Recreation : Good Attitude, Willingness to Take Plunge Make Windsurfing a Breeze

Jeff Roof draws the plastic sail into his chest as a gust sends his sailboard skidding across lower Castaic Lake. As Roof tries to steer the awkward apparatus, he violates his instructor’s first rule of windsurfing--don’t fight Mother Nature because she will always win.

From the dock, Brad Sytten yells at Roof to lean back and keep his hips in. When Roof looks toward Sytten for further instructions, another gust topples the sailboard, sending Roof into the chilly water.

Just an hour into his first windsurfing lesson, Roof, of Sylmar, already has demonstrated that he has what it takes to windsurf.

“All you need is a good attitude and not be afraid to get wet,” Sytten said.

Sytten, 29, of Encino, has taught windsurfing for five years. He has taught students ranging in age from 6 to 66 and never encountered a student who could not learn the basics in a two-hour introductory lesson.

“I’ve even taught my girlfriend, and that’s the hardest thing to do,” he said.

Sytten, a certified instructor with Sundance Sports of Castaic, teaches a program of three two-hour lessons. Upon completion of the course, a student must pass a written test and also demonstrate the correct windsurfing skills.

After that, it’s free sailing.

“One guy was so happy to learn that he bought two boards and gave me 15 tickets to a polo match,” Sytten said.

Roof, 32, took up windsurfing because it is an inexpensive water sport that is easy to learn.

“I like it because there’s a little challenge to it,” Roof said. “During summer in Los Angeles, the water is the only place to be.”

A basic sailboard costs $600 to $700, while designer models carry price tags of as much as $2,000. The only other accessory a windsurfer might need is a wet suit, but that is optional.

Windsurfing offers several advantages over surfing.

“You can control what you’re doing in windsurfing,” Sytten said. “The wave comes in when you’re surfing and you can’t control it. In windsurfing, you can choose how much wind you will sail in or the size of the sail you want to use.”

A student begins on a windsurfing simulator before taking a sailboard into the water. After completing a three-lesson course, a windsurfer will be trained to sail in both the lake and ocean.

Information: (805) 257-4922.

Public plunges: For those seeking relief from the summer heat, the Recreation and Parks Department will open its 15 Valley-area pools June 18.

In addition to public swimming, a junior-lifeguard program and classes in first aid and synchronized swimming will be offered. Lifeguards are trained in adaptive aquatics for handicapped swimmers.

Nine of the 15 pools are equipped with special equipment for the handicapped. There are five heated pools: Valley Plaza Recreation Center in North Hollywood; Hubert Humphrey Memorial Park in Pacoima; Granada Hills Recreation Center; Fernangeles Recreation Center in Sun Valley and Verdugo Hills.

The Valley-based pools average between 300 to 400 swimmers daily during the summer and accommodate 250,000 year-round, according to Charles James, department aquatics supervisor.

Most of the pools will remain open through Sept. 5.

Information: 765-0284.

Big lift: Kimberly Alves of Burbank was the only Valley-area powerlifter to win a title in the Southern California Bench-Press Championships in Granada Hills last Sunday.

Alves, who weighs 107 3/4, lifted 130 pounds to win the women’s division.

Loren Slaughter of Woodland Hills pressed 350 pounds to place second in the 148-pound-and-below division.