Surf Expo 2006

Mike (on the left) and Glenn (on the right) spent a few days in late September at Surf Expo in Orlando. The "on-the-water" part of Surfexpo is alway the best, as we get to try all the new boards and sails for 2007. Light winds dominated for most of the time, but that gave us a great chance to try out great boards like the Bic Hybrid, Bic Nova 240, Fanatic Vipers, Starboard Serenity, as well as the new Gaastra and Severne sails.

Towards the later part of the afternoons the winds were strong enough that we were planing on 7.5's and 8.5's, which really let us test how well these high volume boards planed and handled stronger winds. It blew us away how a board like the Hybrid One Design from Bic can be such a blast to sail in light winds as well as such a good performer on a plane. Versatiltiy is the name of the game with these boards as they can do pretty much from allowing total novices the easiest learning possible, to satisfying planing veterans who want to use larger sails to plane in light to medium winds (they make fun light wind freestyle boards as well!)

Dust-in the Wind

If you windsurf or not, you will find Dustin's story below both inspirational and amazing. and all of us at Windsurfing Direct have been more than honored to help Dustin's wish come true:

Attention Glenn,

We want to send a Thank You to you and Windsurfing Direct.

Our son Dustin was diagnosed with Cancer back in March of this year. He spent the summer going through Chemo and to say the least did not have a good summer. It was a really tough one for all of us. Dustin had started doing some windsurfing with a good friend and as Dustin calls him "Coach" because he is really his curling coach. Richard had lent Dustin some of his second hand equipment and he was really looking forward to using it this summer, but was not well enough to do a lot of surfing. Richard took him out on day trips out to the lake just to get away and do whatever surfing he could handle.

Then, one day the nurses at the Cancer Center had mentioned to us about the Children’s Wish Foundation, so I called them. They asked Dustin in person what he would like to have. He told them he wanted some windsurfing equipment. So along with the help of Coach -Richard who is the one you dealt with, got Dustin all of this wonderful equipment. I can tell you he is absolutely delighted to have it. The package is way more than we could have ever hoped for.!! The sails are beautiful... he laid each one out separately and just sat and admired and checked over each one, along with all of the other equipment. He did get to sail it the day they gave it to him. Richard and Dustin spent a couple hours on the lake as it was quite cold here that day. So... next year, I am sure that as soon as the ice is off the lake, the two of them will be on it... He can watch is instructional videos this winter and be ready to go!

Dustin has finished all of his Chemo and is well on the way to recovery. He has gone for 3 monthly checkups so far and everything is clear.

We want to sincerely thank you again for the part you played in granting Dustin his WISH!!!!! This is something he will have for a many years to come and something we will never forget!! It is a beginning of a new chapter for us.

If you want to help make a wish come true, visit www.childrenswish.ca to find out how you can make a difference