Tell the story, grow the sport

Our passion for wind, water and the gear that brings these 2 elements together is at the core of the story we tell and retell. In beach speak, passion equates with stoke. Being aware of this passion may help the uninitiated  understand why we like to windsurf and why we like to report, discuss, dissect, and learn more about that thing we do. Lets face it, news has been around for a long time.  Humans are naturally curious. In fact, an interest to learn is the best sign of a healthy, growing sport.

DaNews is a daily gathering of windsurfing news. I call it a digest, in fact it's only a suggestion list.  While Europe seems to be well covered, I think North America could use a little more love (no offense Josh or Pete). And guess what? There's a ton of down in the trenches reporting happening everyday...we just  need a place to connect with it. Of course, you can get out there and take a look for yourself, but if time is an issue, having a meeting place makes sense...

Since you're here on DaNewsBlog, take a look at the top right hand column. The Calendar, puts in one place, the scheduled events of North America and the PWA World Tour. I'm still learning where event information is hidden.. Dear choir, if you're going to all the trouble of having an event, please find somewhere to post, anywhere with an url, the info online. Facebook has an easy to use event page. Even a forum post is a linkable address.  Below the Related Links is one very large blogroll, again, focusing on but not exclusively, North American blogs. There are 116 blogs and counting. DaNewsBlog has been visited by:

Near and dear to my heart is the Community guide found in the left hand column on the Learners guide to windsurfing. Community is an attempt at locating everything windsurfing found in North America (except Central America, which I plan to add this year). Of course the Learners guide covers a lot of  information about what we do and how we do it. The LG is still linked as the go to guide on the U.S. Windsurfing Associations website. The Learners guide has been visited by:

These 3 websites are not for profit. I am not trying to build a media empire. All 3 websites throw traffic to the originators, promoting their efforts. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with making some coin for your website, it's just not what I'm doing. This is my give back to windsurfing for all that it's given me. This is my request: if what I'm doing resonates with you, spread the love. Link it up, embed a DaNews player, tell a friend. Thanks for taking the time to read all of this.

About me: I'm retired but not dead, living in east central Florida and windsurfing as much as possible. It's warm here year-round by U.S. standards even though wintertime windsurfing requires a wetsuit. If you can go when there's wind, Florida works for even the nuerotic and obsessed...year-round. Here, mid-state, we get enough waves to grow a Kelly Slater. Warm season seabreezes fire the inland lagoons; cold season fronts supply the engine for wave sailing and tropical storms...you get it. Throw in a formula or a longboard and you just bought yourself an insurance policy for year-round sailin'. Like I said, if you can go when there's wind, Florida works.