Book Description
This digital document is an article from Parks & Recreation, published by National Recreation and Park Association on November 1, 1993. The length of the article is 2642 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Windsurfing offers recreation and competition for people of all ages, and can be done virtually anywhere there is wind and water. The advanced skills that some may aspire to are fine for enthusiasts, but the sport can be enjoyed at any skill level.

Citation Details
Title: Rx for boredom: windsurfing.
Author: Gordon E. Howard
Publication: Parks & Recreation (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 1993
Publisher: National Recreation and Park Association
Volume: v28Issue: n11Page: p28(6)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Uninspiring and not really worthy of its title.
This book is disappointing. Superficially, it looks good: lots of glossy pics. But it's written in a boring style and, more damningly, the information is poor. For example, one learns that (apparently) catapults don't happen! (To any experienced windsurfer, this is drivel.) Some parts of the book are ok, but don't add anything that other books on the subject haven't previously (and invariably better) dealt with: there's a lack of freshness or originality. Windsurfing is one of the most exciting sports around, but this book, due to the prosaic way it is written and its poor structure, simply does nothing to convey the true spirit of the sport. This is compounded by the fact that the book reaches its 'climax' by not dealing with windsurfing at all, but instead ending up enthusing (like the rest of the book doesn't manage to do about windsurfing) about KITESURFING! Now, I've got nothing against kitesurfing, and plenty of windsurfers kitesurf also. But plenty of windsurfers also cycle, play tennis, sail dinghies etc etc - so why does Currer write about kitesurfing in an alleged windsurfing book? The way the book is structured, with kitesurfing at the end, effectively makes kitesurfing appear as something superior to do after one has mastered 'mere' windsurfing. I don't know whether Currer intended this, or just made it seem so by mistake: either way, it ensures that this already lacklustre book is a real turn-off for the reader. My 2-star rating of this book is very generous, considering the foregoing. Final point: a much better book, published at about the same time as Currer's effort, is Peter Hart's book by the same title ('Windsuring'). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Popular Science Of Windsurfing
This little-known publication finally put windsurfing on the scientific shelf. Paul Ng has compiled " Understanding Aerodynamic characteristics of Windsurfing," a comprehensive, concise and somewhat confusing treatises on the physics of windsurfing, particularly windsurfing sails.
In part one, Ng addresses basic physics of windsurfing including forces acting on the sail and mathematics relationships of the sail, rider, board and wind. this mainly revolves around forward force, resulting in forward motion, and lateral force, affecting balance, stability and control. In part two, he discusses angle of attack, including differences in sails, the relationship of the fin and human factors such as weight. Detailed graphs, charts and flow sheets highlight important concepts.
Overall, this book is complex and difficult to read. this may be the result of the fact that it is the first book devoted purely to the technical aspect of windsurfing. Ng mainly concentrates on analytical functions and quantitative parameters based on theory. Thus this book is shy of prose to bridge the theoretical formulas with practical applications. In fact, without an advanced background in physics or analytical math, it may be impossible to fully understand or utilize these concepts.
Also Ng's book does not accurately reflect today's equipment. For example, sails are grouped as speed, race and sport in light of the fact that wave sails are a separate specialized group. Likewise, sport sails are often convertible, which act differently depending on how they are rigged. Also,, with so many shapes of fins, it is difficult to generalize them theoretically as one. But this is a relatively small problem when considering Ng's task at theorizing such a complex sport.
This book may be most useful to sail and equipment designers. but if you are a technical junkie, it might be nice to wedge this book next to Dan McGee's "Build Your Own Custom Sailboard" and John Allen's " Geologic Field Guide to Columbia River Gorge Trip." Evidently, computer software is to be available to accompany.
"Understanding Aerodynamic Characteristic of Windsurfing," Also fo note, Ng reports he is working on hydrodynamic characteristics of windsuf boards.
(This review was originally written by Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg and published in The WIND TRACKS Magazine in August, 1995).

Poorly written, sophomoric, incorrect analysis
This book is disorganized, poorly written and has the feel of a hastilyassembled undergraduate research project.Far worse, the"analysis" is ill conceived and largely incorrect.It isdifficult to understand why this work was ever printed. It certainly shouldnot be supported by further sales.The author should be ashamed of thiseffort.

In fact, I think he may realize how weak his work was andattempted to hide the lack of substance by adopting the pontificatingverbiage of a bored college professor. The grating style is compounded byhis lack of fluency in english -- obviously not the author's nativelanguage.

It is clear to me that he doesn't understand the basic physicsof a vessel sailing in equilibrium between aerodynamic and hydrodynamicforces. Nor can he possibly be a good windsurfer. A much better explanationof the physics of sailing is in"The Symmetry of Sailing" byRoss Garrett, or "Aerodyanamics of Sailing" by Marchaj.Indeed,there are some problems which are unique to windsurfing -- unfortunately,the author neither addresses or understands them.

I have an MS in NavalArchitecture (UC Berkeley hydrodynamics), and work as a naval architect. Ihave lectured on the subject at Cal, and am in the top level of windsurfersin San Francisco Bay.I remain very interested in this subject and do notclaim to understand it fully; however, I am sorry I bought this book andurge you to choose another title. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It's not about windsurfing
This book is not about winsdurfing, its a four page blah blah about soft-skills e-learning for business professionals.
The only thing I've learned from it: never buy a book without a description or review. ... Read more