BROGBOROUGH LAKE TEACHES 154 (A NEW RECORD)
Brogborough Lake’s National Windsurfing Week (and the rest)
Adverts were placed on the four corners of the East Midlands to promote National Windsurfing Week for 2010
COME AND TRY WINDSURFING FOR FREE
The operative word seemed to be FREE. The bookings flooded in for the two weekends and the bank holiday at the beginning of May. It would have been a fantastic success if only God had seen fit to provide us with some spring like weather and gentle breeze. But it was not to be. The first Saturday wasn’t that bad, although the wind side did fluctuate between Force one and sucking but we did manage to get around fifty people out, all be it drifting a bit, in fact very little of Brogborough’s wild life even bothered to move!
Day 2 was a very different kettle of fish. Rain? It was more like the monsoon! The temperature started at a balmy eight degrees and plummeted to six by noon. The rain interspersed with the odd bit of sleet continued unabated! This can’t really be Spring?
We were left with no choice but to cancel the day’s events, with the wind force 4/5 offshore there was a distinct danger of finding frozen bodies in the final stages of Hyperthermia skulking in the reeds at the bottom of the lake.
Bank holiday Monday was marginally better (And I do mean marginally) I rang the victims to see if they would rather cancel and try another day, but said victims had set their heart on it and nothing was going to deter them. The temperature was still nothing to write home about, just tipping 8 degrees at the height of the day
The first group had the slightly better deal. At least they had dry wet suits to wear, which is more than can be said for two groups that followed. We got through the day without any major hyperthermia cases and amazingly they all seemed to enjoy it
A few days respite now before weekend number two. The instructors re-grouped ready for action. Surely it must be warmer this time?
WRONG!
Still cold but admittedly not raining or snowing! Saturday saw all the candidates arrive in droves, keen to do battle with the elements, the wind at least had reverted to cross shore and the Hyperthermia element abated somewhat. You couldn’t fault them for enthusiasm, and several got on really well, despite the fact that they only had about an hour on the water.
Sunday was similar if just a fraction warmer and still they came, every session filled to capacity. At the end of the day the foreshore looked like the Somme! Boards and rigs lay everywhere, reminiscent to battle ground after a strategic withdrawal.
As we cancelled one of the days we rolled over into one more session the following weekend. At last the sun shone a light breeze, Perfect! All participants seemed to excel in the warmer conditions which was hardly surprising; learning to windsurf with your hands frozen to the boom is never easy!
At the end of the day Instructors and all that had helped were on their knees. I personally was crawling about on all fours quietly whimpering to myself!
I cannot thank enough all those who helped and made it such a success. To teach 154 people in such extreme conditions and have such favourable comments from all those who took part is down entirely to the enthusiasm of the instructors and the unrelenting support from all the club members that helped.
Amazingly, not only did they all enjoy it, but several enrolled for a second windsurfing instructor course, and Brogborough now sports 19 windsurfing Instructors. Surely this has to be some kind of record.
So with all these instructors raring to go we look forward to a warm windy season when hopefully many will return in far more favourable conditions to really get to grips with our fantastic sport!
If you are one of those then see our Tuition/Hiring section
