David grew up summering in Cape Cod, sailing and racing dinghies. He was New England Beetle Cat junior champion in 1975. In 1976 he started windsurfing. After spending the winter practicing in Florida, he returned to New England where he won most of the local regattas. He raced at the national and world championships between 1977 and 1980.
David taught windsurfing from 1978-1981, from beginners at schools in Florida and Cape cod to advanced students on vacation in the Caribbean. He has also taught sailing (as head counselor summer of 2007, Cataumet club), downhill skiing and cooperative sports.
David retired from his career as a computer programmer in 2012 when he dedicated himself to promoting and teaching meditation and mindfulness until his “full” retirement in 2021. Now winging is his main meditation practice!
David started windsurf foiling the spring of 2021, switching to the wing in February 2022. Less than a year later, he has already winged 1600+ miles in 200+ sessions! He travels the east coast from Cape Cod to Florida to maximize his time on the water year-round. He still loves teaching, so he started giving new friends tips informally. So now he is excited to take it to the next level!
David rides switch foot. He is almost as comfortable with the right foot forward as the left, his stronger “regular foot” stance. He always learns every turn and maneuver in both foot stances and when possible, both toe side and heel side. So when he teaches you he can demonstrate the move in the stance and direction that you prefer, making it easier to emulate him!
David has had other teaching and childcare experience. He loves kids! His teaching and childcare resume spans his adult life from a teen to retirement age.
David is great coach! I wanted to work on jibing and made great progress with his help. He has really figured out how to break things down – and then help you pull them all together. Having him winging right along with you on the water is really invaluable. He has a great eye for identifying what is going wrong, and what you need to do in order to correct it. He is also extremely patient and supportive – I am so glad I found him! If you are considering lessons, you will not find anyone better than David.
David, first of all, is an amazing human! We need more people like him on this planet. 🙂 He tells you exactly what to do and not to do, and he watches you while you practice so he points out your issues and bad habits. I had to unlearn some of the bad habits that were preventing me from progressing. Wing foiling requires a lot of small techniques and David is really good at explaining them.
I was visiting Florida in January for a Foiling trip when I ran into David. I’m always open to learn new techniques so when David mentioned he was a coach I decided to check out a lesson. With only 6 mo’s experience, I was having a lot of issues getting up in light wind. He taught me step by step techniques on the shore to correct my pumping method on a day with maybe 11-12mph winds. It took a little practice, but now I am getting up in 11mph winds No Problem! He also corrected my posture so now my back doesn’t hurt at all while riding for several hours. Very happy I gave him a chance. You won’t be disappointed as he has years of wind experience. 5 ⭐️ for sure!!
Before today I’d taken a two hour Wing foil lesson and then went to Cabarete for a week and took lessons there as well. Today I learned more in the hour with David than I did with the other lessons I’ve taken thus far. He stays with you out on the water and goes step by step with the skills. So helpful. Looking forward to more sessions with him as I continue to learn!
Thanks so much Jenny! You were a great student. It's a pleasure to work with someone that can follow instructions so quickly and well!
David is a very patient and insightful teacher, somehow able to break down a complicated skill into smaller more digestible parts. I came to him a rank beginner (and still am) but his suggestions were enormously helpful. I can’t wait to get back on the water next summer. David inspired me to windsurf many decades ago, and now inspires me to wing!