A new direction for Windsurfing. :: main menu :: :: Events :: :: Forum :: :: Class Rules :: :: Philosophy :: :: team :: With the emerge of the new wide style boards, windsurfing in general and competition in particular got a new boost. The width of these boards makes it possible to enjoy short boarding in low winds. In short, windsurfing as it was meant to be. The key word of wide boards is versatility. While most other competition boards are bought for just that: competition, the wide style boards have much more to offer. Not only do they make great racing boards but they also very nice for having fun outside the race course. These machines are agile sports cars for use on the street rather than race cars for an oval. The stability makes them even good teaching machines. Racing these boards became an immediate success with Formula Windsurfing. While very attractive for good competitors, Formula Windsurfing has one draw back. It is rather expensive. This is a handicap for those looking for a nice class to have fun and for all those who want to start racing but do not yet want to invest a lot of money. For these groups, Formula Experience was created. Formula Experience In 2002, the Formula Experience Class successfully started with its first European Championships last August in Brest, France with 65 competitors from 9 countries. A full report and the results are available on http://www.formula-experience.org Aims and ambitions Formula Experience is a multi manufacturer, multi design class based on wide style boards. As indicated above, the class aims at the large group of short board competitors thus far not catered for at (inter)national level in a structured way. Juniors and youth looking for an attractive and affordable introduction into racing without the need to buy a new board every year and for all those weekend racers who like the thrill of competition but do not want to invest heavily in ultimate preformance boards and rigs. Although the boards are similar in appearance to the Formula Windsurfing type of boards, the class rules ensure that the cost involved is drastically reduced. Some cost controlling features are: - Only ASA boards with a maximum retail price of €1000 (=$1000) are eligible for racing. The ASA skin guarantees durability, making club use possible - The use of aluminium alloy tubes and ends for booms (no carbon allowed). - 8,5m2 maximum sail size for Juniors (under 17) and 11m2 for youth (under 19) and seniors. A maximum of two sails per event. - Class rule stability. The class rules are frozen for an extended period. This ensures that equipment does not have to be renewed every year because of newer and faster models. At the same time, a periodical update prevents the class to fall into the trap many One-Designs face, outdated equipment and losing popularity. The next update is foreseen for the 2005 season followed by a frozen period of 4 years. Existing equipment will remain class legal after the update. A special prize for vintage equipment is considered. - Charter equipment at main events. Since Formula Experience is not intended for the high level (near-) professional racer, the main events such as continentals are friendly sports events, very suitable as well for junior and youth competitors, at venues attractive for family holidays. Formula Experience events are non-prize money events. Expansion In the 2003 season, the class expects to have national competition in major windsurfing countries. In Europe, France, Italy, UK. Belgium, Spain and Germany are confirmed. Other countries have shown interest. There are also activities in North and South America (USA, Canada, Caribbean, Peru) and in Asia. It is the intention to expand the activities and apply for ISAF status at the November 2003 meeting. Upcoming Continental events 7-14 December 2002. Formula Experience South American Championships, Lima, Peru 12-17 August 2003 Formula Experience Open European Championships, Caparica (Lisbon) Portugal 4-10 December 2003 Formula Experience Asian Championships, Pattaya, Thailand Notices of race on http://www.formula-experience.org International events already confirmed: Europe: North Sea Cup series, Euro Cup series Caribbean: Midwinters Florida, The Schoelcher Week (Martinique) More info? For the USA, contact Carolyn Boersma; carolynboersma@yahoo.com of the USWA who is setting up a team USA for competition at the Europeans in August 2003 and for Canada, contact Philip Soltysiak: phil@ica.net Phil was a competitor at the 2002 Europeans and can tell you first hand what it was like. For more general info on the class, visit us at http://www.formula-experience.org