Matrix Style Windsurfing!

Today i decided to have a go at editing something similar to the last shot on the Simmerstyle video made by Gregoire Scherpe. I used some footage of Oisin IR777 doing a flaka. It's all very rough and only took a half hour to put together but I think with the right footage and two camera angles and a lot more time spent on small details of the move, it could look good!


If you haven't seen the simmer style video yet check it out here.

Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia

Not much wind today. I met with Oisin and Tom at Kilcrea. Thought there might be wind for a freestyle session. There wasn't enough for a sail so i gave my new camera a test run on anything that moved(ducks and swans)etc! Tom invited us back to his cool new apartment overlooking skerries south beach where we had a meal prepared by his mam and girlfriend of some very tasty Pierogi, a native polish dish.

Thanks Tom, Nice grub!

Merry Christmas Everyone

I would like to wish friends, family and everyone I have sailed with over the last year a Merry Christmas. Eat drink and be happy and I hope to see you on the water soon.

Andy

Oisin Hits the Lip Hard!

Both Oisin IR777 and Mikey IR253 caught some big waves over the weekend. Check out Mikey's new video set in Donegal.
Click Here

Also I'm just after watching Mattia Pedrani's new video on you tube. That guy has some serious moves. Its a pity he didn't wear a Santa hat. That would have looked cool. You'll see!

Click Here

Photos of Saturday Session at Kilcrea

Here are some photos that Oisin kindly offered to take of me sailing on Saturday. Click Here

Santa Seen at kilcrea

Santa was seen on the estuary today. Looks like
he was out getting some last minute training in
before the big delivery on Wednesday night.







There was about ten people out but unfortunately the wind never really filled in. I enjoyed the session and pulled off my best boomerang gybe to date with a planning exit!

Secret Spot

Oisin Mailed me this shot yesterday from his Friday session somewhere over the west. The camera did'nt focus well due to spray and rain. I dont know where this shot was taken exactly. Looks like Jaws to me!

Not Long to Go Now

I'm looking forward to the holidays and a chance to go sailing. The weather looks good for the weekend. Loads of wind and a respectable temperature of 10/11 degrees.

Long Beach Flatland Jam

A short video of the 2008 Long Beach Flatland Jam. Enjoy

Keeping Busy

I had another week without windsurfing. The van battery went flat after sitting on the drive for three weeks. I decided to make the most of the cold weather and do a few repairs. I finally finished the graphics on my 90l freestyle. Took two years to get round to that one! Turned out ok. I also waxed the zips on my sail bags to stop them seizing. Think its time to join a gym for a month or two.

Babe of the Month

This months babe award goes to 'Pearl Beach Barbie'. She hasn't been windsurfing long. You can tell by her boom height. Get that boom up girl! I dont like that foot strap, or should i say ankle support configuration. It could cause trouble during ariel moves. While i'm at it get yourself a new mast. That's way too long for your 3.5 inch sail and you need to update your board. That cut out of the tail is so last century. Wait a minute, don't cry! I was only trying to give you some advice!

Gorge Freestyle 2008

Looks like we might have some warmer weather for the weekend according to the gods at windguru.
And check out another cool freestyle vid made at the Hatchery in June, 2008. Like the moves. Not sure about the Miami vice music.

Super Cool Video

If you haven't seen this video featured on the Simmerstyle site yet, check it out. It makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, it's so cool! Featuring Yann Sorlut, Victor Fernandez and Jonas Ceballos. Look out for the matrix shot at the end.

Toothache from Hell

My foot is on the mend, but now i have the toothache from hell. It started on Monday and several packets of painkillers and a trip to the dentist later, it's still bangin! I haven't sailed in two weeks and, and, and its just not fair!! Maybe i'll take up bathroom surfing.

Check out this looney.

Fuerteventura Freestyle

Oisin's buddy Steve made a new freestyle video in Fuerteventura. Looks like the weather is a little bit better than what we are getting at present!

Check it out

Looks like a Cold Week Ahead

Feckin Freezing!

No sailing for me this week. I have decided to rest the strained muscle in my foot. Don't think I missed much due to the drop in temperature and lack of wind this weekend. Check out the picture of my car roof this morning.

Brrrr!

More sail Spinning from Caesar

Freestyle training on the beach, O'Neill Surf festival. Caesar Finies shows us some sail spinning freestyle tricks. Estonia, Rohuküla 2008

Worlds Longest Windsurf Board

Check this out. Oisin mailed me the link today. Crazy! Think this is the trial run. Rumor has it that they managed a spock a couple days later, ha ha!

Sleep like a Baby Tonight

Feel a bit like an old man tonight after a great day at Malahide. I sailed on my 5m combat well powered up a lot of the time. There was a lot of heads on the water and plenty of cold hands at the club house. Oisin had a new 'Hero' helmet mounted camera for some on the water action. Later in the day I done the camera man thing which was a bit of fun. Not so easy belting along while looking backwards for a long period of time trying to catch someone else's move. At one stage while sitting in the water filming , Oisin decided to jump over my board! Cheeky bugger. John Kenny was out getting some seriously fast runs. Kidge and myself were busy dredging up the bottom of the estuary on failed vulcan/spock attempts next to the slipway. Great to see so many people out giving it socks on a cold Novembers day.

Goodnight.

On the Eight Day he Windsurfed

I went for a sail this morning at Malahide. I had an ok session. Landed a few vulcans and tried some more boomerang gybes. I only managed one and after a bad dose of the re-heats and failing wind, I decided to call it a day. It looks good for tomorrow. Root out your flask. Could be a cool one!

Waiting for the Weekend

No exercise or bike riding the last few days. Looks like i strained something in the arch of my left foot. I think i got it from standing on one peg of the bike while learning to scuff. It's not too bad and wont stop me windsurfing over the weekend. I'm looking forward to trying more boomerang gybes. This is a good move for anyone who can carve fast into a gybe. It doesn't seem too hard to learn and the crashes are not bad.

Nailed my first Boomerang Gybe

I went out for a quick sail this evening at kilcrea and completed my first boomerang gybe. I had no plans on trying this move until i let the sail slip on a planing gybe and it hung in the air for a moment. This gave me the idea to try a proper boomerang gybe. After four attempts i nailed one. The trick seems to be to carve fast downwind, throw the sail forward with a little more strength in the back hand. Keep carving with your weight kept forward and over the inside rail. If all is going well the sail will swing around and come back up to you. Cool!

(This is the only pic I could find on the net for a Boomerang gybe)

Who said you have to get wet?

Came across this clip of Andy Brandt doing some cool sail spinning stuff on you tube. Looks like light wind tomorrow. Maybe i'll give it a go.

Check it out

Red Bull Athlete - Terry Adams

Here is a cool Vid of Terry Adams who is probably the top Red Bull Pro Athlete, disciplined in BMX Flatland.

Check it out

TERRY ADAMS...Red Bull USA Pro Athlete from Captured Life Productions on Vimeo.

Bill lands his first Niagra!

My brother mailed this to me today.

Andre, I borrowed your windsurf gear last week when you were out on the bmx, I hope ye don't mind. Thought I'd skip trying to land vulcan's (they're old school) instead I landed my first Niagra....check it out.

Tom lands his first Vulcan

Congratulations to Tom Slomski on landing his first Vulcan over the weekend. Tom started trying this move in the summer and after plenty of vulcan head dips has finally landed one. Way to go Tom. Take your time with your spock attempts as i want to land one first!

Good day in the Waves

I had a good session today in Rush on my new twinser. Jonas, Oisin, myself and a few others were out. I sailed on 4.5 first and then changed down to a 3.7 The board is very forgiving and has great grip due to the twin fins. I feel like I'm making some progress sailing in waves at last. Tonight I will be dreaming mainly of waves, waves and more waves!

Tailwhip Footjam

I landed my first tailwhip footjam tonight on the bike at last! I am trying to do a half hour each night. Most nights I notice a small improvement and it fills the void of not windsurfing so all is good. Rather than explain the tailwhip footjam, check out the vid of this guy on you tube showing the process of learning the move.

Flatland Update

I started scuffing on the back wheel of the bike this week. It's a bit scary as your facing backwards with one foot on a back peg and scuffing the back tire with the other foot going backwards on the back wheel only with the front lifted. I have had some interesting falls and so far have only managed to scuff the tire four times before coming off. Also you can't use any brakes with this move.

Here is a cool flatland vid i came across on global-flat.com of Michael Sommer showing his style in Vienna.
Check it out!

Fluere in Autumnum - Michael Sommer video 2008 from sevisual on Vimeo.

Christened new Twinser Today

I had a fun session today on the south strand in Skerries. I was on my 6.1 firefly and JP 90l freestyle. The tide was in with some small waves to play around on. I even got a short spin on my new 84l twinser, but the wind was not strong enough so that didn’t last long.

Congratulations - It’s Twins

After a long wait the twins-er arrived today weighing in at 6.1kg hand delivered by Oisin. Father and 84l twins-er are doing very well. Hope Helen doesn’t mind sleeping on the couch!

20th December 2008

The Summer is Gone.

It looks like the summer is truly gone and the winter is on our doorsteps. It is hard to get motivated when the temperature outside is 3 degrees! Here is a little slide show of my summer. Time for another cup of tea.

How Was it For You?

Boards mag was way better this month! Carlos, Trish, Fionn and myself had our mugs printed on page 128 as part of an article written by local sailor Sue Honan. Here is a small segment of the article.

The great thing about windsurfing is that everyone has a different experience of the same day at the same sailing spot. There you are having a survival session while someone else is just grooving along enjoying the view. It makes for good conversation afterwards while you're having a smoker and a strawberry Yop (THE best sailing food) in the van. Maybe later in the pub you can compare more notes with others who were out. Windsurfers love to recount their session to understanding souls, and we listen and feel your joy -and sometimes your pain! Sailing on your own (yes, we all do it at some stage) obviously reduces the opportunity to share. This is a problem if you have a non-windsurfing partner (NOWP), because NOWPs simply do-not-understand-you. It's a windsurfing fact. You come home massively excited about a session and start gabbling on about how it was the best sesh ever and you should have been there "cos it was mast-high [okay, over my knees] and it was really windy - at least Force 5 in a couple of gusts maybe - and I caught this in-cred-ible wave [all 30cm of it] and I sailed so fast and made three gybes and all my tacks were dry".

The Turbo Tunnel has Landed.

I had a good session today at Malahide on my 5-0. I landed most of my vulcans and had a few long sliding ones. I will have to root out my hat and open palm gloves tonight as the temperature has taking a dip over the last few days.

I came across this fin in a surf magazine. The turbo tunnel fin. It is designed like a sail and works by redirecting the water coming in the front of it. They claim that it increases speed over a normal fin and will turn better. I couldn't find any ref of windsurfers using them.

I'm currently working on a booster cape to be worn around the neck that will help me learn to Spock! I reckon with my cape and a turbo fin i could probably take over the world!

Last Orders for Evening Session

The clock goes back an hour tonight and with it the chance for most people to have a quick evening windsurf session. So make the most of this long weekend if you can. I had a good session today and also my first time on my JP 68l twinser. It was a bit of work in the lulls on a 4.5 but great when the wind was up. It really does turn very fast on the tail. Can’t wait to sail on it again!

News Flash – Windsurfer Attacked by Crows!

Earlier this week local sailor Oisin Van Gelderen became the innocent victim of a malicious attack from a flock of adolescent crows. One bystander said that the crows had been gathering in the trees at Kilcrea and didn’t seem happy with the freestyle action going on. One crow expert said that the crows might have mistaken Oisin's new Neil Pryde 'fly' sail with the Brazilian colours as an aggressive spinning tree.

Partners of windsurfers are recommended to keep there windsurfing other half in over Halloween to avoid repeat incidences.
If you do feel the urge to go sailing experts recommend you to keep your hair short in order to avoid nesting and bring a sliced pan!

And remember. Beware the Crows of Kilcrea!

Small Leap for Mankind

Sorry, I haven’t been blogging much in the past few days. Busy with a sore throat, cold and loads of windsurfing. Hope you are all having fun on the water this week. No point complaining about the cold cause it's only going to get colder from here on in!

Churchill's Windsurfing Quote of the Day

I came across this Churchill quote in a magazine . " Success is the ability to go from one failure to another, with no loss of enthusiasm." Thats pretty much how i view windsurfing. So what if you can't do it now, keep trying with the same enthusiasm and some day it will happen. And remember, lifes about fun!

Merry Christmas - Time for the presents!

Dear Santa.

Thanks for the new Neil Pryde Fire Fly 6.1 that I got today from surfdock to replace my Expression 6.1. Great looking sail and i'm told that its super to sail. Can't wait! Think i'll be going for a light wind session tomorrow. I also ordered an Jp Australlia 84L twinser wave board. Should have it in a couple of weeks. Yes, I was a good boy all year and deserve these new toys.

p.s Sorry about the vid not working at the moment. Something got to do with you tube, Blogger or the matrix imploding!

Caesar Finies - Bonaire- Light Wind Freestyle

Looks like another day for the bike. No wind. Not even a breeze. Maybe it will improve later, just enough for a light wind session. Here is another clip of Caesar Finies showing what can be done in lighter winds.

Shed Biking

No sailing today. I spent the evening in the shed trying to balance on the bike. Here is a move called the Lawn Mower. I managed to get into the position but cant get out of it yet.

Not Bad for October

Today I sailed at Rush beach. I had an enjoyable session on my 5m combat and 91L JP freestyle. There were only two windsurfers on the water and plenty of kites. My back survived the session after tweaking it last week. The sun was shining and one kiter was out in a pair of shorts and rash vest! Not bad for October.

Shove-its and Slam Gybes

It’s great to have a week of wind at last. I had some fun on Monday and Wednesday trying to learn ‘Shove-its’ on the estuary. I managed to kick the tail out a couple of times. Most of the time I didn’t even leave the water and took a dip. One attempt on Monday I over rotated the tail and landed clew first switch stance. I managed to flip the sail and continue the other direction.
As a bonas from trying Shove-its I also figured out how to slam gybe when overpowered. I hope this will come in handy in waves. The downside to the week is that I tweaked my back a bit from all the twisting so today I gave it a rest.

Here is Ricardo showing how it should be done.

Thank God it's Windy!

‘Africus’ the god of south west winds did well today. We had a good session at kilcrea. Most of us rigged 5m which worked well most of the time. Oisin and Carlos were buzzing around on there new Neil Pryde ‘Flys’. Carlos got his in purple and was looking as cool as prince. Looks like tomorrow will be even better.

Clear the Cobwebs from your Footstraps

Jonas and myself went to Malahide for a light wind session today. We practised clew first helitacks and clew first upwind 360s. I managed a triple sail spin yesterday taking my back hand off for the second two spins. Good fun!

The van is packed and ready for tomorrow. Better clear the cobwebs from my footstraps. Looks like i'm going to need them. Don’t let me down Mr Wind Guru!

We Want Wind! We Want Wind!

No wind this week. Next week should be better. I spent yesterday evening fitting a back brake to the bike. It took about three hours as I had to drill, tap and fit gyro tabs and a gyro system to allow the handlebars to swivel. I have it set up now and working. Fingers crossed!

Six Ways to Park a Bike!

Today I brought the bike over to Skerries. Oisin wanted to give it a try. Here is what we got up to. All teeth are still in place!









Oisin won a rosette for this trick. The flying Seagull!


One leg, no hands. Yes I'm proud of this!



Spin those bars!

Light wind Wave Riding

Yesterday I had a light wind session at Malahide estuary. Good fun until I put a hole in my expression 6.1. I repaired it last night as I taught we might get some northerly wind for a sail today.

I met up with Oisin in Skerries for a sail in the afternoon but the wind wasn’t strong enough. We decided to go out anyway and catch some small waves coming in. Oisin was on an S.U.P with his new Fire Fly 6.1 (nice sail). I was on my JP freestyle 100l with my repaired 6.1. It was a fun session trying sail 360s on the wave, clew and fin first on the wave, sailing backwinded etc

.

Check out the picture above. It shows why windsurfers and Kiters dont mix too well!

Turn that Off and go Outside. Its Sunny!

Wow! It’s a nice day today. I’m meeting Jonas at Kilcrea for three o’clock for some light wind sailing. Think ill bring the shorty. Hmm, the water might not be so warm. Maybe ill leave the shorty.

(update)
Jonas and myself ended up sailing at Skerries expecting a non-planing session. There was a steady sea breeze and I could see what looked like stronger wind over towards Shenick island so I sailed over and ended up having a nice session planing into the flat water bay of shenick island on my 6.1 expression. Perfect for practicing freestyle.

Bike Fun

I haven’t windsurfed in a week due to the lack of wind. The last few evenings I have been in the shed prasticing different rolling balance positions on the bike. It’s very hard to get used too but I am making some progress each evening.

I managed to fork glide a few times. This is where you start riding as normal and spin on the handlebars till you are facing backwards standing on the front fork pegs. I also tried a tailwhip foot jam. This is where you jam your foot in the front forks, Endo onto the front wheel while spinning the frame 360 degrees around the front forks. I’m making some sense of it but haven’t landed back on the bike. Could be a while!

Check out sakata seiji showing how it should be done.

Who say’s you have to grow old!

This is for anyone who thinks they are too old to learn new windsurf moves. Check out this 70 year old windsurfer trying to improve at the Quiksilver Windsurf School in El Tur, spring 2008. He tried chop hop, upwind 360 and vulcans!

No Wind - Lets Roll

Day one on the bike was interesting. Definitely beats going to the gym. I went over the handlebars within five minutes! First I tried some endos into rolling backwards and some bar spins. Had some success with both. At the moment I’m trying to get comfortable rolling forward on the front pegs facing the saddle. Easier said than done.

New Bike Arrived

Yesterday I sailed at Rush. It was heavy going. I was on a 4.5 and over powered most of the time. I should have rigged a bit smaller as I felt old this morning when I got up. When I got home my flatland bike had arrived in the post.

Today I decided to skip sailing, rest the body and try and figure out how to assemble a bike. Cant wait to go over the handle bars!!

Back to Work (video)

I’m back to work this week after two months off. On Sunday I sailed at Portmarnock first and at Skerries in the afternoon. There were plenty of people out on both beaches enjoying the waves. Looks like there might be some wind tomorrow. I hope to get out after work.
I came across a flatland BMX video of a guy doing his new trick called 'Galvatron'. Name taken from transformers. Looks cool!

Check it out

The Lonely Man (video)

Yesterday there was a strong west southwesterly wind early in the day. I went to Kilcrea to check it out in the evening after work. The wind and anyone who sailed it had gone!

Check it out

Kilcrea Light (video)

Not much wind again yesterday. Jonas and my self went for a light wind session at Kilcrea. There was only about 10 knots. Anyway I left the camera rolling in the van. Here is what we got.

Check it out

Zero Wind = DIY

Not much wind this week, even for a light wind session. So today I put my boom back together. I got it regriped in the UK a couple of weeks ago. They did a neat job. I then washed Rush beach off the van and continued on to the car and then the house, windows, front door, drains! Etc.

Looks like much the same weather for the weekend. I might try and get out on the landboard tomorrow.

Check out this guy on his Buhala board.

Not quite Sotavento

Yesterday I sailed at Kilcrea. I didn’t get out till four. The wind was a bit light but enough for 6 metre. I practised some vulcans, conca tacks, upwind 360 diablo and worked on finding the position for jumping into a shaka. I enjoyed the short session and have a sore shoulder today from sheeting in hard.

On another note, Oisin posted a Video he put together of footage he shot while in Fuerteventura a couple of weeks back.
Theres about 80 moves from the World's best freestylers as they practise and compete in the final day of the Sotavento Freestyle World Cup.

Check it out on the surfdock website or click the link below.

www.surfdock.ie/docknews.php

Rush Wave Session Today

I had a good sail today. Tom, Oisin, Tricia, Bill, a few others and myself sailed at the south beach Rush. It was 5-metre weather with some nice waves building. I seem to be making some progress with my starboard gybes in waves. I managed to plane out of a couple which is new for me in waves. It doesn’t help that I have been trying vulcans on starboard tack for the last year.

I wasn’t too adventurous today but did enjoy the ramps. Tom practised some cutbacks and vulcans. Oisin went through his list of loops, flakas, wave riding etc and a nice 360 on the wave.
Hope we get some wind tomorrow.

Goodnight!

For Sale

A friend of mine is selling his board. See below for details.

‘2005’ JP Australia Freestyle 100 PRO EDITION Inc board bag

€499. (Good condition)
Original price €1,499

Contact: Tom - 0874114554
Email: tom.slomski@yahoo.co.uk

Developed jointly by the triple world freestyle champion Ricardo Campello and Werner Gnigler,The only board on the market, that wins Pro Freestyle competitions and is still a great beginner short board.

*super easy to sail
*big speed potential
*very stable during moves
*great carving and jumping

Length: 241 cm
Width: 64.5 cm
Volume: 100 litres
Weight: 5.9 kg PRO Edition
Fin: (PowerBox) FS
Shaper: W. Gnigler
Sails: 4.7 – 7.2

PRO EDITION TECHNOLOGY
*Foot Pad
*Double Heel Pad
*Full Carbon Standing Area on top of the Wood
*Wood Heel Reinforcements
*Full Carbon Standing Area underneath the Wood
*E.P.S. Core
*Carbon / Kevlar Deck
*Glass Bridge
*Carbon Rail
*Sandwich with Full Carbon Bottom

Shaking that Ass!

Yesterday I went for a sail at Malahide. The wind was light so ended up practising some light wind freestyle.
Oisin had a new waterproof camera/video recorder that he bought from surfdock. Comes with loads of different mounts and records an hour of video. Anyway Oisin managed to capture my good side in the picture above!

Shenick Island Skerries

Had a good session yesterday. The sun was out and the wind southeasterly. Kidge, Oisin and myself went for a sail in Skerries. Rigged 5.0 – 5.3 sails on 90l JP freestyle boards. We sailed upwind to Shenick island where we spent most of the time sailing into the bay into almost mirror flat water. Perfect for practising freestyle. We also sailed upwind from Shenick to catch some waves coming in.

Rock Star (video)

Yesterday I became a Rockstar. No I didn’t take up singing. I ended up on the rocks twice! while sailing at Low Rock Malahide. All part of the learning curve i guess. Kidge, Stiffy, Oisin, Dave, Sideshow and myself turned up for the session. Strong south-easterly winds and non-stop rain were the order of the day. The waves were well spaced and ready to be ridden. Sails rigged were 3.7 - 4.5

Check out the action

Low Rock from Andrew Radley on Vimeo.

Good Weather for Ducks

Good weather for ducks today but no wind. Keeping busy doing a bit of D.I.Y around the house. I should have my bike next week. I am looking forward to trying some tricks.
Just got a text that the Trickionary book two is in stock in Surfdock. I have book one and its a must have for anyone wanting to improve there windsurfing. Covers everything from waterstarting to a Gozzada Spock 900!

On another note, last weekend the Prova Cup flatland BMX competition took place in Japan. Hiro Morizaki came first. Those guys sure know how to spin.

Check out the action.

Value for Money

Another session at Kilcrea today. There were a lot of people on the water. The wind was very up and down with people rigging anything from 4.7 to 7.5! I rigged my combat 5.6, which handled the gusts and lulls nicely. Well done Kidge who landed a spock but unfortunately I didn’t get to see it. Tom.L is landing a few good vulcans now and Tom.S is definitely getting closer to landing one.

Oisin was just back from Fuerte and was out on his new 2009 JP-90l (I think) freestyle board. Nice board. New graphics look cool.
Moving back a few years, there was a guy out sailing on a board that he built in the 1980’s. It was a copy of a Lightwave. It even has carbon down the middle and didn’t feel very heavy. He said its still going strong after twenty years but needs new straps.

That’s what I call value for money.

Kilcrea Expression

Sailed at Kilcrea today. There were plenty of bodies on the water. Tom rigged his new Expression 6.1 and was very impressed with the performance. I spent the day trying conka tacks, vulcans, upwind 360 diablos and backwind gybes. Kidge was out looking for a spock and is still working on something that starts like a slam gybe into breaking out the fin. He’s not sure where that’s heading yet but its good to see someone trying something new. It starts like a ‘Reverse’- Ricardo’s new trick.

Looks like southwesterly again tomorrow.
See ya on the water.

Check out Ricardos 'Reverse'

Need to get Wet!

I was hoping to go for a sail yesterday. Dublin airport was showing 15mph southeasterly so I went to Skerries to check it out. There looked maybe enough wind out towards Shenick Island but I didn’t feel like sailing out at the island on my Todd so I drove to Rush to have a look.

There were a few kiters out on big kites but not really enough for a sail. Today looks like light northwesterly wind so I’m going for a light wind freestyle session at Malahide.

Bank Holiday Monday

No wind today so I decided to clean the shed and build a workbench. Sheba gave me a hand. She has a sore ear at the moment, hence the strange collar she is wearing.



I have also become obsessed with a sunflower that I planted from a seed. It’s taller than me now and still no sign of the flower head!