Gone with the wind
The young engineer grew up in Tauranga and began windsurfing with his dad on the weekends, using “some old gear that was floating around”. He moved to Christchurch to study and then moved again, this time specifically for the sometimes-bitter wind that allows him to play in the city in which he also found work.
“We go out at 40 knots in Lyall Bay in the freezing cold,” he laughs, “The waves can be pretty heavy but it’s great fun.”
Torvelainen was attracted to Wellington by the number of top windsurfing spots. He says Evans Bay is good for flat-water sailing, Lyall Bay is where the waves are at, and he describes Plimmerton as “a mini Hawaii in Wellington.”
“It’s easy sailing, it’s good for jumping and wave-riding. When it’s good in Plimmerton we get 20-30 windsurfers out there and everyone’s online talking about it,” he says.
Torvelainen, chairman of the Wellington Windsurfing Association, says windsurfers also frequent Eastbourne and Petone as well as heading to Waikanae and Foxton. His club follows the wind even further afield with a trip to Lake Ferry in the Wairarapa every Easter.
Torvelainen says it’s time he learnt how to pass on his knowledge of what’s really a minority sport to his friends and family. This week he’s completing Windsurfing New Zealand’s Basic Instructor’s training course “to help get other people into windsurfing” ahead of a summer of club events.
Instead of just jumping headfirst into teaching, he wants to learn the right techniques to help his friends progress further faster and get more enjoyment out of the high-adrenalin sport. Balance and steering are crucial first steps, and when they’re combined with an understanding of how the wind works, you can learn to go places pretty quickly, he says.
“There are a lot of progressions within windsurfing and there’s a lot to get psyched about, like learning to jump and planing, going really fast on top of the water. And these days there’s light gear and stable boards to learn on.”
Torvelainen hopes to bring his newfound knowledge to his club’s learner days.
“The key is to keep going back. With a bit of perseverance you’ll be hooked for life.”
Windsurfing NZ: Basic Instructor’s training course, Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, December 19-21.
Sidebar:
Summer windsurfing events:
Final round, ‘Freewave’ freestyle series, January 28, 2012.
‘Harbour Blast’ slalom weekend, mid-February.
Wellington Windsurfing Assocation learner weekend, Eastbourne, mid-March.
Have Your Say
1 Comment
fabgeii at 7:35 a.m. on 16 December said
Thumb up mate, maybe you will be able to teach me how to jibe ;)