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July 13, 2008
I planed out of a jibe yesterday. Not kinda,almost or a gimme,but officialy. As Andy said,the first jibe you will probably plane out of will be a duck jibe,and it was. My jibing career has been like painting a bridge. It takes forever & by the time I almost have the last part down it's time to start at the beginning again. Last fall at camp as I was coming in for another jibe attempt,Andy yells duck the sail,& I did. Beginners luck. It's been up & down ever since,but it really got reinforced at camp in Bonaire. Whatever I learn there really seems to stick with me.I've gotten so many tips from all the ABK instructors that have really helped in all aspects of my windsurfing & usually it's something small that I never would have gotten on my own,but it changes everything in a big way. Imagine if you decided to take up golf & said,I think I'll have Tiger Woods tesch me.How could you not improve. Well ABK is the best windsurfing deal that I've found so far. I sail fairly often in a few different areas and I see windsurfers who are getting better and thoes who are just doing the same thing year after year, you figure it out.
Submitted by:michael jamieson | Email: | Location:sloatsburg, nY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
I planed out of a jibe yesterday. Not kinda,almost or a gimme,but officialy. As Andy said,the first jibe you will probably plane out of will be a duck jibe,and it was. My jibing career has been like painting a bridge. It takes forever & by the time I almost have the last part down it's time to start at the beginning again. Last fall at camp as I was coming in for another jibe attempt,Andy yells duck the sail,& I did. Beginners luck. It's been up & down ever since,but it really got reinforced at camp in Bonaire. Whatever I learn there really seems to stick with me.I've gotten so many tips from all the ABK instructors that have really helped in all aspects of my windsurfing & usually it's something small that I never would have gotten on my own,but it changes everything in a big way. Imagine if you decided to take up golf & said,I think I'll have Tiger Woods tesch me.How could you not improve. Well ABK is the best windsurfing deal that I've found so far. I sail fairly often in a few different areas and I see windsurfers who are getting better and thoes who are just doing the same thing year after year, you figure it out.
Submitted by:michael jamieson | Email: | Location:sloatsburg, nY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
July 4, 2008
What a great clinic! This was my first ABK experience, and I did not know what to expect. The instructors, led by Andy were excellent! I was put into a group of students with similar experience and goals as myself. Christopher (You can call me Christopher...) was our instructor. He did an incredible job, was very patient and explained in a very understandable step by step method. I particularly enjoyed the technical explanations of how wind and water forces work on a windsurfing board and rig. Andy's play by play video review in the evenings was also very helpful and humorous. I wanted to water start and I achieved that goal during the weekend. I'll be back for more! The food was great too! Thanks to Andy, Christopher and the hardworking ABK crew. You all do an amazing job.
Submitted by:Jim Freed | Email: | Location:Sebastopol, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
What a great clinic! This was my first ABK experience, and I did not know what to expect. The instructors, led by Andy were excellent! I was put into a group of students with similar experience and goals as myself. Christopher (You can call me Christopher...) was our instructor. He did an incredible job, was very patient and explained in a very understandable step by step method. I particularly enjoyed the technical explanations of how wind and water forces work on a windsurfing board and rig. Andy's play by play video review in the evenings was also very helpful and humorous. I wanted to water start and I achieved that goal during the weekend. I'll be back for more! The food was great too! Thanks to Andy, Christopher and the hardworking ABK crew. You all do an amazing job.
Submitted by:Jim Freed | Email: | Location:Sebastopol, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
June 24, 2008
wow, I gotta say... first, I have read again "about ABK". I gotta tell you - everything is SO perfectly accurate. They have not exaggerated one bit - these guys are damn honest and professional. Second, I COMPLETELY agree with every good word that previous attendees have written. Precisely what I felt after I took the camp. Third, if you are debating whether to spend the $499 or not, listen to me. This will be THE BEST $$ you will have spent in your windsurfing career. Take the word from a cheap guy, who drove his old ’88 Corolla to Rio Vista CA with his crappy board and old sails (just to have the opportunity to borrow some state-of-the-art stuff from ABK… oops, don’t give future customers any ideas). I’m ashamed to admit, but I’m a sailor of 20 years, and the things I’ve learned in just 3 days I haven’t done in years. I’ve learned that low wind days are just as good for sailing, because there’s so much to learn, that is fun by itself, but will also help you in the blasts. Andy is the coolest guy, smart, funny and a heck of a sailor and the best teacher. The other instructors are fantastic too – Mathew, Brandon, Chris. And what also impressed me was how seriously Andy treated each move captured on tape, during the video analysis: it didn’t matter to him if it was Vicky, up hauling on the long board for the first time, or Bob doing a 360 duck jibe or whatever this spectacular trick was; everybody got the same amount of attention, respect and comments for improvement. Everything was done in such a friendly setting, without the ego games and some show-off known to some sailors from elsewhere. Food was awesome, camping was fun. The jokes, night at the local bar, and new friends I made – were just a bonus. Sign up for a camp as soon as you can, and prepare for the best weekend in years!
Submitted by:avner efendowicz | Email: | Location:sunnyvale, california
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
wow, I gotta say... first, I have read again "about ABK". I gotta tell you - everything is SO perfectly accurate. They have not exaggerated one bit - these guys are damn honest and professional. Second, I COMPLETELY agree with every good word that previous attendees have written. Precisely what I felt after I took the camp. Third, if you are debating whether to spend the $499 or not, listen to me. This will be THE BEST $$ you will have spent in your windsurfing career. Take the word from a cheap guy, who drove his old ’88 Corolla to Rio Vista CA with his crappy board and old sails (just to have the opportunity to borrow some state-of-the-art stuff from ABK… oops, don’t give future customers any ideas). I’m ashamed to admit, but I’m a sailor of 20 years, and the things I’ve learned in just 3 days I haven’t done in years. I’ve learned that low wind days are just as good for sailing, because there’s so much to learn, that is fun by itself, but will also help you in the blasts. Andy is the coolest guy, smart, funny and a heck of a sailor and the best teacher. The other instructors are fantastic too – Mathew, Brandon, Chris. And what also impressed me was how seriously Andy treated each move captured on tape, during the video analysis: it didn’t matter to him if it was Vicky, up hauling on the long board for the first time, or Bob doing a 360 duck jibe or whatever this spectacular trick was; everybody got the same amount of attention, respect and comments for improvement. Everything was done in such a friendly setting, without the ego games and some show-off known to some sailors from elsewhere. Food was awesome, camping was fun. The jokes, night at the local bar, and new friends I made – were just a bonus. Sign up for a camp as soon as you can, and prepare for the best weekend in years!
Submitted by:avner efendowicz | Email: | Location:sunnyvale, california
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
May 20, 2008
Awesome, splendid, inspiring, and great winds describe the ABK experience at Barton's Waves, NC 2-4 May 2008. The water depth at Hatteras Island Windsurfing is perfect for this ABK clinic. Andy was full on with assistants Matt (justin) Case and Tom L. As a yacht club windsurfing instructor and windsurfing wannabee, I have gotten significantly better and appreciate the individual attention, accurate demos, and awesome progressions that I receive in the many zones of windsurfing performance from the experts. Putting ABK in front of 15 days straight of Hatteras sailing was wise for me. I've done two ABK's and will do more this Fall. Having the right gear is one thing but being a better "driver" of it is everything. Watching the instructors like Andy make other sailor's boards and rigs come alive is amazing....it's all about the driver! ABK is the fastest way to improve your windsurfing. Go Sail Chi! Thanks Andy, you the man! Nedito (the 62 year old wannabee!)
Submitted by:Ned Crossley | Email: | Location:Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
Awesome, splendid, inspiring, and great winds describe the ABK experience at Barton's Waves, NC 2-4 May 2008. The water depth at Hatteras Island Windsurfing is perfect for this ABK clinic. Andy was full on with assistants Matt (justin) Case and Tom L. As a yacht club windsurfing instructor and windsurfing wannabee, I have gotten significantly better and appreciate the individual attention, accurate demos, and awesome progressions that I receive in the many zones of windsurfing performance from the experts. Putting ABK in front of 15 days straight of Hatteras sailing was wise for me. I've done two ABK's and will do more this Fall. Having the right gear is one thing but being a better "driver" of it is everything. Watching the instructors like Andy make other sailor's boards and rigs come alive is amazing....it's all about the driver! ABK is the fastest way to improve your windsurfing. Go Sail Chi! Thanks Andy, you the man! Nedito (the 62 year old wannabee!)
Submitted by:Ned Crossley | Email: | Location:Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
May 11, 2008
Huge thanks to Andy Brant, Matt Case, and Tom for an awesome weekend of sailing on Cape Hatteras! For anyone who has not yet taken an ABK clinic, stop being content making one out of every 30-300 attempts of whatever you’re trying to do (water start through back loop). Save yourself a few years and let these guys show you how to do the move right in one weekend! Like most windsurfers, I have spent the past year or two getting tips here and there as my friends sail by me. That’s nice and all but the typical advice of “go like this…” or “just go into it faster” usually lead to me improving my stellar dismount technique, making a bigger splash, or having a longer swim to my stuff that flew away mid jibe. The guys at ABK are not only amazing sailors; they actually know how to teach! First, they will literally break down any move step by step without ever saying “just move a bit like this” or “move your foot more that way.” I actually think they’re not even aloud to use the words “this, that, or there” and a few other nondescript terms. Then, they stand waist deep in the water for several hours (now that’s commitment to teaching) while you sail by them trying whatever move you’re working on. They help with the fine tweaking and keep you stoked with a hoot or holler when you finally nail a move. I went into the clinic wanting to learn how to jibe. In addition to the jibe, I also picked up lots of other skills I didn’t even realize I was lacking. I learned how to stay up wind while going fast (very important when you are trying a jibe on every tack), get up onto a plane earlier when you are just a bit underpowered, how to sail clew first, and how to appreciate light wind sailing. Yes Andy, I now admit that light wind sailing is really important to learning new skills! One of the coolest things was that everyone at the clinic was super psyched to be out on the water all day and learning new things. While I was working on pretty basic stuff, there were other people learning duck jibes, sailing fin first, helitacks, and other freestyle moves (something to look forward to next year). There was even a never-ever guy who was literally in the foot straps, harness, and fully planning a 140liter board on day two! Rad! Can’t wait to see you on Cape Hatteras in the fall! Thanks again! Anne
Submitted by:Anne Kennedy | Email: | Location:Avon, NC
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
Huge thanks to Andy Brant, Matt Case, and Tom for an awesome weekend of sailing on Cape Hatteras! For anyone who has not yet taken an ABK clinic, stop being content making one out of every 30-300 attempts of whatever you’re trying to do (water start through back loop). Save yourself a few years and let these guys show you how to do the move right in one weekend! Like most windsurfers, I have spent the past year or two getting tips here and there as my friends sail by me. That’s nice and all but the typical advice of “go like this…” or “just go into it faster” usually lead to me improving my stellar dismount technique, making a bigger splash, or having a longer swim to my stuff that flew away mid jibe. The guys at ABK are not only amazing sailors; they actually know how to teach! First, they will literally break down any move step by step without ever saying “just move a bit like this” or “move your foot more that way.” I actually think they’re not even aloud to use the words “this, that, or there” and a few other nondescript terms. Then, they stand waist deep in the water for several hours (now that’s commitment to teaching) while you sail by them trying whatever move you’re working on. They help with the fine tweaking and keep you stoked with a hoot or holler when you finally nail a move. I went into the clinic wanting to learn how to jibe. In addition to the jibe, I also picked up lots of other skills I didn’t even realize I was lacking. I learned how to stay up wind while going fast (very important when you are trying a jibe on every tack), get up onto a plane earlier when you are just a bit underpowered, how to sail clew first, and how to appreciate light wind sailing. Yes Andy, I now admit that light wind sailing is really important to learning new skills! One of the coolest things was that everyone at the clinic was super psyched to be out on the water all day and learning new things. While I was working on pretty basic stuff, there were other people learning duck jibes, sailing fin first, helitacks, and other freestyle moves (something to look forward to next year). There was even a never-ever guy who was literally in the foot straps, harness, and fully planning a 140liter board on day two! Rad! Can’t wait to see you on Cape Hatteras in the fall! Thanks again! Anne
Submitted by:Anne Kennedy | Email: | Location:Avon, NC
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
May 6, 2008
Michelle and I had a great camp this weekend. I got my first water start and learned how to be more comfortable handling the sail in high wind. One thing I missed during this camp was having the students use the simulators during the lectures. I think it is helpful to practice the steps of a maneuver on land before going onto the water. Michelle and I plan to take another camp this Fall. Thanks Andy, Tom and Matt!
Submitted by:Scott McMahon | Email: | Location:Alexandria, VA
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
Michelle and I had a great camp this weekend. I got my first water start and learned how to be more comfortable handling the sail in high wind. One thing I missed during this camp was having the students use the simulators during the lectures. I think it is helpful to practice the steps of a maneuver on land before going onto the water. Michelle and I plan to take another camp this Fall. Thanks Andy, Tom and Matt!
Submitted by:Scott McMahon | Email: | Location:Alexandria, VA
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
March 19, 2008
Just got back from my first ABK camp in Bonaire. I very much enjoyed 5 days of the best windsurf instruction I've ever had. Low wind on the first day meant practicing leeward sailing and related tricks, which really improved my planing tack when the wind picked up. Even though I expected a lot after reading the comments here, I was amazed by the quality of the instruction. On the water, each instructor would always focus on just one most important thing to improve at any time. That's easy to fix, then on to the next one - and after a few little corrections, the jibe was suddenly a lot faster (despite doing everything slower- Andy's tip #2), and a lot more fun! I'm really looking forward to my next ABK camp. Thanks Andy!
Submitted by:Peter Richterich | Email: | Location:Dedham, MA
Camp attended:Bonaire
Just got back from my first ABK camp in Bonaire. I very much enjoyed 5 days of the best windsurf instruction I've ever had. Low wind on the first day meant practicing leeward sailing and related tricks, which really improved my planing tack when the wind picked up. Even though I expected a lot after reading the comments here, I was amazed by the quality of the instruction. On the water, each instructor would always focus on just one most important thing to improve at any time. That's easy to fix, then on to the next one - and after a few little corrections, the jibe was suddenly a lot faster (despite doing everything slower- Andy's tip #2), and a lot more fun! I'm really looking forward to my next ABK camp. Thanks Andy!
Submitted by:Peter Richterich | Email: | Location:Dedham, MA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 4, 2008
For my wife Emily and me, escaping damp grey Brussels for the wonderfully warm clear blue sea and sky of Aruba was a great decision, but equally so was the decision to enrol in the ABK camp. As a complete novice having never previously set foot on a sailboard, I was a little wary of how incompetent I may appear, but these fears soon evaporated with Andy and Ben’s ability for making people feel at ease, developing a fun atmosphere from the start. Their ability, experience, technical knowledge and passion for windsurfing are apparent from the first lecture to the last video session. But one other quality also made the ABK experience a memorable one. These guys are not just great windsurfers but great teachers too. The clear concise lectures were transported to the water with lots of time and patient advice to put the theories into practice. I’m still amazed at how Andy can shout out instructions to someone doing a complicated manoeuvre while rescuing a novice (me) struggling with a water start and yet still also manage to watch and encourage Emily to “hook in - head back”!! The end of day video was always insightful and instructive and at the same time humorous. We came back to Europe armed with our new mantra … “it’s a great day for sailing, because every day is a great day for sailing”. A massive thanks to Andy and Ben for a great experience, we will certainly be back for more.
Submitted by:Steve Harwit-Whewell | Email: | Location:Brussels,
Camp attended:Aruba
For my wife Emily and me, escaping damp grey Brussels for the wonderfully warm clear blue sea and sky of Aruba was a great decision, but equally so was the decision to enrol in the ABK camp. As a complete novice having never previously set foot on a sailboard, I was a little wary of how incompetent I may appear, but these fears soon evaporated with Andy and Ben’s ability for making people feel at ease, developing a fun atmosphere from the start. Their ability, experience, technical knowledge and passion for windsurfing are apparent from the first lecture to the last video session. But one other quality also made the ABK experience a memorable one. These guys are not just great windsurfers but great teachers too. The clear concise lectures were transported to the water with lots of time and patient advice to put the theories into practice. I’m still amazed at how Andy can shout out instructions to someone doing a complicated manoeuvre while rescuing a novice (me) struggling with a water start and yet still also manage to watch and encourage Emily to “hook in - head back”!! The end of day video was always insightful and instructive and at the same time humorous. We came back to Europe armed with our new mantra … “it’s a great day for sailing, because every day is a great day for sailing”. A massive thanks to Andy and Ben for a great experience, we will certainly be back for more.
Submitted by:Steve Harwit-Whewell | Email: | Location:Brussels,
Camp attended:Aruba
February 11, 2008
Once again I'm so glad to have attended an ABK clinic. Thanks to Andy, Ben, and Matt I achieved TWO breakthroughs. One: the wind was blowing well over 20 knots, I was tired, and my "fear gene" was overactive. On my accustomed 138L board I kept either catapulting or uncontrolledly turning upwind. At lunch Andy commented that my trouble was all mental and that what I needed was to get a smaller board (like I've never been able to sail) and just practice planing, never minding about turning. He said to just hang down on the boom until well up on a plane. He picked out a 105L board for me. So after lunch I tried this. I mistakenly somehow got a very similar-looking 96L board. It didn't work; every time I put my feet on the board it just turned 90 degrees into the wind. Then Andy came over and said, "You know how to windsurf. Stop looking at the board. Just feel the sail and look where you're going". I did so, and took off like a rocket, perfectly under control, all the way across the pale blue water. That afternoon I had a ball on a far smaller board than I'd ever been on, because of Andy's caring and brilliant teaching. Two: the next day (my last day on Bonaire), I tried the 96L board again but had trouble because of fatigue and the "fear gene" again. So I switched back to the 138L board I'm very comfortable on and worked on planing jibes under Matt's eagle eye. I typically came into the jibes very fast, carved nicely, and almost always screwed up one thing or another on the foot switch. Matt was always able to pinpoint exactly what I needed to do to make it perfect. To shorten a long story, after a restful lunch break, I had a great afternoon blasting along on the 138L board with a 5.5m^2 sail, getting ever closer to the elusive just-right jibe. About 5:15, with just the die-hards still on the water, I planed all the way around the jibe, accelerated clew-first, and flipped the sail just fine and kept going. I blew the next few jibes but didn't care. It was the perfect end to a great Bonaire vacation.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Howard, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
Once again I'm so glad to have attended an ABK clinic. Thanks to Andy, Ben, and Matt I achieved TWO breakthroughs. One: the wind was blowing well over 20 knots, I was tired, and my "fear gene" was overactive. On my accustomed 138L board I kept either catapulting or uncontrolledly turning upwind. At lunch Andy commented that my trouble was all mental and that what I needed was to get a smaller board (like I've never been able to sail) and just practice planing, never minding about turning. He said to just hang down on the boom until well up on a plane. He picked out a 105L board for me. So after lunch I tried this. I mistakenly somehow got a very similar-looking 96L board. It didn't work; every time I put my feet on the board it just turned 90 degrees into the wind. Then Andy came over and said, "You know how to windsurf. Stop looking at the board. Just feel the sail and look where you're going". I did so, and took off like a rocket, perfectly under control, all the way across the pale blue water. That afternoon I had a ball on a far smaller board than I'd ever been on, because of Andy's caring and brilliant teaching. Two: the next day (my last day on Bonaire), I tried the 96L board again but had trouble because of fatigue and the "fear gene" again. So I switched back to the 138L board I'm very comfortable on and worked on planing jibes under Matt's eagle eye. I typically came into the jibes very fast, carved nicely, and almost always screwed up one thing or another on the foot switch. Matt was always able to pinpoint exactly what I needed to do to make it perfect. To shorten a long story, after a restful lunch break, I had a great afternoon blasting along on the 138L board with a 5.5m^2 sail, getting ever closer to the elusive just-right jibe. About 5:15, with just the die-hards still on the water, I planed all the way around the jibe, accelerated clew-first, and flipped the sail just fine and kept going. I blew the next few jibes but didn't care. It was the perfect end to a great Bonaire vacation.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Howard, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
February 6, 2008
Hey Andy, Ben and Christopher. How's it goin' eh? Thanks for a great week, even though the wind sucked. Jas and I had a great time learning the light wind freestyle moves and the lectures were very informative...hopefully the winter won't last too long and we'll be back on the water soon practicing all the stuff we learned. It was great to see Jasmine planing in high wind in that #7 position...like a pro! Thanks also to Serafina for organizing the suppers, and great to get to know all you characters in Bonaire Jan 28-Feb 1 !! Maybe we'll see you in Hatteras in the spring!
Submitted by:Steve and Jasmine | Email: | Location:Montreal, Quebec
Camp attended:Bonaire
Hey Andy, Ben and Christopher. How's it goin' eh? Thanks for a great week, even though the wind sucked. Jas and I had a great time learning the light wind freestyle moves and the lectures were very informative...hopefully the winter won't last too long and we'll be back on the water soon practicing all the stuff we learned. It was great to see Jasmine planing in high wind in that #7 position...like a pro! Thanks also to Serafina for organizing the suppers, and great to get to know all you characters in Bonaire Jan 28-Feb 1 !! Maybe we'll see you in Hatteras in the spring!
Submitted by:Steve and Jasmine | Email: | Location:Montreal, Quebec
Camp attended:Bonaire
January 17, 2008
Awesome, just awesome. The Andy, Micheal, Tom combo of instructors were great. The instruction, demos, and progressions were perfect. The shallow learning arena and use of the light air freestyle challenged everyone in the group. I loved it. As a full professional coach of gymnastics, skiing, and rock climbing over 39 years, I can state two things: I spenting the next $1000 in windsurfing on my next two ABK clinics. Andy is a super special teacher. ABK is the real deal. Thanks for the personalized coaching and successes at October 2007 ABK clinic at Waves, Cape Hatteras.
Submitted by:Ned Crossley | Email: | Location:Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
Awesome, just awesome. The Andy, Micheal, Tom combo of instructors were great. The instruction, demos, and progressions were perfect. The shallow learning arena and use of the light air freestyle challenged everyone in the group. I loved it. As a full professional coach of gymnastics, skiing, and rock climbing over 39 years, I can state two things: I spenting the next $1000 in windsurfing on my next two ABK clinics. Andy is a super special teacher. ABK is the real deal. Thanks for the personalized coaching and successes at October 2007 ABK clinic at Waves, Cape Hatteras.
Submitted by:Ned Crossley | Email: | Location:Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
November 12, 2007
As the weather gets colder it's an excellent time to find a nice shallow spot, put on a drysuit and go practice some of those lightwind moves. You know you want to! (I know I want to, and I will, but I'm crazy.)
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:Peconica, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
As the weather gets colder it's an excellent time to find a nice shallow spot, put on a drysuit and go practice some of those lightwind moves. You know you want to! (I know I want to, and I will, but I'm crazy.)
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:Peconica, New York
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
October 6, 2007
ABK rocks, but you knew that. Mostly the winds were light, affording an opportunty to learn some freestyle moves that I could actually do. I finally got the hang of a backwind jibe and a heli-tack, and managed to nail some clew-first, switch-foot non-planing jibes. I got close to doing a switch-foot non-planing duck jibe. The point is I would never have heard of these things, much less ever learned them, if I didn't attend the ABK "camps". The wnd did blow some, especially on Saturday morning, so those of us working on our planing jibes got to do quite a bit of that as well. Andy pointed out a key aspect of the exit footwork that I need to change; I feel that this will finally enable me to zoom smoothly through my jibes in reality, not just in my dreams. And Andy and Ben have really got the lunch thing down to an art.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Millheim, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
ABK rocks, but you knew that. Mostly the winds were light, affording an opportunty to learn some freestyle moves that I could actually do. I finally got the hang of a backwind jibe and a heli-tack, and managed to nail some clew-first, switch-foot non-planing jibes. I got close to doing a switch-foot non-planing duck jibe. The point is I would never have heard of these things, much less ever learned them, if I didn't attend the ABK "camps". The wnd did blow some, especially on Saturday morning, so those of us working on our planing jibes got to do quite a bit of that as well. Andy pointed out a key aspect of the exit footwork that I need to change; I feel that this will finally enable me to zoom smoothly through my jibes in reality, not just in my dreams. And Andy and Ben have really got the lunch thing down to an art.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Millheim, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
September 26, 2007
I attended my 2nd ABK camp a couple of weeks ago and it was more than worth the money I paid. Last year Andy fixed my jibing and a couple other things, this year he did the same with the Vulcan. Andy is a whiz in old-school freestyle, but he is just as good at teaching the new school stuff. He figured out immediately what was wrong with my Vulcans, told me how to fix it, and the very first session after the Vulcan lecture I started to slide backwards, which had never happened before! 3 sessions after ABK I actually landed one (today). To sum it up: great atmosphere, great teaching - can't think of a better way to spend my windsurfing money and time!
Submitted by:Nikita | Email: | Location:Boston, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
I attended my 2nd ABK camp a couple of weeks ago and it was more than worth the money I paid. Last year Andy fixed my jibing and a couple other things, this year he did the same with the Vulcan. Andy is a whiz in old-school freestyle, but he is just as good at teaching the new school stuff. He figured out immediately what was wrong with my Vulcans, told me how to fix it, and the very first session after the Vulcan lecture I started to slide backwards, which had never happened before! 3 sessions after ABK I actually landed one (today). To sum it up: great atmosphere, great teaching - can't think of a better way to spend my windsurfing money and time!
Submitted by:Nikita | Email: | Location:Boston, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
September 24, 2007
Great camps for both weeks on Long Island. I can't believe I've learned the Gekko Loop (week #2) and the slow motion Spock. Meanwhile the week before my wife succeeded in windsurfing in more wind than she'd ever sailed in her life, with waterstarts, jibe entries and tacking to boot. Very nice!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:,
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
Great camps for both weeks on Long Island. I can't believe I've learned the Gekko Loop (week #2) and the slow motion Spock. Meanwhile the week before my wife succeeded in windsurfing in more wind than she'd ever sailed in her life, with waterstarts, jibe entries and tacking to boot. Very nice!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:,
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
September 21, 2007
Let me say that attending ABK camp in Bonarie advanced my windsurfing more than I could have alone in probably a year or two. The lessons are invaluable, the ambiance hard to beat. Andy, thanks a lot... I can't wait to go back in the spring. ps. Niko says HI...
Submitted by:Rafael | Email: | Location:Miami, FL
Camp attended:Bonaire
Let me say that attending ABK camp in Bonarie advanced my windsurfing more than I could have alone in probably a year or two. The lessons are invaluable, the ambiance hard to beat. Andy, thanks a lot... I can't wait to go back in the spring. ps. Niko says HI...
Submitted by:Rafael | Email: | Location:Miami, FL
Camp attended:Bonaire
June 4, 2007
Simply the best!! Andy, Ben, Patrick, Ed, & Tom provide a great fun atmosphere to learn. I walked away with a new skills which will be honed for the fall camp. It has only been two weeks but I see a dramatic change in my tacks and jibes. Yes, Ed I am doing them correctly, THANKS!! The lectures are great, sail chi was insightful, now I only wish I kept that old beaten up longboard to practice, the other sailors were a blast. ABK introduced me to other windsurfing addicts and opened the doors to a great community. Cannot believe it took me so long to attend. If you have never been to an ABK camp, DO SO NOW. Thanks for a great weekend.
Submitted by:Robert Mallin | Email: | Location:Manhattan, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
Simply the best!! Andy, Ben, Patrick, Ed, & Tom provide a great fun atmosphere to learn. I walked away with a new skills which will be honed for the fall camp. It has only been two weeks but I see a dramatic change in my tacks and jibes. Yes, Ed I am doing them correctly, THANKS!! The lectures are great, sail chi was insightful, now I only wish I kept that old beaten up longboard to practice, the other sailors were a blast. ABK introduced me to other windsurfing addicts and opened the doors to a great community. Cannot believe it took me so long to attend. If you have never been to an ABK camp, DO SO NOW. Thanks for a great weekend.
Submitted by:Robert Mallin | Email: | Location:Manhattan, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
May 24, 2007
ABK was awesome! Lots of quality instruction, good food and good people, strong wind and light wind conditions-allowing for a variety of opportunities for instruction and practice in both planing and non-planing conditions. I am now equipped with the know how for planing duck jibes, carving 360's, back wind jibes, back wind pivot jibes, clew first water starts, jump jibes, duck jibes, sailing on the leeward side of the sail, sail chi, helicopter tacks, s turns, chop hop, gecko/flakas, gecko loops and Vulcan’s, sail body 360's and yes, loops! I now have lots to work on over the summer! If you haven't taken an ABK clinic before just do it! You will do things that you never imagined that you could do, and you will be a better sailor in the long run-short run too! Lots of hands on -dry land training exercises-essential for those kinesthetic learners like me. Visual and auditory learning are great, but when you put yourself in the dry land drivers seat it really helps! It was also fun to be surrounded with people that share my passion. My experience was more than receiving high quality and very welcome constructive criticism. There was something terribly empowering about refining the skills and qualities in ourselves that define our very existence. All in all, a wonderful mentally and physically challenging weekend. Can't wait to do it again! And don’t forget to visit the gift shop! I love my ABK sweatshirt! Thanks Andy! Jill :)
Submitted by:Jill Marr | Email: | Location:Huntington Station, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
ABK was awesome! Lots of quality instruction, good food and good people, strong wind and light wind conditions-allowing for a variety of opportunities for instruction and practice in both planing and non-planing conditions. I am now equipped with the know how for planing duck jibes, carving 360's, back wind jibes, back wind pivot jibes, clew first water starts, jump jibes, duck jibes, sailing on the leeward side of the sail, sail chi, helicopter tacks, s turns, chop hop, gecko/flakas, gecko loops and Vulcan’s, sail body 360's and yes, loops! I now have lots to work on over the summer! If you haven't taken an ABK clinic before just do it! You will do things that you never imagined that you could do, and you will be a better sailor in the long run-short run too! Lots of hands on -dry land training exercises-essential for those kinesthetic learners like me. Visual and auditory learning are great, but when you put yourself in the dry land drivers seat it really helps! It was also fun to be surrounded with people that share my passion. My experience was more than receiving high quality and very welcome constructive criticism. There was something terribly empowering about refining the skills and qualities in ourselves that define our very existence. All in all, a wonderful mentally and physically challenging weekend. Can't wait to do it again! And don’t forget to visit the gift shop! I love my ABK sweatshirt! Thanks Andy! Jill :)
Submitted by:Jill Marr | Email: | Location:Huntington Station, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
May 22, 2007
Thank you! This was my first ABK experience and I was blown away. I have attenended many sports clinics over the years: Skiing, Triathalon, Sailing etc and by far, ABK stands alone at the top. Andy, Tom, Ed, Ben and the rest of the ABK staff are true professionals who are passionate about teaching/coaching windsurfing. Ed/Tom thank you for your patience and words of encouragement. It had been 2 years since I last sailed and was quite nervous coming into the camp knowings I'd most likely be at the bottom of the spectrum, but with their expert instruction and constant attention I settled in quickly without any sense of intimidation. Its amazing how they can be instructing someone on an advanced trick on the water and in the same breath bellow out steps of a basic pivot jibe to a newbie without missing a beat! Andy, you run a great camp and you'll be seeing me next time around. Its a great sport with great people all having fun and willing to lend a hand rigging or a quick word of encouragement no matter what level the sailor....thanks again! PS: if you do attend a camp, bring a pen and notepad!
Submitted by:Matt McGarry | Email: | Location:Locust Valley, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
Thank you! This was my first ABK experience and I was blown away. I have attenended many sports clinics over the years: Skiing, Triathalon, Sailing etc and by far, ABK stands alone at the top. Andy, Tom, Ed, Ben and the rest of the ABK staff are true professionals who are passionate about teaching/coaching windsurfing. Ed/Tom thank you for your patience and words of encouragement. It had been 2 years since I last sailed and was quite nervous coming into the camp knowings I'd most likely be at the bottom of the spectrum, but with their expert instruction and constant attention I settled in quickly without any sense of intimidation. Its amazing how they can be instructing someone on an advanced trick on the water and in the same breath bellow out steps of a basic pivot jibe to a newbie without missing a beat! Andy, you run a great camp and you'll be seeing me next time around. Its a great sport with great people all having fun and willing to lend a hand rigging or a quick word of encouragement no matter what level the sailor....thanks again! PS: if you do attend a camp, bring a pen and notepad!
Submitted by:Matt McGarry | Email: | Location:Locust Valley, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
May 14, 2007
Camp ended yesterday at Dewey Beach and I'd like to thank all the teachers and participants for a really useful and fun camp. I learned clew first jibe, clew first duck jibe, backwind jibe, fin first jibe. I relearned heli tack the abk way. My sail handling got much better and I'm now trying to keep one hand on the boom only on sail flips etc. as much as possible. I hoped to learn a lot but I didn't think I could learn so many new tricks. Seeing how fast beginners learn as well was impressive. By taking a camp you can actually save a couple of years and take a nice shortcut :).
Submitted by:Ville Vainio | Email: | Location:Leesburg, VA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
Camp ended yesterday at Dewey Beach and I'd like to thank all the teachers and participants for a really useful and fun camp. I learned clew first jibe, clew first duck jibe, backwind jibe, fin first jibe. I relearned heli tack the abk way. My sail handling got much better and I'm now trying to keep one hand on the boom only on sail flips etc. as much as possible. I hoped to learn a lot but I didn't think I could learn so many new tricks. Seeing how fast beginners learn as well was impressive. By taking a camp you can actually save a couple of years and take a nice shortcut :).
Submitted by:Ville Vainio | Email: | Location:Leesburg, VA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
May 13, 2007
This was my first ABK camp. I had a great time during the camp, and improved my sailing skills more than I could imagine in such a short time. Now I can beach start, point jibe, and properly tack (ABK style). Andy, Tom, Ben, and Ed were all outstanding teachers, and they were very eager to help. An additional benefit of the camp for me was to meet other windsurfers who were all very friendly and interesting. Thank you ABK for such an enjoyable experience ! I will be back for more in the future.
Submitted by:Cetin Savkli | Email: | Location:Annapolis, MD
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
This was my first ABK camp. I had a great time during the camp, and improved my sailing skills more than I could imagine in such a short time. Now I can beach start, point jibe, and properly tack (ABK style). Andy, Tom, Ben, and Ed were all outstanding teachers, and they were very eager to help. An additional benefit of the camp for me was to meet other windsurfers who were all very friendly and interesting. Thank you ABK for such an enjoyable experience ! I will be back for more in the future.
Submitted by:Cetin Savkli | Email: | Location:Annapolis, MD
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
May 2, 2007
Well it has been a month since our clinic. Jennifer and I hadn't sailed together for any significant time since having kids. Every day we came back talking about what we had learned, and how much fun we were having, so by the end of the week, our 8 year old boys wanted to take their own lessions. Jen learned to waterstart clew first, and I nailed some carving 360s, heli tacks and my first ever donkey (duck monkey gybe). Didn't even know what it was until Andy said, why don't you try this. My sister, niece and nephew all got stoked too. I'm still smiling about it a month later. Glad to see so many of the rest of our class leaving notes too. Thanks Andy for getting my family sailing.
Submitted by:Carl Spiess | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
Well it has been a month since our clinic. Jennifer and I hadn't sailed together for any significant time since having kids. Every day we came back talking about what we had learned, and how much fun we were having, so by the end of the week, our 8 year old boys wanted to take their own lessions. Jen learned to waterstart clew first, and I nailed some carving 360s, heli tacks and my first ever donkey (duck monkey gybe). Didn't even know what it was until Andy said, why don't you try this. My sister, niece and nephew all got stoked too. I'm still smiling about it a month later. Glad to see so many of the rest of our class leaving notes too. Thanks Andy for getting my family sailing.
Submitted by:Carl Spiess | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
April 24, 2007
This was my second ABK camp. I was surprised by how much stuff I was doing wrong with simple things like tacking. You guys do a great job of pointing out all the flaws while we're out on the water and again during the video reviews. Also, good job on making the best of things when the wind shut off and filling our heads with info during hte lectures. I'm glad I signed up for this clinic at the beginning of the season, because it gives me a lot of time to try everything out on my own while it's still fresh on my mind!
Submitted by:Sam Zamani | Email: | Location:Raleigh, NC
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
This was my second ABK camp. I was surprised by how much stuff I was doing wrong with simple things like tacking. You guys do a great job of pointing out all the flaws while we're out on the water and again during the video reviews. Also, good job on making the best of things when the wind shut off and filling our heads with info during hte lectures. I'm glad I signed up for this clinic at the beginning of the season, because it gives me a lot of time to try everything out on my own while it's still fresh on my mind!
Submitted by:Sam Zamani | Email: | Location:Raleigh, NC
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
April 10, 2007
The ABK ad says it all; you learn in days what it takes years to learn on your own. Andy is great. He knows how to spot the EXACT thing that you need to advance at any particular time. He doesn't waste time with all the rest of it. AND he tells you WHY it will work, and why what you're doing WON'T work. And he's always encouraging, spotting something you're doing well and being sure to tell you about it. An ABK clinic is a GREAT experience, fun and informative. It just plain makes you feel good.
Submitted by:Bill | Email: | Location:Corpus Christi, TX
Camp attended:Aruba
The ABK ad says it all; you learn in days what it takes years to learn on your own. Andy is great. He knows how to spot the EXACT thing that you need to advance at any particular time. He doesn't waste time with all the rest of it. AND he tells you WHY it will work, and why what you're doing WON'T work. And he's always encouraging, spotting something you're doing well and being sure to tell you about it. An ABK clinic is a GREAT experience, fun and informative. It just plain makes you feel good.
Submitted by:Bill | Email: | Location:Corpus Christi, TX
Camp attended:Aruba
April 9, 2007
Tom (my husband) and I had such a great time during the Aruba camp. Tom (the instructor) and Andy created a fun atmosphere in which to learn new skills, perfect old ones, and overcome fear. Five years ago, as a newbie sailor in Aruba, my board decided to take me to South America...so I have never really like sailing in off-shore wind conditions until our ABK camp in March. At the beginning of the week, I would have bet lots of money that I would stay between the blue flags on a nice, safe, floaty board, ignoring Andy's suggestion that someone 120 lbs should not be on a 120 liter board. After the camp was over, I was sailing the blue highway on an 85-liter board - without any fear (going really, really fast and having lots of fun). The people that we met, some of whom have also posted comments, made the week even more enjoyable. Regardless of your ability - sailing with ABK is a value-added experience.
Submitted by:Dana Stryk | Email: | Location:Washington, DC
Camp attended:Aruba
Tom (my husband) and I had such a great time during the Aruba camp. Tom (the instructor) and Andy created a fun atmosphere in which to learn new skills, perfect old ones, and overcome fear. Five years ago, as a newbie sailor in Aruba, my board decided to take me to South America...so I have never really like sailing in off-shore wind conditions until our ABK camp in March. At the beginning of the week, I would have bet lots of money that I would stay between the blue flags on a nice, safe, floaty board, ignoring Andy's suggestion that someone 120 lbs should not be on a 120 liter board. After the camp was over, I was sailing the blue highway on an 85-liter board - without any fear (going really, really fast and having lots of fun). The people that we met, some of whom have also posted comments, made the week even more enjoyable. Regardless of your ability - sailing with ABK is a value-added experience.
Submitted by:Dana Stryk | Email: | Location:Washington, DC
Camp attended:Aruba
March 28, 2007
It was my third camp with ABK. Each camp improved my skills more than I would do alone in a year. I guess thanks to their experience Andy and his instructors can find the way to teach in very efficient way. With all of that “efficiency” there is still a lot of fun and laughs on and off the water. I will be coming back.
Submitted by:Janusz Huc | Email: | Location:Morristown, NJ
Camp attended:Aruba
It was my third camp with ABK. Each camp improved my skills more than I would do alone in a year. I guess thanks to their experience Andy and his instructors can find the way to teach in very efficient way. With all of that “efficiency” there is still a lot of fun and laughs on and off the water. I will be coming back.
Submitted by:Janusz Huc | Email: | Location:Morristown, NJ
Camp attended:Aruba
March 26, 2007
Had a great time. Although I was about the worst person in the class, I learned a lot, am looking forward to summer here on the great lakes, am hoping to practice some of the many things I was shown. Andy and Tom were great teachers: very patient, enthusiastic, understanding of campers who had issues with spouses who didn't see the point of sailing all day. I will be back, jim marshall
Submitted by:jim marshall | Email: | Location:buffalo,, NY
Camp attended:Aruba
Had a great time. Although I was about the worst person in the class, I learned a lot, am looking forward to summer here on the great lakes, am hoping to practice some of the many things I was shown. Andy and Tom were great teachers: very patient, enthusiastic, understanding of campers who had issues with spouses who didn't see the point of sailing all day. I will be back, jim marshall
Submitted by:jim marshall | Email: | Location:buffalo,, NY
Camp attended:Aruba
March 26, 2007
ACTUALLY, for the first time here I attended NOT a CAMP but the ABK school at Jibe City on Bonaire. I bought a 5-pack of lessons; had four from Ro (Ronald) and one one Saturday from Lu (Lucrezia [sp.? sorry, Lu]). It was great, although I missed seeing Andy [he was in Aruba, but I prefer Bonaire]. Except for one very light air day, I worked exclusively on the planing step jibe, with Ro's expert feedback. My last day with him, I nailed four in a row not merely dry but without losing control in the middle. I missed the cameraderie of a clinic, but the Jibe City cameraderie made up for it. And I did get to also see Sarah, Emma, and Ben. Not to mention the amazing Tati and Tonky Frans, and Kiri Thode plus some other inspiring young windsurfers. (Sorry about all the approximate spellings.)
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
ACTUALLY, for the first time here I attended NOT a CAMP but the ABK school at Jibe City on Bonaire. I bought a 5-pack of lessons; had four from Ro (Ronald) and one one Saturday from Lu (Lucrezia [sp.? sorry, Lu]). It was great, although I missed seeing Andy [he was in Aruba, but I prefer Bonaire]. Except for one very light air day, I worked exclusively on the planing step jibe, with Ro's expert feedback. My last day with him, I nailed four in a row not merely dry but without losing control in the middle. I missed the cameraderie of a clinic, but the Jibe City cameraderie made up for it. And I did get to also see Sarah, Emma, and Ben. Not to mention the amazing Tati and Tonky Frans, and Kiri Thode plus some other inspiring young windsurfers. (Sorry about all the approximate spellings.)
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 26, 2007
Shucks, almost forgot to mention (just bragging to get Andy's attention) that I sailed a 115 L board [smallest ever] some of the time. Never would have without ABK's help and pushing
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
Shucks, almost forgot to mention (just bragging to get Andy's attention) that I sailed a 115 L board [smallest ever] some of the time. Never would have without ABK's help and pushing
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 25, 2007
So, after you, Andy and Tom, left, I had the benefit of my son's (Patrick Wilson's) instruction. We did the land simulation together with Patrick as you, Andy, and me as me, and then, I did two of those carving jibes (better on the carve in than out) and he mastered the duck jibe (7 times). I learned that when feeling comfortable on a sail, go up in size, and when comfortable on a board, go down in volume, and you'll accomplish more. We took what you taught with the young guiding the old, and look forward to our next clinic (maybe Hatteras in October) but only after we figure out how to board regularly up here in Canada. Thanks.
Submitted by:Jeffery Wilson | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
So, after you, Andy and Tom, left, I had the benefit of my son's (Patrick Wilson's) instruction. We did the land simulation together with Patrick as you, Andy, and me as me, and then, I did two of those carving jibes (better on the carve in than out) and he mastered the duck jibe (7 times). I learned that when feeling comfortable on a sail, go up in size, and when comfortable on a board, go down in volume, and you'll accomplish more. We took what you taught with the young guiding the old, and look forward to our next clinic (maybe Hatteras in October) but only after we figure out how to board regularly up here in Canada. Thanks.
Submitted by:Jeffery Wilson | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
March 21, 2007
My wife and I attended the course in Aruba and had a great time. There was plenty of frustration but real progress as well. Thanks to Andy and Tom for the patience, persistance, and good humor.
Submitted by:Benjamin Loevinsohn | Email: | Location:Washington, DC
Camp attended:Aruba
My wife and I attended the course in Aruba and had a great time. There was plenty of frustration but real progress as well. Thanks to Andy and Tom for the patience, persistance, and good humor.
Submitted by:Benjamin Loevinsohn | Email: | Location:Washington, DC
Camp attended:Aruba
March 19, 2007
From teaching novice windsurfers who have never stood on a board before, or teaching people of ALL ages to waterstart, or teaching clew first water starts and jibes, or teaching long time sailors to heli-tack, carve 360 and donkey jibe...you name it, I saw Andy and Tom teach it all. Teaching aside (although I can't stress enough how good the teaching really is), the environment of the ABK clinics is great; no-one is intimidating (which I was really worried about when I signed up) and the environment is supportive and friendly and lots and lots of fun with many laughs along the way. You're right Andy, "every day of sailing is a great day of sailing"! Thank you Andy and Tom for helping to make our vacation (4 family members took part in the clinic)so memorable. We will definitely be back for more!
Submitted by:Veronica Zufelt | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
From teaching novice windsurfers who have never stood on a board before, or teaching people of ALL ages to waterstart, or teaching clew first water starts and jibes, or teaching long time sailors to heli-tack, carve 360 and donkey jibe...you name it, I saw Andy and Tom teach it all. Teaching aside (although I can't stress enough how good the teaching really is), the environment of the ABK clinics is great; no-one is intimidating (which I was really worried about when I signed up) and the environment is supportive and friendly and lots and lots of fun with many laughs along the way. You're right Andy, "every day of sailing is a great day of sailing"! Thank you Andy and Tom for helping to make our vacation (4 family members took part in the clinic)so memorable. We will definitely be back for more!
Submitted by:Veronica Zufelt | Email: | Location:Toronto, ON
Camp attended:Aruba
March 17, 2007
I never envisioned it but I finished the camp sailing an 84 L board (wow it moves fast and smooth) and exiting my planing carve jibes (the gang at home will be astonished)! We had a great group of campers and instructors, had a lot of fun out on the water together, and left with many new friends.
Submitted by:David Adams | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
I never envisioned it but I finished the camp sailing an 84 L board (wow it moves fast and smooth) and exiting my planing carve jibes (the gang at home will be astonished)! We had a great group of campers and instructors, had a lot of fun out on the water together, and left with many new friends.
Submitted by:David Adams | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
March 17, 2007
Attended the March 5-11 clinic, and as always found Andy and Tom to be incredibly instructive. Andy is really intuitive about people - what different people need at different times to improve or regain lost skills. So I'm back in the saddle (or in the footstraps) again. You guys are the best! Thanks
Submitted by:Janice Emerling | Email: | Location:Darlington, MD
Camp attended:Aruba
Attended the March 5-11 clinic, and as always found Andy and Tom to be incredibly instructive. Andy is really intuitive about people - what different people need at different times to improve or regain lost skills. So I'm back in the saddle (or in the footstraps) again. You guys are the best! Thanks
Submitted by:Janice Emerling | Email: | Location:Darlington, MD
Camp attended:Aruba
March 13, 2007
I used to sign up for windsurfing lessons randomly at local shops, wherever i was vacationing, and received instruction of varying quality,language skill, motivation,etc - in short hit or miss. Andy gahtered top instructors money can buy, all at one place. Outstanding. B.B.Ivkov, M.D. New York
Submitted by:B.B.Ivkov, M.D. | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
I used to sign up for windsurfing lessons randomly at local shops, wherever i was vacationing, and received instruction of varying quality,language skill, motivation,etc - in short hit or miss. Andy gahtered top instructors money can buy, all at one place. Outstanding. B.B.Ivkov, M.D. New York
Submitted by:B.B.Ivkov, M.D. | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 13, 2007
Five days of high quality instruction from a guy who has seen it all, and can do most of it. Andy is the best. He has things down to a science, and can make group instruction feel one on one. He has the ability to quickly analyze your problems and provides you simple easy to understand steps to get you out of your hole. He also encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. He inspires confidence, but shoots straight. He is willing to help all participants regardless of their abilities. Plus, he is super likable. He is an ideal windsurfing coach. He has an amazing loyal following, and for good reason. If you have not given his camps a try, you should. You will thank yourself later.
Submitted by:Mark Plunkett | Email: | Location:Austin, TX
Camp attended:Aruba
Five days of high quality instruction from a guy who has seen it all, and can do most of it. Andy is the best. He has things down to a science, and can make group instruction feel one on one. He has the ability to quickly analyze your problems and provides you simple easy to understand steps to get you out of your hole. He also encourages you to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. He inspires confidence, but shoots straight. He is willing to help all participants regardless of their abilities. Plus, he is super likable. He is an ideal windsurfing coach. He has an amazing loyal following, and for good reason. If you have not given his camps a try, you should. You will thank yourself later.
Submitted by:Mark Plunkett | Email: | Location:Austin, TX
Camp attended:Aruba
March 13, 2007
i just signed up for andy's march 19th clinic, bonaire and haven't made any flight/lodging/rental arrangements yet - recommendations or suggestions? single on a budget.thanks, cinda
Submitted by:cinda | Email: | Location:westminster, MD
Camp attended:
i just signed up for andy's march 19th clinic, bonaire and haven't made any flight/lodging/rental arrangements yet - recommendations or suggestions? single on a budget.thanks, cinda
Submitted by:cinda | Email: | Location:westminster, MD
Camp attended:
March 12, 2007
I just finished the March 5, 2007 camp in Aruba. I’m not quite planing out of my jibes, but I finally got a few dry ones with Andy’s help. I was just starting to work on my jibe initiations in the last camp I attended. It was such a cool feeling to be planing downwind with the apparent wind almost calm. The first time I did it, I thought that I had come to a stop, as usual, but Andy said I was really planing downwind at 15 mph. No wonder the board seemed a little sensitive to my footwork. Can’t wait for the ice to melt here in Chicago so I can go out and perfect that jibe. It’s so close I can taste it. Thanks to Andy and Tom for a great clinic.
Submitted by:John Brundage | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
I just finished the March 5, 2007 camp in Aruba. I’m not quite planing out of my jibes, but I finally got a few dry ones with Andy’s help. I was just starting to work on my jibe initiations in the last camp I attended. It was such a cool feeling to be planing downwind with the apparent wind almost calm. The first time I did it, I thought that I had come to a stop, as usual, but Andy said I was really planing downwind at 15 mph. No wonder the board seemed a little sensitive to my footwork. Can’t wait for the ice to melt here in Chicago so I can go out and perfect that jibe. It’s so close I can taste it. Thanks to Andy and Tom for a great clinic.
Submitted by:John Brundage | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
February 5, 2007
Andy, just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the dramatic improvement your clinic has made on my windsurfing. In 5 short days I went from being a danger to the community in windsurfing to being the top of the heap. Who would have thought that I could be redeemed in such a short period of time. I am the best advertisement your clinic can have and will undoubtably send you many clients when they see what you did for me. James
Submitted by:James Nielsen | Email: | Location:West Hempstead, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
Andy, just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the dramatic improvement your clinic has made on my windsurfing. In 5 short days I went from being a danger to the community in windsurfing to being the top of the heap. Who would have thought that I could be redeemed in such a short period of time. I am the best advertisement your clinic can have and will undoubtably send you many clients when they see what you did for me. James
Submitted by:James Nielsen | Email: | Location:West Hempstead, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
February 5, 2007
Andy, by the way, what is the e-mail address to down load the instruction manual from the clinic. The group wants to know. PS, if your ever in Long Island, particularly near JFK and need a place to crash for you and family, my place in Long Beach is always available. Lets see you post my previous comments on your ABK web site! James
Submitted by:james nielsen | Email: | Location:west hempstead, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
Andy, by the way, what is the e-mail address to down load the instruction manual from the clinic. The group wants to know. PS, if your ever in Long Island, particularly near JFK and need a place to crash for you and family, my place in Long Beach is always available. Lets see you post my previous comments on your ABK web site! James
Submitted by:james nielsen | Email: | Location:west hempstead, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
December 16, 2006
http://dmregister.textamerica.com/details/?r=5630062&_ctgry=26410 Mark: Check out my Christmas Windsurfing Santa Claus if you can get to the above site. If you can't go to dmregister.com click on christmas lights. Tom
Submitted by:Thomas R Tippins | Email: | Location:Urbandale, IA
Camp attended:Bonaire
http://dmregister.textamerica.com/details/?r=5630062&_ctgry=26410 Mark: Check out my Christmas Windsurfing Santa Claus if you can get to the above site. If you can't go to dmregister.com click on christmas lights. Tom
Submitted by:Thomas R Tippins | Email: | Location:Urbandale, IA
Camp attended:Bonaire
October 7, 2006
Andy's and Ben's insightful instruction were as usual extremely helpful in taking advantage of an amazingly windy weekend. At Andy's urging I actually sailed on a borrowed 109 L board, far smaller than anything I'd ever used before. Every day day sailing is a great day, but especially with ABK!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
Andy's and Ben's insightful instruction were as usual extremely helpful in taking advantage of an amazingly windy weekend. At Andy's urging I actually sailed on a borrowed 109 L board, far smaller than anything I'd ever used before. Every day day sailing is a great day, but especially with ABK!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
October 2, 2006
Friday dawned warm, sunny, and deathly calm. But by the afternoon we got wind, and lots of it. It was a hugely windy weekend -- and warm as well. I can't really give Andy and Ben credit for the weather, but I can give them credit for helping me get the most out of it. At Andy's urging, I actually sailed a 109 L board, far smaller than any I'd ever stood on before. Thanks, Andy and Ben, for your amazingly accurate constructive criticism of my sailing, and for being such great guys.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
Friday dawned warm, sunny, and deathly calm. But by the afternoon we got wind, and lots of it. It was a hugely windy weekend -- and warm as well. I can't really give Andy and Ben credit for the weather, but I can give them credit for helping me get the most out of it. At Andy's urging, I actually sailed a 109 L board, far smaller than any I'd ever stood on before. Thanks, Andy and Ben, for your amazingly accurate constructive criticism of my sailing, and for being such great guys.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
September 11, 2006
I didn't actually attend the camp, but got two lessons in Hood River through the Hood River School -- http://www.abkboardsports.com/lessons/gorge I really liked the instruction that Ben provided. He's patient, let me experiment w/ all the equipment, and gave me some great tips. Would definitely do this again, given the opportunity. Thanks Ben -- for the instruction, and for the equipment. - Rohit
Submitted by:Rohit | Email: | Location:Seattle, WA
Camp attended:Hood River, Oregon
I didn't actually attend the camp, but got two lessons in Hood River through the Hood River School -- http://www.abkboardsports.com/lessons/gorge I really liked the instruction that Ben provided. He's patient, let me experiment w/ all the equipment, and gave me some great tips. Would definitely do this again, given the opportunity. Thanks Ben -- for the instruction, and for the equipment. - Rohit
Submitted by:Rohit | Email: | Location:Seattle, WA
Camp attended:Hood River, Oregon
June 8, 2006
Excellent clinic. I was somewhat sceptical and concerned about the cost, but it was well worth it. Some of the things Andy teaches you may not pick up on your own for years, if ever. I had a true "A-ha!" moment when Andy changed my jibing technique. I thought I was getting pretty good at my jibes, planing out of them with some regularity. However, I had trouble making them overpowered and in high chop (would be totally scared and crash at least half the time). Within a few attempts with the new technique I got super comfortable! After practicing it for just a couple of days I can now jibe with some confidence overpowered AND in waves/chop and would actually be surprised if I don't make it! Now I can finally move on to learning other moves! (Which Andy did a good job of teaching too.) Thanks, Andy!
Submitted by:Nikita | Email: | Location:Boston, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
Excellent clinic. I was somewhat sceptical and concerned about the cost, but it was well worth it. Some of the things Andy teaches you may not pick up on your own for years, if ever. I had a true "A-ha!" moment when Andy changed my jibing technique. I thought I was getting pretty good at my jibes, planing out of them with some regularity. However, I had trouble making them overpowered and in high chop (would be totally scared and crash at least half the time). Within a few attempts with the new technique I got super comfortable! After practicing it for just a couple of days I can now jibe with some confidence overpowered AND in waves/chop and would actually be surprised if I don't make it! Now I can finally move on to learning other moves! (Which Andy did a good job of teaching too.) Thanks, Andy!
Submitted by:Nikita | Email: | Location:Boston, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
June 3, 2006
I am looking for someone going down to Bonaire soon. I am trying to return an aluminum walker that I borrowed from Eden Beach Resort when I sprained my ankle. I would like to UPS it to someone going down to Bonaire so they could carry it on the plane. (USPO, FedEx etc have turned out to be impossible). I hope someone can help. Dave Bartlett
Submitted by:David Bartlett | Email: | Location:Madison, WI
Camp attended:Bonaire
I am looking for someone going down to Bonaire soon. I am trying to return an aluminum walker that I borrowed from Eden Beach Resort when I sprained my ankle. I would like to UPS it to someone going down to Bonaire so they could carry it on the plane. (USPO, FedEx etc have turned out to be impossible). I hope someone can help. Dave Bartlett
Submitted by:David Bartlett | Email: | Location:Madison, WI
Camp attended:Bonaire
May 21, 2006
I just got back from 3 days of sun, wind and great instruction. I learned to water start and to get into the straps and sail fast without getting catapaulted. I feel as though I made as much progress in 3 days as I did in all of last season. This is the only way to learn. My thanks to Andy, Pete, Ed, Tom for providing this great learning experience. I'll be back. Oliver
Submitted by:Oliver McMahon | Email: | Location:Nashua, NH
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
I just got back from 3 days of sun, wind and great instruction. I learned to water start and to get into the straps and sail fast without getting catapaulted. I feel as though I made as much progress in 3 days as I did in all of last season. This is the only way to learn. My thanks to Andy, Pete, Ed, Tom for providing this great learning experience. I'll be back. Oliver
Submitted by:Oliver McMahon | Email: | Location:Nashua, NH
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
May 16, 2006
MARK JUST RECEIVED BONAIRE FREE-STYLE DVD, VOLUME III, PRODUCED BY STU SNODGRASS LAST WEEK. YOU WILL HAVE TO ORDER YOUR'S BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE. THIS WAS MY THIRD FREE-STYLE CLINIC IN BONAIRE AND EVERYONE HAS PROGRESSED ALOT SINCE VOLUME I WAS RELEASED BY STU BACK IN 2004. THANKS TO PETER,BEN,DERICK,AND ANDY, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST DONKEY A DAY BEFORE STU AND WIN THE 2 YEAR OLD BET FOR A BEER. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT THE FREE-STYLE CLINIC. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER BET WITH STU......FIRST WILLYSKIPPER FOR A BEER. TOM
Submitted by:TOM TIPPINS | Email: | Location:DES MOINES, IA
Camp attended:Bonaire
MARK JUST RECEIVED BONAIRE FREE-STYLE DVD, VOLUME III, PRODUCED BY STU SNODGRASS LAST WEEK. YOU WILL HAVE TO ORDER YOUR'S BEFORE THEY ARE ALL GONE. THIS WAS MY THIRD FREE-STYLE CLINIC IN BONAIRE AND EVERYONE HAS PROGRESSED ALOT SINCE VOLUME I WAS RELEASED BY STU BACK IN 2004. THANKS TO PETER,BEN,DERICK,AND ANDY, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY FIRST DONKEY A DAY BEFORE STU AND WIN THE 2 YEAR OLD BET FOR A BEER. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT THE FREE-STYLE CLINIC. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER BET WITH STU......FIRST WILLYSKIPPER FOR A BEER. TOM
Submitted by:TOM TIPPINS | Email: | Location:DES MOINES, IA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 29, 2006
This was our third Bonaire clinic in as many years. I must say that I never actually thought I'd see me wife carve into a jibe, but see it I did. For myself I learned three cool trick jibes, and met a lot of great new friends. Windy and warm all week, we left thinking that we want to spend two weeks in Bonaire next year. A great clinic all around...props to Ronald, Lou, Pete and Andy!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
This was our third Bonaire clinic in as many years. I must say that I never actually thought I'd see me wife carve into a jibe, but see it I did. For myself I learned three cool trick jibes, and met a lot of great new friends. Windy and warm all week, we left thinking that we want to spend two weeks in Bonaire next year. A great clinic all around...props to Ronald, Lou, Pete and Andy!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 26, 2006
My wife agrees...ABK at Bonaire got better. The wind was good, the instruction was great, and there's more room on the beach to hang out and enjoy. And it was a banner year for meeting new people. But most importantly it was a great learning week...I've never learned new moves so fast (thanks Andy) and Sally is now actually attempting jibes! Fantastic. We'll be back next year.
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
My wife agrees...ABK at Bonaire got better. The wind was good, the instruction was great, and there's more room on the beach to hang out and enjoy. And it was a banner year for meeting new people. But most importantly it was a great learning week...I've never learned new moves so fast (thanks Andy) and Sally is now actually attempting jibes! Fantastic. We'll be back next year.
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
November 13, 2005
Hey Everybody. The Hyannis camp in May 20005 was awsome but cold. It rained the whole time but i still leaned a ton. I came in there as a total begginer and went out being and advanced begginer. I couldn't plane bevore i went to the camp. But after it i could plane it was no problem. me and my dad (MArkus) are looking forward to going to another camp!!!!!! The other camper were nice and the instructers were really nice and good too. Thanx so much, Philipp
Submitted by:Philipp Schreyer | Email: | Location:Durham, NH
Camp attended:
Hey Everybody. The Hyannis camp in May 20005 was awsome but cold. It rained the whole time but i still leaned a ton. I came in there as a total begginer and went out being and advanced begginer. I couldn't plane bevore i went to the camp. But after it i could plane it was no problem. me and my dad (MArkus) are looking forward to going to another camp!!!!!! The other camper were nice and the instructers were really nice and good too. Thanx so much, Philipp
Submitted by:Philipp Schreyer | Email: | Location:Durham, NH
Camp attended:
October 3, 2005
Yesterday was the last of three days of sunshine and light wind at Dewey Beach, Delaware. I had hoped to work on my planing jibe but instead was pleasantly amazed at how rewarding working on light-wind freestyle moves could be. I tried (and mostly achieved) all of the following: Sail 180, Sail 360, Clew-first Pivot Jibe, Switch-stance Pivot Jibe, Switch-stance Pivot Duck Jibe, Helicopter Tack (incl. Lee-side Escape), Clew-first Helicopter Tack, Cowboy, Fin-first Sailing, Clew-first Tack, Clew-first to Backwind Sailing, Backwinded Pivot Jibe, Hoss Tack, Duck Tack, and Back-to-Back Sailing. I had Andy help me write these down so I can take the list home and practice these moves, instead of always rigging big and waiting for gusts to plane in. Andy, Pete, and Tom were superb instructors, as usual, and it was great to see Sarah again and to meet Emma Brandt (age 6 mos). The other "campers" were a congenial group to spend time with, and it was a special treat to have Sarah Perkins -- another Centre County, PA representative -- in the clinic as well. I have about a 6 year head start on her, but judging from how fast she learned at ABK I will soon be needing to take lessons from her back home at Bald Eagle State Park. A final plug: the Bay Resort in Dewey Beach is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
Yesterday was the last of three days of sunshine and light wind at Dewey Beach, Delaware. I had hoped to work on my planing jibe but instead was pleasantly amazed at how rewarding working on light-wind freestyle moves could be. I tried (and mostly achieved) all of the following: Sail 180, Sail 360, Clew-first Pivot Jibe, Switch-stance Pivot Jibe, Switch-stance Pivot Duck Jibe, Helicopter Tack (incl. Lee-side Escape), Clew-first Helicopter Tack, Cowboy, Fin-first Sailing, Clew-first Tack, Clew-first to Backwind Sailing, Backwinded Pivot Jibe, Hoss Tack, Duck Tack, and Back-to-Back Sailing. I had Andy help me write these down so I can take the list home and practice these moves, instead of always rigging big and waiting for gusts to plane in. Andy, Pete, and Tom were superb instructors, as usual, and it was great to see Sarah again and to meet Emma Brandt (age 6 mos). The other "campers" were a congenial group to spend time with, and it was a special treat to have Sarah Perkins -- another Centre County, PA representative -- in the clinic as well. I have about a 6 year head start on her, but judging from how fast she learned at ABK I will soon be needing to take lessons from her back home at Bald Eagle State Park. A final plug: the Bay Resort in Dewey Beach is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
September 26, 2005
I just want to thank Andy and the rest of the gang from ABK because I was blown away by how much i learned from attending the Long Island clinic this past weekend. I went from never completing any transitions to getting through most of my jibes after attending the clinic. I have so much more confidence and I am a much better windsurfer all because of ABK. I am so greatfull for all the help and for giving me a fun filled weekend. See you at the next clinic! Thanks so much, Jason Rhodes.
Submitted by:Jason Rhodes | Email: | Location:Southold, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
I just want to thank Andy and the rest of the gang from ABK because I was blown away by how much i learned from attending the Long Island clinic this past weekend. I went from never completing any transitions to getting through most of my jibes after attending the clinic. I have so much more confidence and I am a much better windsurfer all because of ABK. I am so greatfull for all the help and for giving me a fun filled weekend. See you at the next clinic! Thanks so much, Jason Rhodes.
Submitted by:Jason Rhodes | Email: | Location:Southold, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
August 19, 2005
Hey Folks: I found that ABK at Hatteras is a great time and a very productive week of learning. It is such a great place to sail! I am going to the October 10 - 14, 2005 clinic, and I am looking for housemates. If interested, drop me an email or call at (203) 517-4113. Good sailing - T.
Submitted by:Tedrowe Bonner | Email: | Location:Nesconset, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
Hey Folks: I found that ABK at Hatteras is a great time and a very productive week of learning. It is such a great place to sail! I am going to the October 10 - 14, 2005 clinic, and I am looking for housemates. If interested, drop me an email or call at (203) 517-4113. Good sailing - T.
Submitted by:Tedrowe Bonner | Email: | Location:Nesconset, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
August 18, 2005
It was good to be back at dreaded Rio Vista with the ABK gang. Last year the high wind and big chop (hey, I'm from PA, ok?) gave me a very hard time. This year, I was initially afraid I might suffer the same fate, but a few extremely accurate pointers by Whit had me blasting across the chop as if it were smooth water. ABK rocks!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
It was good to be back at dreaded Rio Vista with the ABK gang. Last year the high wind and big chop (hey, I'm from PA, ok?) gave me a very hard time. This year, I was initially afraid I might suffer the same fate, but a few extremely accurate pointers by Whit had me blasting across the chop as if it were smooth water. ABK rocks!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
June 29, 2005
Yet another great ABK clinic--my fourth. This one was only 3 days long (darn it!), but we got some great wind every day of it. It would really crank in the morning, weaken going into lunch, then blow stronger in the afternoon. Unfortunately I had to leave after the morning session on the last day; but it was my best! The previous afternoon was a tad aggravating because I used a 5.3 sail that was too small for me even though the instructors were planing on smaller sails of course (argh!); and the straps on the wide Techno 2 148 liter board just felt so far out on the rails. That final morning after was an entirely different situation: I snagged the biggest sail in the lot this time, a 6.4, and popped it on a smaller Techno E 135 liter board, the same one that I struggled with on day one. Kudos to Pete though: when he said that the smaller board would be more stable at speed than the bigger T2, he was absolutely right. Following their instruction, I really straightened my legs, pushed on the boom with my front hand, and hiked my weight out into the harness looking like a number 7. I was totally dialed in. That smaller Techno just flew across the water, smoother than silk, and not scary at all. I never found it so easy and comfortable to get in both straps before. It felt like I was passing everyone else, although I'm not sure whether I really did. That morning was a huge milestone for me: first time doing a complete carve through the planing step jibe (though I flubbed the flip), first time I felt the fin slip/spin out at high speed (though I recovered without splashing), and did my first few chop hops following Pete's lecture. I advance more in one ABK clinic than I do sailing a dozen sessions on my own. Big thanks to all the instructors: Pete, Witt, Tyson, Matt, Mark, and Andy of course.
Submitted by:Christopher Thames | Email: | Location:Huntington Beach, CA
Camp attended:San Luis Reservoir, California
Yet another great ABK clinic--my fourth. This one was only 3 days long (darn it!), but we got some great wind every day of it. It would really crank in the morning, weaken going into lunch, then blow stronger in the afternoon. Unfortunately I had to leave after the morning session on the last day; but it was my best! The previous afternoon was a tad aggravating because I used a 5.3 sail that was too small for me even though the instructors were planing on smaller sails of course (argh!); and the straps on the wide Techno 2 148 liter board just felt so far out on the rails. That final morning after was an entirely different situation: I snagged the biggest sail in the lot this time, a 6.4, and popped it on a smaller Techno E 135 liter board, the same one that I struggled with on day one. Kudos to Pete though: when he said that the smaller board would be more stable at speed than the bigger T2, he was absolutely right. Following their instruction, I really straightened my legs, pushed on the boom with my front hand, and hiked my weight out into the harness looking like a number 7. I was totally dialed in. That smaller Techno just flew across the water, smoother than silk, and not scary at all. I never found it so easy and comfortable to get in both straps before. It felt like I was passing everyone else, although I'm not sure whether I really did. That morning was a huge milestone for me: first time doing a complete carve through the planing step jibe (though I flubbed the flip), first time I felt the fin slip/spin out at high speed (though I recovered without splashing), and did my first few chop hops following Pete's lecture. I advance more in one ABK clinic than I do sailing a dozen sessions on my own. Big thanks to all the instructors: Pete, Witt, Tyson, Matt, Mark, and Andy of course.
Submitted by:Christopher Thames | Email: | Location:Huntington Beach, CA
Camp attended:San Luis Reservoir, California
May 24, 2005
Good camp! I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the wind forecast, as we had lots of wind Friday and Saturday that wasn't predicted. I liked the new instructor from San Francisco, and the new 15 year old windsurfer: "I just wanna go fast and stuff". Excellent instruction all around...I'm coming back for the fall clinic.
Submitted by:E. Levin | Email: | Location:Long Island, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
Good camp! I'm glad I didn't pay attention to the wind forecast, as we had lots of wind Friday and Saturday that wasn't predicted. I liked the new instructor from San Francisco, and the new 15 year old windsurfer: "I just wanna go fast and stuff". Excellent instruction all around...I'm coming back for the fall clinic.
Submitted by:E. Levin | Email: | Location:Long Island, NY
Camp attended:Long Island, New York
April 4, 2005
Wow. I have been to quite a few ABK camps over the years, but the March 21 camp in Bonaire was absolutely one of the best. Great instruction, great wind all week, and a great group of people. Our beginners moved from trainer gear to "real" boards and sails, there was a lot of people getting into footstraps, an army of jibe students (and a few first duck jibes)...it was a great mix, and enormous fun. A big shout out to instructors Pete, Derrick, Tyson and Witt!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
Wow. I have been to quite a few ABK camps over the years, but the March 21 camp in Bonaire was absolutely one of the best. Great instruction, great wind all week, and a great group of people. Our beginners moved from trainer gear to "real" boards and sails, there was a lot of people getting into footstraps, an army of jibe students (and a few first duck jibes)...it was a great mix, and enormous fun. A big shout out to instructors Pete, Derrick, Tyson and Witt!
Submitted by:Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 23, 2005
The ABK Camps are great! It is incredible that a group of people with dramatically varying skill levels (complete beginners who have never been on a board; intermediate weekend warriors looking for the back foot straps, extra speed on the plane, or to hit more of their turns; and advanced sailors looking to nail the advanced turn or trick move) can attend the same camp and each walk away having achieved their goals and having learned executed additional moves that the instructors knew they they could achieve. We all left the ABK Camp with big smiles pumped for the sailing season, as better high wind sailors, with a number of light wind freestyle moves in our quiver, and more knowledgeable about gear and rigging. The one-on-one instruction and coaching is invaluable; you learn by watching the video analysis of you and your classmates; and you meet a bunch of good people. Many thanks to Sailboard Vacations, Aruba Beach Villas and the island of Aruba for a great visit. Attend an ABK Camp soon - its a great way to get aquainted with new sailing sites and you will advance your sailing skills to the next level and beyond.
Submitted by:David Adams | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
The ABK Camps are great! It is incredible that a group of people with dramatically varying skill levels (complete beginners who have never been on a board; intermediate weekend warriors looking for the back foot straps, extra speed on the plane, or to hit more of their turns; and advanced sailors looking to nail the advanced turn or trick move) can attend the same camp and each walk away having achieved their goals and having learned executed additional moves that the instructors knew they they could achieve. We all left the ABK Camp with big smiles pumped for the sailing season, as better high wind sailors, with a number of light wind freestyle moves in our quiver, and more knowledgeable about gear and rigging. The one-on-one instruction and coaching is invaluable; you learn by watching the video analysis of you and your classmates; and you meet a bunch of good people. Many thanks to Sailboard Vacations, Aruba Beach Villas and the island of Aruba for a great visit. Attend an ABK Camp soon - its a great way to get aquainted with new sailing sites and you will advance your sailing skills to the next level and beyond.
Submitted by:David Adams | Email: | Location:Chicago, IL
Camp attended:Aruba
March 22, 2005
This isn't really supposed to be a discussion forum, but I just have to respond to an e-mail from David Adams of Chicago, who was also at the March 7-11 Aruba clinic. He thinks I was too negative. I certainly didn't mean to be. Maybe I should have stressed that the winds there, although light by Aruba standards, were vastly stronger and steadier than I'm used to in central PA. At home I often use a 9.5 m^2 sail and still can't plane. And I think a wonderful thing about ABK is that when the wind isn't great for planing, they have a strong and varied repertoire of valuable light wind things to teach. There was only one day in the 5-day clinic when the winds were sub-planing, and even then one could have planed with really big gear. Hey, Aruba's winds aren't as good as Bonaire's -- that's just the way it is. But it was still great. ABK people provide an outstanding windsurfing learning experience regardless of what the weather provides.
Submitted by:Bill van den berg | Email: | Location:aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Aruba
This isn't really supposed to be a discussion forum, but I just have to respond to an e-mail from David Adams of Chicago, who was also at the March 7-11 Aruba clinic. He thinks I was too negative. I certainly didn't mean to be. Maybe I should have stressed that the winds there, although light by Aruba standards, were vastly stronger and steadier than I'm used to in central PA. At home I often use a 9.5 m^2 sail and still can't plane. And I think a wonderful thing about ABK is that when the wind isn't great for planing, they have a strong and varied repertoire of valuable light wind things to teach. There was only one day in the 5-day clinic when the winds were sub-planing, and even then one could have planed with really big gear. Hey, Aruba's winds aren't as good as Bonaire's -- that's just the way it is. But it was still great. ABK people provide an outstanding windsurfing learning experience regardless of what the weather provides.
Submitted by:Bill van den berg | Email: | Location:aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Aruba
March 20, 2005
Haven't touched a board in the last 3 years I was quite skeptical on reaching the goals (water start and planing) I have thought about before attending Bonaire camp this last week (12-19 march)...but thanks to the ABK guys and Derek in particular I did it! Planing on a short board with a 8.0mq sail... The camp was the best thing I have ever done for my windsurfing and I can't wait to attend the next one!
Submitted by:Stefano Galiani | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
Haven't touched a board in the last 3 years I was quite skeptical on reaching the goals (water start and planing) I have thought about before attending Bonaire camp this last week (12-19 march)...but thanks to the ABK guys and Derek in particular I did it! Planing on a short board with a 8.0mq sail... The camp was the best thing I have ever done for my windsurfing and I can't wait to attend the next one!
Submitted by:Stefano Galiani | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 14, 2005
In my book the ABK clinic in Aruba was a rousing success, despite mild winds and my not having sailed since October. It was great seeing Andy and Pete again, and benefitting from their unerring analysis of what's right and wrong about my moves on the water. The first few days I struggled to get my sea legs again in the gusty winds near the highrise hotels, but got lots of practice waterstarting sails as big as 7.5 m^2, plus I scored my first documented "planing" jibe [came in planing, employed desperate flailing to avoid falling at least twice, but never entirely stopped and sailed out - slowly - clew first]. Pete also explained the planing tack, something I'd never been exposed to. Friday we all got on big boards with 5 m^2 sails and practiced some of the famous ABK light wind stuff which in my case consisted of improving tacks, pivot jibes, sail-360's, and clew-first jibes. On Saturday, the day after the clinic, the wind was still pretty light but my confidence was up; I took out an 8.5m^2 sail (the biggest Aruba Beach Villas provides) and was able to rip for what seemed like miles. Thanks to Pete's instruction this clinic and the last one, I was able to steer pretty far upwind or downwind at high speed. ABK rocks!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Aruba
In my book the ABK clinic in Aruba was a rousing success, despite mild winds and my not having sailed since October. It was great seeing Andy and Pete again, and benefitting from their unerring analysis of what's right and wrong about my moves on the water. The first few days I struggled to get my sea legs again in the gusty winds near the highrise hotels, but got lots of practice waterstarting sails as big as 7.5 m^2, plus I scored my first documented "planing" jibe [came in planing, employed desperate flailing to avoid falling at least twice, but never entirely stopped and sailed out - slowly - clew first]. Pete also explained the planing tack, something I'd never been exposed to. Friday we all got on big boards with 5 m^2 sails and practiced some of the famous ABK light wind stuff which in my case consisted of improving tacks, pivot jibes, sail-360's, and clew-first jibes. On Saturday, the day after the clinic, the wind was still pretty light but my confidence was up; I took out an 8.5m^2 sail (the biggest Aruba Beach Villas provides) and was able to rip for what seemed like miles. Thanks to Pete's instruction this clinic and the last one, I was able to steer pretty far upwind or downwind at high speed. ABK rocks!
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Aruba
February 13, 2005
I was a first time camp attendee in Bonaire 1/29-2/5 2005. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in windsurfing. Day one, I was subjected to mind melt. After 15 years of spotty windsurfing, I had survived by learning a whole lot of bad habits. With lectures and 'on the water' instruction, I got better. I think it would have been a whole lot easier for me to start windsurfing with an education in windsurfing. There is truth in the old dog and new tricks cliche. Thanks to all and God Bless Baby Brandt.
Submitted by:Greg Scott | Email: | Location:Arlington Heights, IL
Camp attended:Bonaire
I was a first time camp attendee in Bonaire 1/29-2/5 2005. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in windsurfing. Day one, I was subjected to mind melt. After 15 years of spotty windsurfing, I had survived by learning a whole lot of bad habits. With lectures and 'on the water' instruction, I got better. I think it would have been a whole lot easier for me to start windsurfing with an education in windsurfing. There is truth in the old dog and new tricks cliche. Thanks to all and God Bless Baby Brandt.
Submitted by:Greg Scott | Email: | Location:Arlington Heights, IL
Camp attended:Bonaire
October 26, 2004
I agreed to go to the camp with my brother while half cocked at a wedding. I had no windsurfing experience at all. I was able to plain the board and hook into the harness the second day with 25mph+ winds blowing. I got to experience "scary fast" Windsurfing is now a sport that I will continue to explore. Andy, Pete, Angela, Kevin thanks! bob www.bobmartus.com Next time you come to jersey or NYC I would love to shoot some windsurfing images. Hit me up. bob@bobmartus.com
Submitted by:Bob Martus | Email: | Location:Brooklyn, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
I agreed to go to the camp with my brother while half cocked at a wedding. I had no windsurfing experience at all. I was able to plain the board and hook into the harness the second day with 25mph+ winds blowing. I got to experience "scary fast" Windsurfing is now a sport that I will continue to explore. Andy, Pete, Angela, Kevin thanks! bob www.bobmartus.com Next time you come to jersey or NYC I would love to shoot some windsurfing images. Hit me up. bob@bobmartus.com
Submitted by:Bob Martus | Email: | Location:Brooklyn, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
September 28, 2004
Man! It's hard to go back to work after an ABK camp! I'm sitting at my desk trying to concentrate, & then drift into "step back, reach back, lean back...". I'm going to be traveling for work, so I thought my windsurf season would be over after the camp. But now I'm going to see if I can find a sailing site & rental equipment in Asia. If I can get on the water one more time this year, maybe it will come back easier next year. Either way, I will see you guys again some time next year. And by the way Andy, I've stopped blaming my equipment.
Submitted by:Ron | Email: | Location:Corning, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
Man! It's hard to go back to work after an ABK camp! I'm sitting at my desk trying to concentrate, & then drift into "step back, reach back, lean back...". I'm going to be traveling for work, so I thought my windsurf season would be over after the camp. But now I'm going to see if I can find a sailing site & rental equipment in Asia. If I can get on the water one more time this year, maybe it will come back easier next year. Either way, I will see you guys again some time next year. And by the way Andy, I've stopped blaming my equipment.
Submitted by:Ron | Email: | Location:Corning, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
September 18, 2004
OK, I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody at the Hyannis ABK camps in a couple of weeks. After becoming a devoted disciple of the ABK, I have had more fun on the water than I could have imagined in any and all conditions. Andy, Pete, Sarah, Scott, Patrick, Squirrel, etc. have a gift to pass on to all who are willing to come out and try. The Gulf Stream still keeps the water pretty warm in October, and you might be surprised at the forgiving conditions you will find here in MA. So sign up, and c'mon down!
Submitted by:Cliff Gluck | Email: | Location:Milton, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
OK, I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody at the Hyannis ABK camps in a couple of weeks. After becoming a devoted disciple of the ABK, I have had more fun on the water than I could have imagined in any and all conditions. Andy, Pete, Sarah, Scott, Patrick, Squirrel, etc. have a gift to pass on to all who are willing to come out and try. The Gulf Stream still keeps the water pretty warm in October, and you might be surprised at the forgiving conditions you will find here in MA. So sign up, and c'mon down!
Submitted by:Cliff Gluck | Email: | Location:Milton, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
September 7, 2004
I just signed up for my 2nd Canandaigua camp. I've already talked one friend & his wife into attending, & another friend is considering. Last year was so successful for me, & I continued to improve this summer after reviewing the manual & class notes. Looking forward to more of the same.
Submitted by:Ron | Email: | Location:Corning, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
I just signed up for my 2nd Canandaigua camp. I've already talked one friend & his wife into attending, & another friend is considering. Last year was so successful for me, & I continued to improve this summer after reviewing the manual & class notes. Looking forward to more of the same.
Submitted by:Ron | Email: | Location:Corning, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
August 14, 2004
Andy and Pete both warned me that it would be brutal for me, but I attended the July 23-25 camp at Rio anyway. Yup, they told me so. I was too advanced to be in the beginners' group (who had a nice easy spot on the river), but not as good in chop and high winds as most of the people in the middle group. So I spent a lot of time floating upstream or downstream (depending on the tide), trying to waterstart and keep the river out of my nose. HOWEVER, it was still awesome and I'm already planning on going back next summer. I did get quite proficient at clearing the sail and getting up, and thanks to Pete's tacking lecture I finally got it through my head what I need to do to nail my shortboard tacks. The day after the camp, I stuck around and rented gear and had a fantastic day on the river on the smallest board I'd ever ridden, blasting upwind against the tide just like I knew what I was doing. Also in the days after the camp, Andy saw me nail me best planing jibe ENTRY ever, and while I was struggling at times several ABK instructors took time out from their play to give me right-on free advice. ABK rocks, and Rio Vista will see me conquer it.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
Andy and Pete both warned me that it would be brutal for me, but I attended the July 23-25 camp at Rio anyway. Yup, they told me so. I was too advanced to be in the beginners' group (who had a nice easy spot on the river), but not as good in chop and high winds as most of the people in the middle group. So I spent a lot of time floating upstream or downstream (depending on the tide), trying to waterstart and keep the river out of my nose. HOWEVER, it was still awesome and I'm already planning on going back next summer. I did get quite proficient at clearing the sail and getting up, and thanks to Pete's tacking lecture I finally got it through my head what I need to do to nail my shortboard tacks. The day after the camp, I stuck around and rented gear and had a fantastic day on the river on the smallest board I'd ever ridden, blasting upwind against the tide just like I knew what I was doing. Also in the days after the camp, Andy saw me nail me best planing jibe ENTRY ever, and while I was struggling at times several ABK instructors took time out from their play to give me right-on free advice. ABK rocks, and Rio Vista will see me conquer it.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
August 12, 2004
Please send info on fall clinic in Cape Cod, Jim B. @ Sailworld tells me you WILL teach me how to jybe. Thanks, Pete
Submitted by:Pete Wilson | Email: | Location:, MA
Camp attended:
Please send info on fall clinic in Cape Cod, Jim B. @ Sailworld tells me you WILL teach me how to jybe. Thanks, Pete
Submitted by:Pete Wilson | Email: | Location:, MA
Camp attended:
August 5, 2004
Had a great time at the Rio Vista camp! Met some good people, learned efficient techniques for jibing and tacking, refined my posture for high-wind sailing and got tips for my land-sailing (skateboard w/ sail). Thanks to Andy, Sarah, Pete, Mark and all the staff. See you next time.
Submitted by:Kyle Larson | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
Had a great time at the Rio Vista camp! Met some good people, learned efficient techniques for jibing and tacking, refined my posture for high-wind sailing and got tips for my land-sailing (skateboard w/ sail). Thanks to Andy, Sarah, Pete, Mark and all the staff. See you next time.
Submitted by:Kyle Larson | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
August 4, 2004
Another awesome camp. I'm already plotting my next. Pete, Andy and Sarah thanks for your incredible patience adn wonderful teaching. I made more jibes in a weekend than I have in my entire last four years of windsurfing and now have the tools to get even better. And Mark - the food was scrumptious! See you again soon...
Submitted by:Julian King | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
Another awesome camp. I'm already plotting my next. Pete, Andy and Sarah thanks for your incredible patience adn wonderful teaching. I made more jibes in a weekend than I have in my entire last four years of windsurfing and now have the tools to get even better. And Mark - the food was scrumptious! See you again soon...
Submitted by:Julian King | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
August 4, 2004
I'm hooked! I spent my 2nd third and 4th days of windsurfing last weekend and I'm addicted. Excellent camp. The structure of the clinics and lecture is great. Elia is a rad teacher. I plan to be sailing regularly in Berkeley and after sunday's lecture I am itching to practice sail chi- thanks Andy. Angela, Pete, Sarah, and Mark-thanks for your energy.
Submitted by:Jeff Ennor | Email: | Location:Berkeley, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
I'm hooked! I spent my 2nd third and 4th days of windsurfing last weekend and I'm addicted. Excellent camp. The structure of the clinics and lecture is great. Elia is a rad teacher. I plan to be sailing regularly in Berkeley and after sunday's lecture I am itching to practice sail chi- thanks Andy. Angela, Pete, Sarah, and Mark-thanks for your energy.
Submitted by:Jeff Ennor | Email: | Location:Berkeley, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
August 3, 2004
I now can plane whenever I want (and get back to slogging if needed); turn the board when planing and keep going afterwards; I can get in both footstraps, bear with gusts and lulls in harness and I am CARVING (it is a wipeout anyway for me at this stage). I also learned that I have tuned my sail wrong. The best thing is that they care you succeed. Thank you guys, see you next time.
Submitted by:Sergey Menshikov | Email: | Location:San Bruno, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
I now can plane whenever I want (and get back to slogging if needed); turn the board when planing and keep going afterwards; I can get in both footstraps, bear with gusts and lulls in harness and I am CARVING (it is a wipeout anyway for me at this stage). I also learned that I have tuned my sail wrong. The best thing is that they care you succeed. Thank you guys, see you next time.
Submitted by:Sergey Menshikov | Email: | Location:San Bruno, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
July 17, 2004
After a ripping good first day in 5.0 conditions, I was initially disappointed about the light winds on our 2nd day, but, it turned out that I learned quite a bit more on the light wind day than the "good" day! After practicing in the morning on a big board, Pete and Sarah had me doing clew first water starts and planing step-jibes on a short board in the afternoon. I'm still working on my short board tack, but with the training I received in the clinic I know it is just a matter of a little more practice to get my timing right. Thanks Pete and Sarah, your explanations and demos were easy to understand and put to use and I have already improved measureably. Well, gotta go sailing now, 'cause every day of sailing is a great day of sailing...
Submitted by:Scott Lance | Email: | Location:,
Camp attended:
After a ripping good first day in 5.0 conditions, I was initially disappointed about the light winds on our 2nd day, but, it turned out that I learned quite a bit more on the light wind day than the "good" day! After practicing in the morning on a big board, Pete and Sarah had me doing clew first water starts and planing step-jibes on a short board in the afternoon. I'm still working on my short board tack, but with the training I received in the clinic I know it is just a matter of a little more practice to get my timing right. Thanks Pete and Sarah, your explanations and demos were easy to understand and put to use and I have already improved measureably. Well, gotta go sailing now, 'cause every day of sailing is a great day of sailing...
Submitted by:Scott Lance | Email: | Location:,
Camp attended:
April 18, 2004
"Every day sailing is a great day sailing." ABK has taught me how true this statement can be. In my five ABK clinics, the instructors have brought me up from a clumsy uphauller / schlogger to a (most of the time!) confident sailor. I can now go scary fast in the straps, my waterstart is almost 100%, and I am working on my planing step jibe. In addition they taught me many light wind skills; my latest accomplishment is the helicopter tack. The clinics are a lot of fun, and I have met some wonderful people. Thank you so much, everyone -- especially Andy, Derek, and Pete.
Submitted by:Teresa Poulson | Email: | Location:Reno, NV
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
"Every day sailing is a great day sailing." ABK has taught me how true this statement can be. In my five ABK clinics, the instructors have brought me up from a clumsy uphauller / schlogger to a (most of the time!) confident sailor. I can now go scary fast in the straps, my waterstart is almost 100%, and I am working on my planing step jibe. In addition they taught me many light wind skills; my latest accomplishment is the helicopter tack. The clinics are a lot of fun, and I have met some wonderful people. Thank you so much, everyone -- especially Andy, Derek, and Pete.
Submitted by:Teresa Poulson | Email: | Location:Reno, NV
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
April 14, 2004
Andy is the rockstar of windsurfing instructors.....simply the best. He has the unique ability to communicate with students and the patience to help them improve. His humor and animation make the camps fun and interesting. Pete and Derek are also outstanding and tremendously helpful. A windsurfing must do......a no-brainer....can't wait to attend again next year. Five stars
Submitted by:Bob Milbert | Email: | Location:South St. Paul, MN
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
Andy is the rockstar of windsurfing instructors.....simply the best. He has the unique ability to communicate with students and the patience to help them improve. His humor and animation make the camps fun and interesting. Pete and Derek are also outstanding and tremendously helpful. A windsurfing must do......a no-brainer....can't wait to attend again next year. Five stars
Submitted by:Bob Milbert | Email: | Location:South St. Paul, MN
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
March 18, 2004
This was approximately my dozenth ABK "camp", my second one in Bonaire. If we had more wind in Pennsylvania I'd by very good by now. Almost all the windsurfing technique I've learned has come from ABK. This goes back to my first discovering (after no instruction at all for the first 2 years) that there is such a thing as a beach start. Last week was exciting: Andy and Pete pushed me to getting on a 115-liter board [I usually sail on 210 liters at home], and I could really rip on it! Plus I developed a reliable waterstart, even managing to do it once with an 8.0 m^2 sail. I started to get the hang of steering at high speed, and got incrementally closer to the elusive planing jibe. Andy, Sarah, and Pete: thanks for your expert help and warm friendship. See you in New Jersey in May and California in July.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
This was approximately my dozenth ABK "camp", my second one in Bonaire. If we had more wind in Pennsylvania I'd by very good by now. Almost all the windsurfing technique I've learned has come from ABK. This goes back to my first discovering (after no instruction at all for the first 2 years) that there is such a thing as a beach start. Last week was exciting: Andy and Pete pushed me to getting on a 115-liter board [I usually sail on 210 liters at home], and I could really rip on it! Plus I developed a reliable waterstart, even managing to do it once with an 8.0 m^2 sail. I started to get the hang of steering at high speed, and got incrementally closer to the elusive planing jibe. Andy, Sarah, and Pete: thanks for your expert help and warm friendship. See you in New Jersey in May and California in July.
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 17, 2004
I just got back from a 9-day stay in Bonaire. The conditions there in March were ideal for developing your skills expeditiously. The ABK instruction is very well-thought out and precise, and delivered in a very friendly and supportive attitude. I strongly recommend it to all levels of windsurfers -particularly beginners like me. In a matter of 5 days, I transitioned from constant uphaul-and-fall to water-start, hook in, get into footstraps and plane! I'll definitely attend another ABK clinic in the future. Cheers,
Submitted by:Tunc | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
I just got back from a 9-day stay in Bonaire. The conditions there in March were ideal for developing your skills expeditiously. The ABK instruction is very well-thought out and precise, and delivered in a very friendly and supportive attitude. I strongly recommend it to all levels of windsurfers -particularly beginners like me. In a matter of 5 days, I transitioned from constant uphaul-and-fall to water-start, hook in, get into footstraps and plane! I'll definitely attend another ABK clinic in the future. Cheers,
Submitted by:Tunc | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
March 15, 2004
My wife and I just returned from our first Bonaire ABK camp. It was outstanding! It may well be the best place in the world for beginners and intermediates (warm, shallow, flatwater, steady wind)...Sally finally got into the back footstrap (and liked it), and tuned up her waterstart and tacking. I had fun with some advanced jibes and tacks, but would still occasionally sail off to the deep part of the bay for a little chop hopping. Great instruction, great meeting people, great sailing...we're coming back next year.
Submitted by:Sally and Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
My wife and I just returned from our first Bonaire ABK camp. It was outstanding! It may well be the best place in the world for beginners and intermediates (warm, shallow, flatwater, steady wind)...Sally finally got into the back footstrap (and liked it), and tuned up her waterstart and tacking. I had fun with some advanced jibes and tacks, but would still occasionally sail off to the deep part of the bay for a little chop hopping. Great instruction, great meeting people, great sailing...we're coming back next year.
Submitted by:Sally and Michael | Email: | Location:New York, NY
Camp attended:Bonaire
February 25, 2004
The ABK Clinic in Bonaire 9-13 Feb.'04 had far greater impact on my sailing skills than I had anticipated. At first I thought that with so many students (17) and only 3 instructors (including Andy Brandt), it would be impossible to get personalized attention, but that definitely did not turn out to be the case. After the introductory morning and afternoon lectures or demonstrations, the instructors stationed themselves at various places in the bay to view, critique and correct their student's performance. Then, as each student sailed by, the instructor would comment on what was done wrong or right and send the student back to try again. As it took several minutes for each person to go back out, gain some upwind distance and set up for the next pass, there was plenty of opportunity for one on one discussion with the instructor after each pass. During the late afternoon reviews of the videos, Andy and Peter were absolutely amazing in their ability to forecast a sailor's future path by his or her body position. For example, as the taped rolled, Andy might make note of a student's incorrect body position and indicate that said action would lead to a subsequent fall in a certain direction; moments later the tape would show the student falling as Andy had predicted. My only mistake with regard to ABK Clinics has not been to take one earlier.
Submitted by:Michael Ernstoff | Email: | Location:Los Angeles, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
The ABK Clinic in Bonaire 9-13 Feb.'04 had far greater impact on my sailing skills than I had anticipated. At first I thought that with so many students (17) and only 3 instructors (including Andy Brandt), it would be impossible to get personalized attention, but that definitely did not turn out to be the case. After the introductory morning and afternoon lectures or demonstrations, the instructors stationed themselves at various places in the bay to view, critique and correct their student's performance. Then, as each student sailed by, the instructor would comment on what was done wrong or right and send the student back to try again. As it took several minutes for each person to go back out, gain some upwind distance and set up for the next pass, there was plenty of opportunity for one on one discussion with the instructor after each pass. During the late afternoon reviews of the videos, Andy and Peter were absolutely amazing in their ability to forecast a sailor's future path by his or her body position. For example, as the taped rolled, Andy might make note of a student's incorrect body position and indicate that said action would lead to a subsequent fall in a certain direction; moments later the tape would show the student falling as Andy had predicted. My only mistake with regard to ABK Clinics has not been to take one earlier.
Submitted by:Michael Ernstoff | Email: | Location:Los Angeles, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
February 17, 2004
I was a little skeptical going in about what kind of progress I would make (years of less-than-helpful classes have done that), but the first day was an amazing, awesome day. I made more progress than I had in years! It was by far my best day of windsurfing! I was thunderstruck (and gleeful!), hubby was amazed. Andy is an amazing instructor. The rest of the week was dedicated to more practice (in the footstraps, going scary fast and even making progress up wind!) and starting to think about jibing. We have been home for over a week and I am still dreaming of jibe set-ups ("sailing along having a great day of sailing, because every day of sailing is a great day of sailing, look back, reach back, unhook....) Thanks guys for an awesome camp! I can't recommend it enough. (And thanks to hubby for taking me and getting his parents to watch the kids so we could go!)
Submitted by:Ruth | Email: | Location:Sierra Madre, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
I was a little skeptical going in about what kind of progress I would make (years of less-than-helpful classes have done that), but the first day was an amazing, awesome day. I made more progress than I had in years! It was by far my best day of windsurfing! I was thunderstruck (and gleeful!), hubby was amazed. Andy is an amazing instructor. The rest of the week was dedicated to more practice (in the footstraps, going scary fast and even making progress up wind!) and starting to think about jibing. We have been home for over a week and I am still dreaming of jibe set-ups ("sailing along having a great day of sailing, because every day of sailing is a great day of sailing, look back, reach back, unhook....) Thanks guys for an awesome camp! I can't recommend it enough. (And thanks to hubby for taking me and getting his parents to watch the kids so we could go!)
Submitted by:Ruth | Email: | Location:Sierra Madre, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
February 10, 2004
Hey! I put my feet in both straps now :) It was incredible to sail upwind with high speed followed Mr. Brandt this time. :P
Submitted by:Thip | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
Hey! I put my feet in both straps now :) It was incredible to sail upwind with high speed followed Mr. Brandt this time. :P
Submitted by:Thip | Email: | Location:San Francisco, CA
Camp attended:Bonaire
December 9, 2003
More than a year and a half since I attended the clinic in Hatteras, and the memories are still fresh - the laughs, the good food, and the instructors pushing us just a bit further. I can still hear Andy shouting out encouragement/correction/threats as I sail. More importantly were some hidden lessons about life and what matters most. It was a weekend that changed my life, and I will be back for more. Just some place warmer. Thank you again Andy, Sarah and Peter!
Submitted by:Mark Smith | Email: | Location:Lansing, MI
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
More than a year and a half since I attended the clinic in Hatteras, and the memories are still fresh - the laughs, the good food, and the instructors pushing us just a bit further. I can still hear Andy shouting out encouragement/correction/threats as I sail. More importantly were some hidden lessons about life and what matters most. It was a weekend that changed my life, and I will be back for more. Just some place warmer. Thank you again Andy, Sarah and Peter!
Submitted by:Mark Smith | Email: | Location:Lansing, MI
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
November 25, 2003
WOW. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first signed up. Cliff Tudor pressed me into going, saying it would be more than worth it. He was right. Andy, Pete, and Derrik are the best. They built on what I knew, corrected what I thought I knew, and basically showed me a whole new world on the sport. Since the clinic, all I can think about is getting back on the water to practice all of the new things they've shown me. Hopefully by time I get to the next clinic my skills will show through their instruction; taking the next step with them and learning how to be that much better at sailing and freestyle. Pushing me on to that little Saxo broadened my view on the footwork aspect of things, and I can't wait for some wind to really nail it. This course gave me a tremendous amount of confidence to get that much better, and already there are plans to make more trips, gather more gear, and have more fun. Thanks to the Big Three, Dave and Phillip at Windsurf Inc., and all of the crew in the small (but fun) class of 10!
Submitted by:Donny Wilkins | Email: | Location:Friendswood, TX
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
WOW. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first signed up. Cliff Tudor pressed me into going, saying it would be more than worth it. He was right. Andy, Pete, and Derrik are the best. They built on what I knew, corrected what I thought I knew, and basically showed me a whole new world on the sport. Since the clinic, all I can think about is getting back on the water to practice all of the new things they've shown me. Hopefully by time I get to the next clinic my skills will show through their instruction; taking the next step with them and learning how to be that much better at sailing and freestyle. Pushing me on to that little Saxo broadened my view on the footwork aspect of things, and I can't wait for some wind to really nail it. This course gave me a tremendous amount of confidence to get that much better, and already there are plans to make more trips, gather more gear, and have more fun. Thanks to the Big Three, Dave and Phillip at Windsurf Inc., and all of the crew in the small (but fun) class of 10!
Submitted by:Donny Wilkins | Email: | Location:Friendswood, TX
Camp attended:South Padre Island, Texas
October 16, 2003
With the water temp of Lake Erie dipping down into the 50's, my local windsurfing season is coming to a close(especially since Sarah is not around making baked potaotes for those cold days!). But what a great season it has been! It started in April at the ABK clinic in Cape Hatteras. I went with three goals for the clinic: to improve my waterstarts, get in the straps and jibe! I left the clinic with my waterstarts pretty solid, almost getting in the straps and jibing in light winds. I sailed more than 40 days this summer in all conditions (5-40 mph winds)yes that means I went scary fast!. I closed out my sailing season waterstarting, getting into the straps and completing light wind jibes consistently and actually hitting some jibes in higher winds. Now I plan to work as much as I can while the lake freezes over so I can travel to sail, maybe track down Andy, Pete and Sarah and definitely get that new board I need! Thanks again for a great clinic!
Submitted by:Gail Marinaccio | Email: | Location:Lockport, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
With the water temp of Lake Erie dipping down into the 50's, my local windsurfing season is coming to a close(especially since Sarah is not around making baked potaotes for those cold days!). But what a great season it has been! It started in April at the ABK clinic in Cape Hatteras. I went with three goals for the clinic: to improve my waterstarts, get in the straps and jibe! I left the clinic with my waterstarts pretty solid, almost getting in the straps and jibing in light winds. I sailed more than 40 days this summer in all conditions (5-40 mph winds)yes that means I went scary fast!. I closed out my sailing season waterstarting, getting into the straps and completing light wind jibes consistently and actually hitting some jibes in higher winds. Now I plan to work as much as I can while the lake freezes over so I can travel to sail, maybe track down Andy, Pete and Sarah and definitely get that new board I need! Thanks again for a great clinic!
Submitted by:Gail Marinaccio | Email: | Location:Lockport, NY
Camp attended:Hatteras, North Carolina
October 16, 2003
The ABK clinic was, as usual, so worthwhile. Friday and Saturday were gray and cool, but extremely breezy. I have so little experience with higher winds, that I never know what to rig, but the instructors (Pete DeKay and Andy Brandt) had me rig my 5.0 m^2 sail and put it on a much shorter board than my 335 cm Mistral Malibu. The idea was lateral progression, rather than trying to get better on my own very forgiving gear. It was quite a bit of work, as the clinic always is, but it was, as it always is, a massive dose of instruction that can really advance one's sailing skill. It was invaluable to me to get on that smaller board, forcing me to confront some bad habits, and to discover the thrill of smaller gear. I actually ended up buying, for a great price, a slightly used Bic Techno 2. Sunday started out gray, but it became a picture-perfect beach day, so everybody peeled at least part way out of their hot wetsuits. The wind was mild, but enough for me to get a lot of practice trying planing jibes with my big board and my old 7.4 m^2 sail. Never did complete one successfully, but I'm getting close. All three days I heard a lot of tips which I hope to internalize, regarding stance, where to look, and especially (on Sunday) what I was doing right and what I needed to change in working up to planing all the way through a jibe. The ABK instructors are amazing in their ability to pinpoint just what you need. Thanks folks, and thanks, Sarah, for saving me lunch on Friday :)
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
The ABK clinic was, as usual, so worthwhile. Friday and Saturday were gray and cool, but extremely breezy. I have so little experience with higher winds, that I never know what to rig, but the instructors (Pete DeKay and Andy Brandt) had me rig my 5.0 m^2 sail and put it on a much shorter board than my 335 cm Mistral Malibu. The idea was lateral progression, rather than trying to get better on my own very forgiving gear. It was quite a bit of work, as the clinic always is, but it was, as it always is, a massive dose of instruction that can really advance one's sailing skill. It was invaluable to me to get on that smaller board, forcing me to confront some bad habits, and to discover the thrill of smaller gear. I actually ended up buying, for a great price, a slightly used Bic Techno 2. Sunday started out gray, but it became a picture-perfect beach day, so everybody peeled at least part way out of their hot wetsuits. The wind was mild, but enough for me to get a lot of practice trying planing jibes with my big board and my old 7.4 m^2 sail. Never did complete one successfully, but I'm getting close. All three days I heard a lot of tips which I hope to internalize, regarding stance, where to look, and especially (on Sunday) what I was doing right and what I needed to change in working up to planing all the way through a jibe. The ABK instructors are amazing in their ability to pinpoint just what you need. Thanks folks, and thanks, Sarah, for saving me lunch on Friday :)
Submitted by:Bill van den Berg | Email: | Location:Aaronsburg, PA
Camp attended:Dewey Beach, Delaware
October 5, 2003
Home at last after a very long boat ride. To Andy, Pete, Scott, Tom and Sarah. Thank you all for a wonderful time. We certainly got to experience a huge variety of wind ranges. Learned to hang on and attempt a jibe or two on day 1, but that was about all thanks to Isabell. Days 2 and 3 were where we really learned. Take it from a high wind junkie - lightwind freestyle is fun!!!! These guys accomodate all levels and give the attention to each group individually. This is the best money I have spent on windsurfing so far and I can highly recommend ABK.
Submitted by:Ryan Lawson | Email: | Location:Little Cayman,
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
Home at last after a very long boat ride. To Andy, Pete, Scott, Tom and Sarah. Thank you all for a wonderful time. We certainly got to experience a huge variety of wind ranges. Learned to hang on and attempt a jibe or two on day 1, but that was about all thanks to Isabell. Days 2 and 3 were where we really learned. Take it from a high wind junkie - lightwind freestyle is fun!!!! These guys accomodate all levels and give the attention to each group individually. This is the best money I have spent on windsurfing so far and I can highly recommend ABK.
Submitted by:Ryan Lawson | Email: | Location:Little Cayman,
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
September 29, 2003
ANDY, PETE AND SARAH -- THANKS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURFING. THERE IS STILL A WHOLE LOTTA WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I FIGURE WE CAN WORK ON THAT IN BONAIRE, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU READ ME CORRECTLY! BONAIRE HERE WE COME...YAAAAAAAAA!! (AND DON'T WORRY ANDY, IT WON'T BE AT YOUR FREESTYLE CLINIC. YOU ALREADY MADE THAT PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT OUR BUNCH WASN'T UP TO PAR WITH YOUR SCARY FAST, HIGH FLIERS, HOWEVER, NEXT YEAR MAY BE A DIFFERENT STORY.) CLOSING THOUGHTS, YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE IN BONAIRE, WE WILL ONCE AGAIN RIDE THE BOARD WITH SAIL, AND FIN ON ITS TAIL INTO THE SHORE, FOR A NICE COLD ALE! PEACE.
Submitted by: | Email: | Location:CHICAGO, IL
Camp attended:
ANDY, PETE AND SARAH -- THANKS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURFING. THERE IS STILL A WHOLE LOTTA WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I FIGURE WE CAN WORK ON THAT IN BONAIRE, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU READ ME CORRECTLY! BONAIRE HERE WE COME...YAAAAAAAAA!! (AND DON'T WORRY ANDY, IT WON'T BE AT YOUR FREESTYLE CLINIC. YOU ALREADY MADE THAT PAINFULLY CLEAR THAT OUR BUNCH WASN'T UP TO PAR WITH YOUR SCARY FAST, HIGH FLIERS, HOWEVER, NEXT YEAR MAY BE A DIFFERENT STORY.) CLOSING THOUGHTS, YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE IN BONAIRE, WE WILL ONCE AGAIN RIDE THE BOARD WITH SAIL, AND FIN ON ITS TAIL INTO THE SHORE, FOR A NICE COLD ALE! PEACE.
Submitted by: | Email: | Location:CHICAGO, IL
Camp attended:
September 29, 2003
HEY GUYS... AND SARAH- JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THE CORRECT E-MAIL ADDRESS. I REALIZED I MISSED A LETTER. SEE YA
Submitted by: | Email: | Location:CHICAGO, IL
Camp attended:
HEY GUYS... AND SARAH- JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD THE CORRECT E-MAIL ADDRESS. I REALIZED I MISSED A LETTER. SEE YA
Submitted by: | Email: | Location:CHICAGO, IL
Camp attended:
September 22, 2003
I can't tell you how glad i am that i went to this clinic! Andy and the guys (and Sara!) were awesome. i felt completely at ease there, even though i am a beginner. I learned how to water start, jibe, and tack! I had no idea i would be able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. Thanks to the clinic, i feel more confident about my windsurfing ability and can't wait to get out on the water. in fact, unlike yesterday (the last day of camp), today is windy. i'll be hitting the water as soon as school ends! My thanks to ABK and its staff.
Submitted by:Carrie McNeill | Email: | Location:Canandaigua, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
I can't tell you how glad i am that i went to this clinic! Andy and the guys (and Sara!) were awesome. i felt completely at ease there, even though i am a beginner. I learned how to water start, jibe, and tack! I had no idea i would be able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. Thanks to the clinic, i feel more confident about my windsurfing ability and can't wait to get out on the water. in fact, unlike yesterday (the last day of camp), today is windy. i'll be hitting the water as soon as school ends! My thanks to ABK and its staff.
Submitted by:Carrie McNeill | Email: | Location:Canandaigua, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
September 21, 2003
I just returned home from the Canandaigua camp. From the remnants of Hurrican Isabelle the first day to a dead lull the last day (& something in between the 2nd day), the camp was a huge success for me. I learned to waterstart & gained confidence in my tacks & jibes (still not perfect yet, but I've got a lot to work on). We also had a blast! Great staff, great campers, well organized, knowledgeable instructors who also know how to teach. Very good at making sure everybody at every ability level gets the appropriate attention. Well worth the time & money. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.
Submitted by:Ron Burt | Email: | Location:Painted Post, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
I just returned home from the Canandaigua camp. From the remnants of Hurrican Isabelle the first day to a dead lull the last day (& something in between the 2nd day), the camp was a huge success for me. I learned to waterstart & gained confidence in my tacks & jibes (still not perfect yet, but I've got a lot to work on). We also had a blast! Great staff, great campers, well organized, knowledgeable instructors who also know how to teach. Very good at making sure everybody at every ability level gets the appropriate attention. Well worth the time & money. I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.
Submitted by:Ron Burt | Email: | Location:Painted Post, NY
Camp attended:Canandaigua, New York
September 11, 2003
A general comment: ABK camp is the greatest thing since the universal joint and sliced bread (on Sarah's sandwiches!). TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE READING THIS: JUST DO IT! SIGN UP TODAY!! (even if you THINK you know it all) You won't regret it.
Submitted by:Clifford D Gluck MD | Email: | Location:Milton, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
A general comment: ABK camp is the greatest thing since the universal joint and sliced bread (on Sarah's sandwiches!). TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE READING THIS: JUST DO IT! SIGN UP TODAY!! (even if you THINK you know it all) You won't regret it.
Submitted by:Clifford D Gluck MD | Email: | Location:Milton, MA
Camp attended:Hyannis, Massachusetts
September 2, 2003
fantastic camp! Pete, Andy and Sarah epitomize what teaching is all about. They can teach it, demonstrate it and then trouble shoot it for you at any level. From beginners to loopers, everyone came away a better sailor. Thanks a million for a job well done.
Submitted by:bill lawson | Email: | Location:vail, CO
Camp attended:Denver, Colorado
fantastic camp! Pete, Andy and Sarah epitomize what teaching is all about. They can teach it, demonstrate it and then trouble shoot it for you at any level. From beginners to loopers, everyone came away a better sailor. Thanks a million for a job well done.
Submitted by:bill lawson | Email: | Location:vail, CO
Camp attended:Denver, Colorado
August 22, 2003
Andy, to eliminate harsh shadows, photograph groups during cloudy or hazy days. To everyone hooked on windsurfing attend a camp you will learn to sail with much less effort, get some basics you thought you knew, do some things on a board you could not or knew not before
Submitted by:Stan | Email: | Location:San Antonio, TX
Camp attended:
Andy, to eliminate harsh shadows, photograph groups during cloudy or hazy days. To everyone hooked on windsurfing attend a camp you will learn to sail with much less effort, get some basics you thought you knew, do some things on a board you could not or knew not before
Submitted by:Stan | Email: | Location:San Antonio, TX
Camp attended:
August 5, 2003
Thanks again Corey to taught me all I want to know (for now) :P I can water start after my 1st camp with ABK. For my 2nd camp, I learned to beach start, tack, sail clew first and pivot jibe even through I can't do it perfect. But I will practice more often. One more thing, all of staff are very friendly. This is what I liked best. Sarah and John supported us very well all foods. They were very organized. Thanks again and waiting to see you all next year. :)
Submitted by:Thip | Email: | Location:SF, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
Thanks again Corey to taught me all I want to know (for now) :P I can water start after my 1st camp with ABK. For my 2nd camp, I learned to beach start, tack, sail clew first and pivot jibe even through I can't do it perfect. But I will practice more often. One more thing, all of staff are very friendly. This is what I liked best. Sarah and John supported us very well all foods. They were very organized. Thanks again and waiting to see you all next year. :)
Submitted by:Thip | Email: | Location:SF, CA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
August 4, 2003
Hello, I want to thank you all for a great camp. I attended the Rio Vista camp. I was hoping to have high wind so that I would have a better opportunity to refine my windsurfing. Unfortunately, the wind was not cooperative. But I did find that the lectures were so well done as well as the simulator sessions, that one does not need the high wind to learn the techniques. In addition, the light wind techniques were incredibly fun and open a wider opportunity to go windsurfing. I found that I don't always need high wind to enjoy windsurfing. The free style techniques were incredibly challenging and a lot of fun. Finally, one cannot say enough about Andy Brandt and his teaching techniques. I have been in education for a number of years and I have learned from many fine educators. I have to say that Andy employs many of the techniques utilized by professional educators that help one understand and remember the facts being presented. It is clear that Andy not only enjoys windsurfing but enjoys the art of teaching it. he doesn't just tell you that this is what you do, he explains why it should be done that way and how you can remember it. He is a great windsurfer but probably even better teacher.
Submitted by:Ken Drobatz | Email: | Location:Lansdowne, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
Hello, I want to thank you all for a great camp. I attended the Rio Vista camp. I was hoping to have high wind so that I would have a better opportunity to refine my windsurfing. Unfortunately, the wind was not cooperative. But I did find that the lectures were so well done as well as the simulator sessions, that one does not need the high wind to learn the techniques. In addition, the light wind techniques were incredibly fun and open a wider opportunity to go windsurfing. I found that I don't always need high wind to enjoy windsurfing. The free style techniques were incredibly challenging and a lot of fun. Finally, one cannot say enough about Andy Brandt and his teaching techniques. I have been in education for a number of years and I have learned from many fine educators. I have to say that Andy employs many of the techniques utilized by professional educators that help one understand and remember the facts being presented. It is clear that Andy not only enjoys windsurfing but enjoys the art of teaching it. he doesn't just tell you that this is what you do, he explains why it should be done that way and how you can remember it. He is a great windsurfer but probably even better teacher.
Submitted by:Ken Drobatz | Email: | Location:Lansdowne, PA
Camp attended:Rio Vista, California
July 28, 2003
Thank you Pete and Corey for teaching me how to water start, use harness, tacks etc. I had a great time this weekend. The first day was the best day for me because the water start was my goal for this camping and I done it. :) Anyway, I need to improve what you guys taught me this weekend also my husband (Mark) want to try new stuff. So see you guys next weekend. ;) Thip
Submitted by:Thip | Email: |
Thank you Pete and Corey for teaching me how to water start, use harness, tacks etc. I had a great time this weekend. The first day was the best day for me because the water start was my goal for this camping and I done it. :) Anyway, I need to improve what you guys taught me this weekend also my husband (Mark) want to try new stuff. So see you guys next weekend. ;) Thip
Submitted by:Thip | Email: |