Europe's first comprehensive spot-guide for kitesurfing. 15 countries,more than 35,000km of coastline and over 1500 spots. includes select local knowledge of wind and waves,plus conditions on the water as well as onshore. 400 pages,1000 breathtaking photos and detailed maps of every region. The Guide also offers travel information on each country and its peolple as well as insights into each area's kite scene. It features a comprehensive introduction to Europe's meteorology and oceanography, explaining the most important weather patterns and wind systems complete with local wind stats and temperature charts. Europe uncovered - relevant to kiters and windsurfers alike.

The process of user-centered innovation: how it can benefit both users and manufacturers and how its emergence will bring changes in business models and in public policy. Innovation is rapidly becoming democratized. Users, aided by improvements in computer and communications technology, increasingly can develop their own new products and services. These innovating users—both individuals and firms—often freely share their innovations with others, creating user-innovation communities and a rich intellectual commons. In Democratizing Innovation, Eric von Hippel looks closely at this emerging system of user-centered innovation. He explains why and when users find it profitable to develop new products and services for themselves, and why it often pays users to reveal their innovations freely for the use of all.The trend toward democratized innovation can be seen in software and information products—most notably in the free and open-source software movement—but also in physical products. Von Hippel's many examples of user innovation in action range from surgical equipment to surfboards to software security features. He shows that product and service development is concentrated among "lead users," who are ahead on marketplace trends and whose innovations are often commercially attractive. Von Hippel argues that manufacturers should redesign their innovation processes and that they should systematically seek out innovations developed by users. He points to businesses—the custom semiconductor industry is one example—that have learned to assist user-innovators by providing them with toolkits for developing new products. User innovation has a positive impact on social welfare, and von Hippel proposes that government policies, including R&D subsidies and tax credits, should be realigned to eliminate biases against it. The goal of a democratized user-centered innovation system, says von Hippel, is well worth striving for. An electronic version of this book is available under a Creative Commons license.

Tricktionary is extensive knowledge, along with tips and tricks to learn and enhance manoeuvre techniques. Experienced, professional athletes and coaches demonstrate simple to highly complex movements in a precise and stylish manner. The Windsurfing Tricktionary contains theoretical knowledge, as well as pretty much all the existing topics, tips and tricks for beginners, intermediates and even advanced riders. --

Offers a unique insight into these growing areas of the tourism industry looking at their interaction, market profiles, advantages and their effects on the environment. Gayle Jennings, Griffith University, Australia.

Combine the thrill, freedom and exhilaration of surfing, skiing and sailing, and you have an understanding of the attraction of windsurfing. This book is the ultimate guide to windsurfing; packed full of information and with photographs by John Carter, it offers a full explanation of equipment, a detailed description of the basic as well as intermediate and advanced techniques, and has specific chapters on planing, sailing smaller boards, gybing, wave sailing and much more. With over 200 great photographs, informative diagrams, a glossary and list of useful addresses, this is the complete guide to the sport.

Examines differences in taste between modern French classes, discusses the relationship between culture and politics, and outlines the strategies of pretension.

Stormrider Guides are the ultimate surf travel guide books, providing essential surfing information from around the world. Generally acknowledged as the finest surf travel books available, they are often referred to as The Surfers Bible. Now in one book, the Stormrider Surf Guide to Europe is the most comprehensive guide to where to surf in Europe available. All the heavyweight European countries are covered as well as the North Atlantic island chain plus Scandinavia. Containing detailed seasonal water temperatures and wetsuit recommendations, wave type, and wind and tide information, as well as tourist and cultural information, this book will be appreciated by surfers and non-surfers alike. Includes France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.