Haven State Park. A dozen kitesurfers providing us with free entertainment. Then came a lone windsurfer. The first we have seen on the water. Around here, sailboarding seems to be a lost art. Kitesurfing is fun, easy to learn, surprisingly easy on the body. Athleticism is not a strong requirement. The biggest negative being it is a lot more dangerous than windsurfing.
Windsurfers need more athletic skill, and developed sailboarding technic. A full body workout and a much steeper learning curve. Hope we see some more of them this summer.
