COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS
Name:Steve Andriese
Email:sandriese@compuserve.com
Though there are those that have pulled up their nose at gear testing over the years, I applaud the effort. Having the right gear for the conditions, your weight, your sailing style etc. can absolutely make or break your sessions. Yet trying gear before you buy is almost impossible if you don't have the opportunity for destination sailing. Your equipment testing is excellent, keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Steve Andriese
Name:Mats Nilsson
Email:matsmail@yahoo.com
Input:Hi!
Just read the article by Sam explaining why equipment represented by North Sports will not be tested in American Windsurfer.
As a marketing professional and obsessive windsurfer I ask myself if those guys really understand their own market. There is nothing, I repeat, nothing, that beats editorial space regarding your business and products. If you have any faith whatsoever in what you bring to the market (should not be a major problem for the people at North Sports), an opportunity like this must not be missed. 7000 USD - how much advertising does that buy?
Why do I, as a Swede, have comments regarding this? Because, as many fellow windsurfers, I like reading about my sport and, above all, enjoy them tests! And now not only the mag is available here, all the test material is easily accessible on the web. Tests do have an impact on what is bought out there and does not have much to do with national borders anymore. If a certain board does get good ratings in your test and seems to suit my style of sailing, it certainly affects my buying decisions. Heck, I almost tried to get myself a North Shore Maui board, even though they are not available in Europe.
Which makes North Sports decision even stranger. How hard would it be to ask their partners (North, Mistral and Naish Sails) and dealers to sponsor the cost of freight? If I was the marketing man of, say, Mistral (hmmm, maybe a future position there...) I would not only be rolling in the aisles by now, I would be looping in my cubicle out of sheer anger.
And the suggestion that they are trying to kill the test market. First, I am having a real hard time to believe that and second, it would be utterly, utterly stupid.
"Hi Sam! How was your brand new board out there in these awesome conditions?"
"I don't know. They're all the same. And I will not let you try it, because there is no reason why. Testing new windsurfing gear is really boring and nobody is interested anyhow. Actually, from now on we will not write about anything that has any resemblance to testing in American Windsurfer. No more travelling destinations, no more technique tips or any competition. You see what the people in the articles are sailing, wonder if the gear is good and would enjoy knowing how it handles. And that involves testing. And testing costs money, since we are not able to get the gear for free anymore."
"Hmm, won't that make the mag a bit boring?"
Do as you please with this, got a bit carried away in my writing...
Thanks for a really nice mag with some of the best tests available!
/Mats Nilsson
Stockholm, Sweden
