| Windsurfing:
Experiencing the power of nature
By Cheryl Robbins,
translated by Ruby Lee. Photos provided by Flying
Fish Windsurfing Club
Although Taiwan is not well-known for its beaches
or water sports, there are good wind conditions between
Taipei and Changhua, with suitable areas for windsurfing
between Hsinchu and Taichung. Near the historical
Changhua county town of Lukang, there is an enclosed
area off the coast that is a safe training ground
for windsurfing novices. One of the best ways to get
involved in this sport is through the Flying Fish
Windsurfing Club.
This club, the only one in Taiwan devoted to windsurfing,
was founded seven years ago by two Taichung enthusiasts.
According to current president Tony Tsai (蔡岳沙),
the club now has about 40 members, including 15 foreigners.
He emphasizes that this is a sport for all ages, with
the club畢s members ranging from nine to 57
years old. When asked if it was necessary to be a
strong swimmer or to be physically fit to enjoy this
sport, he said it was not necessary to be able to
swim as long as a person was wearing a life jacket.
"Of course, you cannot be afraid of the water,
but that is the only prerequisite to windsurfing.
If you receive the proper training, it shouldn畢t
require a lot of strength to lift the sail,疏
he said.
In spring and summer, when the weather is hottest,
calmer winds are suitable for beginners. Advanced
windsurfers look forward to the winter, when they
can don wetsuits and enjoy the stronger winds. According
to Tony Tsai, it takes about two days of instruction
before a beginner can lift up the sail, go out from
the shore and come back to shore again. The cost for
two days of training (usually over a weekend) is NT$3,000
and include instruction, equipment rental and insurance.
If you would like to extend your training to a second
weekend, the total cost is NT$5,000.
If you become addicted to the sport, do you need to
buy equipment? Not really. It is possible to continue
renting from the club for about NT$1,000 per day.
Of course, if you would like to have your own equipment,
the club can accommodate you. There is a showroom
displaying everything needed for windsurfing at the
club畢s headquarters on the second floor of
Frog I Pub in Taichung. Expect to shell out between
NT$40,000 and NT$60,000.
When asked how he became involved in the sport, Tsai
enthusiastically recounts how windsurfing changed
his life, from the time he first tried it 16 years
ago as a junior high school student. At that time,
he was attending a Catholic school. Most of the other
kids came from privileged families and had the opportunity
to receive extra tutoring in English and other subjects
during elementary school. As Tsai's family was not
very well off, he felt that he couldn畢t compete
academically, leading him to start hanging out with
the 異bad疏 crowd.
"One of the priests felt that overall I was a
good kid, but just needed some guidance. He asked
me to volunteer at a summer camp and it was there
that he taught me how to windsurf. I became addicted
to the sport and started spending more time windsurfing
and less time hanging out with my friends. That really
turned my life around.疏
From September, the Flying Fish Windsurfing Club will
hold events on the fourth weekend of every month until
the end of March, making this one of the best times
to join. Membership fees are very reasonable, costing
only NT$2,000 per year.
Tsai insists that learning how to windsurf is easy
and is one of the best ways to experience the power
of nature close up. So, if you are looking for something
different to do on weekends while the weather is still
warm, contact the Flying Fish Windsurfing Club and
try a windsurfing lesson. It could change your life.
Flying Fish Windsurfing Club
Frog I Pub, 2nd floor
105, section 1, HuaMei West Street
Tel: (04) 2321-1197 or Tony Tsai at (0935) 797-909 |
